The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-05-27


Shooting tho Rapitis-wrcck of a
Steamer with One Hundred and Fifty
Passengers on Boarvl-A Perilous
Position and n Fortunate Rescue.
from the Montreal Gazette.
The steamer l.. Benaud left Cornwall on
Monday morning at o'clock, to make her
usual trip to Montreal, touching ut Bcatl-
harnois and other points. She had on board
from one hundred and twenty-five to one
hundred and fifty passengers, and when she
| neared the famous Lachinc rapids the decks
| were crowded in anticipated excitement Of
| The shooting" The vessel was stalnch.
| the captain an experienced waterman. ac-
quainted with the st. Lawrence. and the
pilot trustworthy. When the travellers en-
| tered into tho bubblng channel and listened
| TO the roar of the breakers they experienced
| n" 'nt|%WIiSs nf danger. But suddenly, Is
| the steamer veercd the Chcval Rouge. an
| oinino'is crack was heard, then ihump. ac-
comlmnied by 1 violent Rocking, and. iinInc-
| d'aiely after. violent crash, az II the black
bull were rent in twain.
The terror on board was then intense, As
The appearance seemed to betoken instant
destruction to all the passengers. 1t was
soon discovered that the vessel had struck
| on shoa OF the north side, about twenty
or thirty Yards above the pitch Of the rapids.
The water at once rushed up, and within
thrcc minutes the fires were qucnchcd. The
blow-pipe broke. and the steam escaped In
Kissing columns. An elderly gentleman
from Bca,larnois was scalded on the back
and lace, and up to- the half Of his forehead
the skin peeled on completely. His is il sad
plight, and the physician, fclr that it he has
brclthed any Of the steam into his lungs the
result may be fatal. His daughter, IL child
Of five or six years of age. had both hand>.
both legs, and the right check very severely
scalucd. Two or three ladies were liKcwi>c
more or les, burned, but their wounds are
not serious.
The position being critical i'm the extreme.
Captain Rankins manned Il boat. aud taking
tour of the passengers with him, rovcd over
| to lclc auy-lIcron, the nearest point of land
| within easy distance. \ second boat. COM
! uandcd by Mr.. J. :. Tanguay, of st. Anicet,
| and Mr.. McFce, merchant, OF Bc1llharnois.
| followed to the island with ten passengers.
| The pilot took out third boat with fifteen
| ladies and gentlemen. When once upon the
| island it was found impossible, owing to the
| rapidity of the current, TO return with the
boats to the wreck. 30 The captain dispatched
two men to the Laprarie side in quest OF
canoes, the only species of craft available for
| the purpose. With the usual perverse
| freed Of human nature, which preyS upon
| misfortune. the c1llIue-mcn hagg !cd for thg
| price Of their services. asking ~ much rs
| Two doIIai> per head Tor every person
| rescued from the ilniwrilled steamer. VI
| colIr.e there was no time to bargain. and the
| terms were accepted. The rdBoc> then shot
with the toaning waters. With marvellous
bravery, consunmate prudence, and indie
tatigable perseverance the hardy canoticr-
succeeded in taking off boat after boat to
the Isle.arx-Hcron. Al night long the
| drcary ferr, Ing went on under the tayoring
| light. of the moon. The island contains only
| one house. hut that wa, thrown open by the
| kindly host and hostess, and the ladies III
least had Il shelter i'rcm the blarkne>o aud
damp Of the night.
| Early Yesterday morning Il pioneer boat
was launched by Mr.. Tanguay and Mr. LII
ROGUE, OF Nallcytield, accompanied by Mis-
Larocque and Miss l.. ii. Mason. of Coteau
Landing, who tloatcd the river for about
thrcc-qlmrtcrS of an hour, and landed ut the
second miIcpuSt along the Lachne road
| Two boats followed, aud in this way tho
| whole of the passengers were brought tn tl,C
| main land. Thence the ladies c.lnc to the
city in carriages, and many Of the gentlemen
| trudged on foot.
| The passengers with whom we have con
yer>ed on the casualty regard their escape is
| little short Of miraculous. If the vessel had
| struck twenty feet further in the channel
| where there were full twenty fathomS OF
water, they would all inevitably have per.
ished in the rush Of the rapids. The callS,
| of the accident will, of course, he fully III
| veStigatcd; but we are informed that it lie,
in the fact that the boat took Il sheer in spite
| of The captain and pilot. The conduct of the
| captain Is bitterly complained of by the pas
SengerS. Though his motive was doubtless
good. it seems clear that he should not have
| Been the first to leave his vessel. but should
| have remained TO encourage thy frightened
| passengers. maintain order. and watch The
safety Of those entrusted To his care. The
! baggage of the passengers will all i'c saved
aS we'll a. much Of the cargo. TIL" vessel
| Itself is il total wreck. She is five or siN
year, old. and i worth about 80. 900. Sh,
| belongs to the company OF which Hon. l.,
iicaaud and G.. :. Rodicr. .Ir.. Esq, are the
| chief directors. The work of salvage will
proceed without delay. MesSr>. A. Buntil
4 Co. had about $4,000 worth of paper OF
| board.