The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-09-18

DISASTERS.
Fearful Lake Disaster---lO0 Supposed d
be Lost.

COLLISGwooD, Ontario, Sept. I'D. A.
Thinks ndChristy Ann Morrison, supposed
to be the only survivors of the wreck OF the
steamer Asia, have arrived here. Thinks
reports that he bearded the Asia near Owen
sound, in company with j. A. Thinks and
III. B. Gallagher. He gives the following
account: THE steamer was crowded, all
the staterooms being full and many passen
gers living ON sofas and on the cabin floor
About ele+en o'clock Thursday morning a
storm struck the vessel. My uncle, J. III
Thinks jumped up and said the boat was
doomed, Dishes and chairs were flying in
every direction. We left the cabin and
found our way with difficulty on deck, the
boat reeling so heavily | got life pre-
server and put it on. The boat fell into
the trough of the sea and would not obey
the helm. She rolled heavily for twenty
minutes, when she was struck by heavy
sea and foundered, and sunk with her en-
gines working. about half past eleven.
The Asia was making for French
river, and had men, horses
and lumbermen's supplies for the shanties.
l saw three boats loaded. | was in the
first boat and about eight were with me
at first, but more got in till the boat was
overloaded and turned over. Twice peo-
pie clung to my life preserver, which got
/
the boat and swan to the captains boat,
which was near by, and asked John Nc
Dougall to help me in. He said it was lit
tie use, but gave me his hand. When L
got in there were eighteen i'll the boat.
There was a large number in and clinging
to the boat had left. | know nothing of
the third boat Our boat rolled over and
| missed McDougall. People were hang
ing to spars and other parts of the wreck.
Our boat was full of water and the sea
constantly breaking over us. One of the
first to die on the boat was the cabinboy.
He was dying and being supported by one
of the men when wave washed him over
board. The next to go was boat hand
VINO Jumped out | could see him pad
ding in the water for nearly 100 yards.
Our numbers were now reduced to seven,
five of whom died before reaching the
beach Captain Savage was the last to die
in nv arms about midnight. Thursday
John Little, of Sault St. Marie, Mate Nc
Donald and two others, names unknown,
died The boat finally stranded near Point
au Barrie about daylight Friday, with Miss
Morrison and myself, the only surviving
ones / put the bodies out on the beach
and pried the boat off with an oar but did
not bale it out. Miss Morrison and
| went down the beach in the boat to Der
rick, about two miles distant and laid on
the beach all night. About eight o'clock
Saturday morning an Indian came along
and engaged him to bring US to Perry
sound He would not bring the bodies. "
The steamer Northern Bell, of the same
line, which reached here this morning,
has been furnished with ice, etc, and has
left for the bodies There were probably
about one hundred persons on board the
Asia.
CAIRO, H., Sept. 17.-To7day at P. m.
as the Wabash freight train was crossing a
bridge, twenty five miles north of Cairo, the
bridge gave way. Eleven cars fell into the
creek and three cars were left on one side
and the engine on the other. A brakeman
was seriously injured.
BAR HARBoR Me-, Sept. 17.-The
yacht Princess, of New York, belonging to
E. c. Haight is reported dashed to pieces
CD Fox Island. No news of the crew has
been obtained.