The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1882-09-28
LOSS OF THE STEAMER ASIA.
or One Hundred People on Board Only
Two known to Have Escaped.
CoLLINGwOoD, Can, septembI

COLLINGWOoD, Can, September II.
D. A. Thinks and Chrissie Ann Morrison,
supposed to be the only survivors of the
wreck Of the steamer Asia, arrived here.
Thinks reports that he boarded the Asia near
Owen Sound. in company with j. H. Thinks
and III. B. Gallagher, of Man tou. The steam
er was crowded. All the state-rooms were
full, AMI many p issengers were lying on sofas
and on the cabin floor. About eleven o'clock
Thursday morning a storm struck the vessel.
J. H. Thinks jumped up, and said the boat was
doomed Dishes and chairs were flying in ev-
cry direction. They left the cabin, and found
difficulty in staying on deck because the boat
was rolling SO heavily. Thinks got Hfe-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 about twenty
minutes, when she was struck by heavy sea,
and foundered, and went down with the ers-
gines working, about 1:3O o'clock. The Asia
was making for French River ana had men,
horses, and lumbermen's supplies for the
shanties. Tinkfs saw three boats loaded and
was in the first boat. About eight men were
with him At first, more got in until the boat
was overloaded and turned over twice. People
chung to his life preserver which was displaced
and he threw it off. He then left the boat and
swan to the Captains boat, which was near,
and asked John McDougaIl, purser, to help
him in He said it was but little use, but
gave him his hand. When he got in there
were eighteen in the boat. By that time there
was a large number clinging to the boat
he had left. He knows nothing Of the third
boat The boat he was in rolled over and ne
missed MeDougall. People were hanging on
to spars and other pieces of the wreck. The
Captains boat was full of water, and a sea
constantly breaking over it. One of the first
to die on the boat the cabin boy. He was
dying, and being supported by one of the men,
when a wave washed him overheard. The
next to go was a boat hand who jumped out.
He could be seen padding around in the water
form early one hundred yards. The number
was reduced to seven, five of whom died be
fore reaching the beach. Captain Savage, who
was the last, died in Thinks arms about mid
night, Thursday. John Little of SauIt Ste.
Marie, Mate Mcdonald and two others, whose
names are unknown also died.
The boat finally stranded near Point au Bar
Tie about daylight Friday, with Miss Morrison
and Mr.. Thinks the only ones surviving. Thinks
put the bodies out on the beach and pried the
boat OFF with an oar, but did not bale it out.
Miss Morrison went down the beach in the boat
to the derrick, about two miles distant, and
laid on the beach all night About eight o clock
Saturday morning an Indian came along and
was engaged to bring the two to Parry Sound.
He would not bring the bodies. The steamer
Northern Belle, Of the same line, which
reached here this morning, has been furnished
with ice and cOffins and has gone for the bodies.
There were probably about one hundred per
IONS on board the Asia.