The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-09-20
An AWFUL DISASTER.
loss OF THE STEAMER ASIA AND
A HUNDRED LIVES.
Struck by . Storm. the Vessel Foun-
ders in Twenty Minutes-A Terrible
Scene on Board Thrilling Narrative
of One Of the Survivors

of One Of the Survivors.
CoLLINGwooD, ONT.. Sept. l. - The
following report has Just reached
here by the hands of Captain John
Dancy, of the tug Minnelliiia, sent
| from Parry Sound by Mr.. }. {. Mill
Ter, which gives details of the loss OF
the steamer Asia, OF the Great Nor
thern Transit Company's line, which
left here Wednesday evening last for
French River and Sault Ste Marie :
Captain H. NJ. MeGregor reached
here yesterday by tug from Owen
Sound, and reported passing wreck
age of a steamer off Limestone
Islands. He picked up and brought
with him Il trunk, a door and a
pillow slip marked Steamer Asia"
About 10 this morning an Indian
boat reached here from Point au
Barrie, about thirty-fiye miles dis
tant. bringing d. A. Thinks, OF
Manitowaning, and Miss Christina
Morrison, from near Owen Sound,
supposed to be the only two surv;-
vors OF the ill-fated steamer. Tinkis
makes the following statement
went aboard the Asia at Owen
Sound about midnight Wednesday
in company with J. II. Thinks and
H. B. Gallagher. both OF Manitow-
aning The steamer Was crowd ed,
all the state rooms being full, and
many passengers lying on sofas and
on the cabin floor. All went well
until about IL Thursday morning,
when the storm struck us. ! was in
my berth at the time, My uncle,
J. II. Thinks, jumped up and said
the boat was doomed. Dishes and
chairs were flying in every direction
We left the cabin and found Difficult
ty getting on deck. The boat was
rolling so heavy got a lite-preserver
and put it on. The boat went into
a trough OF the sea and would not
obey her helm. She rolled heavily
for about twenty minutes when she
was struck by a heavy sea and
foundered, going down with her en-
gines working, about half-past
eleven. The Asia was making for
French river, and had men. horses
and lumDermen's supplies for shan
ties there. ! saw three boats loaded
| was in the first About eight per
sons We're with me at first. More
got in until the boat was overloaded
and turned over twice. All the
persons were hanging on to my lie
preserver, which GOT displaced and
| threw il of. ! then left the boat
and swami to the captains boat,
which was near by, and asked John
McDougal, the purser, to help me
in. He said it was of bat little use,
but gave me his hand and | got III.
There were eighteen in the boat and
oy that tine there was larger mum
Der in and clinging to the boat had
left ! know nothing of the third
boat Our boat rolled over. and !
remember of missing McDOugal Il
few minutes after. People were
hanging on to spars and other parts
of wreckage. Our boats were full of
water and the sea was constantly
breaking over us.
One of the first to die on the boat
was cabin boy. He was dying and
being supported by one of the men
when wave washed him overheard.
The next to 60 was Il boat hand, who
jumped out. / could see him pad
Edling round in the water for nearly
one hundred yards. Our number
was now reduced to seven, five of
whom died before reaching the beach
Captain Savage, who was the last
to die in my arms, about midnight
on Tuesday; Mr.. John Little, of
Sault Ste Marie; Mate Mcdonald
AND tive Others. mines unknown.
The boat finally stranded near Point
aq barrie about Daylight Friday,
With Miss Morrison and inylelf the
only Survivors. put the bodies
out on the beach, and pr;ed the boat
off with an oar, but did not bail it
eat. Miss Morrison and went
down the BEACH in the boat to a der
rick, about two miles distant, and
laid on the beach all night About
s O'Clock Saturday moruing an In
dian came along and engaged him
TO bring us to Parry Sound. He
would not bring the bodies. The
steamer Northern Belle, of the 5 Ie
line, which reached here this morn
ing, has been furnished with ice and
has left for the bodies. Miss Morri-
'son and Mr. Thinks are being well
cafe;l 'jcr, and the doctor thinks that
neither sq4Gi E}atelially from their
.iongexposUTe Tier gere probably
.ibstit iy@ persons on RQaTd tb3 Ssia.
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