Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-09-18
The Steamer Asia Goes Down
With Nearly 100 Persons
On Board.
Only Two Left to Tell the HOrr1-
BILE Tale.
A Graphic Account Of the Wreck a.
Told by One of the Survivors.
CA111xGwoop. Ont. Sept

CATTINGwooD, Ont, Sept IL.
The following report just reached here
from Parry Sonnd which gives the details
of the loss of the steamer Asia of the Great
Northern Transit Co.'S line. which left here
Wednesday evening for Sauit st. Marie.
Capt McGeorge reached here yesterday by
tug from Owen Sound and reported passing
the wreck of a steamer off Lime Stone Islands.
He picked up and brought with him trunk,
door and pillow slip marked steamer Asia.
About 10 this morning an Indian boat
reached here from Point au Barrie, 81 miles
distant. bringing ID. A. Thinks of Manitowan-
ing and Miss Christy Ann Morrison, from
near Owen Sound, supposed to be the only
survivors of the ill fated steamer. Thinks
saws: 81 went aboard the Asia at Owen
Sound about midnight. Wednesday, with J.
II. Thinks and J. B. Gallagher, both of Man
towaning. The steamer was crowded, all
the state rooms being full and many passen-
gers lying on sofas and on the cabin floor.
All went well until about II o'clock Thurs
day morning, when storm struck us. l
was in my birth at the time. My uncle, j.
II. Thinks, jumped up and said the was
doomed. Dishes and chairs were flying in
every direction. We left the cabin and fodnd
difficulty in getting on deck. The boat rolled
so heavily got life preserver and put it on.
The boat went into the trough of the sea and
would not obey her helm. She rolled heav-
ily about Tor 20 minutes when she was struck
by the heavy sea and went down with the
engines working. Asia was making for
French river and had men, horses and lum-
berman's supplies for shanties. saw three
boats loaded. was in the first.
About eight persons were with me
at the first but more got in until
the boat was overloaded and turned over
twice, the parties hanging TO my life preserv
er which got displaced and threw it off. |
then left the boat and swan to the captains
boat which was near bv, and asked John Nc
Dougall, purser, to help me in. He said it
was but little use, but gave me his hand.
When got on board there were Is in the
boat and by that time there was a larger
number within and clinging to the boat
had left. know nothing of the third boat.
Our boat rolled over and remember missing
McDougall few minutes after. Our boat
was full of water and the sea was constantly
breaking over us. One of the first to die on
the boat was the cabin boy. He was diving
and being supported by one of the men when
a wave washed him over board. The next to
go was boat hand who jumped over board.
could see him padding around in the water
for nearly hundred yards. Our number
was now reduced to seven, five of whom died
before reaching the beach. Capt. Savage
died in my arms about midnight Thursday.
John Little, mate, Mcdonald and two others,
names unknown, also died The boat finally
stranded near Point au Barrie, about daylight
Friday, with Miss Morrison and myself the
only survivors. put the bodies out on the
beach and pried the boat off with an oar, but
did not bale it out. Miss Morrison and l
went down to the beach all night. About
A M Saturday Indian alnnp an1
| engaged him to bring US to Parry Sound.
He would not bring the bodies. The steamer
Northern Belle, of the same line, which
reached here this morning, has been furnish
ed with ice. ETC., and left for the bodies Miss
Morrison and Mr.. Fink are being well cared
for here, and the doctor thinks that neither
will suffer materially from the long exposure.
Probably about 100 persons were on board
the Asia.