Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-09-22
THE LOSS OF THE ASIA.
srOxr OF rnE wOnAN WHO SURVIVED

Tho Pcrils Of Them That Go Down to the
Sea In Ships-A Terrible Experience
How the Crow Succumbed.
Miss Morrison, one of the survivors OF
the ll-fated Asia, has furnished q sketch
of her experience. After she left the
wreck in life-boat with the captain,
mate and several others, she says: 81
saw the other two life-boats both full.
The captain and mate had oars, aud tried
to take care of our boat. The steamer
now went down and left wreckage floating
all around. saw the other two boats
upset twice, and each time the number Of
passengers was largely reduced. The
three bOats drifted together for short
time. heard those in the other boat call
to the captain for oars. One Of the boats
had no oars, one had one, and our boat
had two. The captain could spare none.
Our boat went along quite nicely for
some minutes, the others capsized almost
Immediately. They had nothing to help
themselves with. / was sitting on the bow
of our boat looking back towards the
wreck. saw the other two boats tip
over three times, and when next saw
them they were empty, no one even cling
ing to their sides. l am sure none were
saved except Thinks and myself. Finally
our boat upset, aud We lost both oars.
We were then ut the mercy of the waves,
and were upset four times in all. There
were IS persons in the boat before she
upset. Two women were lost the first
time. 1t became calm near dark, and the
boat did not upset again. About this time
we picked up a floating Oar, but were too
exhausted to use it. The mate told me
to hold Oh to the life line, whatever hap
pcned, and l never lot go. When tho
boat upset | hung on, and came
up with it. None of the five
men died until after dark. The mate got
upon his knees aud SAIL no could SEE land
This cheerrd us all, Tho captain seemed
very sad, and seldom spoke. None had
hats or coats Oh but Thinks. had neither
hat nor shawl. W. were all in the water
up to our knees, but the water was not up
to tho seats. Ii VIC had hal y bailing
dish We could have bailcd out tho boat
after tho sca went down. We had nothing
do it with. The men all died quietly and
seemed to go to sleep. The mate put his
head up to my face III the dark and asked
il it was l l said yes. My hair was flying
around, he seized it in his death grasp
and pulled down my head. asked
tho captain who was near, to re-
lcass my hair. He did so, and
tho mate soon breathcd his last.
We saw light at Byng Inlet about dark
and could see it all night, but drifted
south. Shortly after the mate died the
captain lay down. tried to arouse the
captain, but ho was dead. II thinls this
was about midnight. MIR. Thinks and 1
kept up conversation. l was nervous
ant: thought that Thinks would layltlOwn
his head like the rest asked him to come
to the bow, but he said VIC would balance
the boat better by remaining as We were,
and that he would not 20 to sleep. Day.
light finally dawned and revealed q shore
near by. Thinks worked tho boat
toward the shore with the Oar We had
picked up. 1t was beautiful warm
morning, and the sun warmed us and
dried our clothes. We got Oh tho rocks
shortly after sunrise. We tried to walk
across the island, thinking we might pass
some houses. 1 could not walk, SO we
returned to tho boat. Thinks took the
bodies out. 1 could not help him. He
then pried the boat off with the oar. He
worked the boat down the beach, but
made poor headway. Darkness coming on
l was afraid it would get rough, SO We
landed broke boughs for our beds, and
put some under and sOmc over us. l
slept some, but was nervous. We were
up before sunrise and got into the boat.
1t was calm then. We rOwed short time,
but then gave it up and went ashore and
lay down on the rocks aud went to sleep.
An Indian came along and woke US up and
asked if wo were lost. We said We were.
His squaw was in the boat. We asked
him how far it was to o house. He said
it was twenty two miles, and asked if VIC
were hungry. He then got some bread
and pork from his boat. l could not eat,
but drank some cold tea. Thinks offered
tho Indian his watch to take us to Parry
Sound. We had but little to eat on the
way. The squaw made me bed in the
boat. and slept there Sunday night quite
comfortably. Thinks never gave up, ex-
ccpt on Saturday morning, when we lay
down on tho rocks to die. Thought Of
the Babes in the Woods but saw no
hope of rescuc.''