Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-11
SINKING OF THE ALG0MA.
4S PERSONS CARRIED DOWN TO
DEATH IN THE GALE.

DEATH IN THE GALE.
The Reef Struck whuo Trying to Run
the Vessel into Place of Safety-The
Storm Almost without = Parallel In
the History OF the Lake.
PORT ARTHUR, ONT, Nov. 10.-It is
now learned that Lake Superior's terrible
marine disaster resulted in the drowning
of 4S persons, besides the loss Of one Of the
most valuable passenger steamers on the
lakes, On board of the Arthabasea, when
she arrived last night from the scene Of
the wreck, were Capt. James Moore, COM
mander Of the Canadian PEoitic railway
steamer Algoma, two passengers and
eleven of her crew. They were all that
were left Of the 62 persons that sailed for
this port from owen sound on the Algoma
last Thursday The following are the sur
Vlvors: w. j. Hull and w. B. Macarthur,
Of MeadfOrd, Ont; Capt. John Moore,
First Mate Hastings, Second Mate Rich
ard Simpson, Wheelman Henry Lewis,
Watchman John &. McNabb, Fireman Z.
McColgar, deckhands Il. stephens, James
Bolton, ard Daniel Laughlin, walters
John McLane, George Mccall, and John
Mckenzie.
The Captain was badly injured. The
ships papers were lost, and the passen-
ger list could not be obtained.
NAMES OF THE VICTIMS.
The following is partial list OF the lost:
Mrs. Dudgeon and her son, aged 10, of
st. Paul.
Mr.. and Mrs. Frost Cor Foster). rela-
tives Of Il. +. Butchart, OF owen Sound.
George Pettigrew, chief engineer.
Alex. McDermott, of Sarnia, second en-
gineer.
Mr.. Mackenzie, purser, nephew OF
Alexander Mackenzie, OF Sarnia.
Alexander Taylor, chief steward, OF
either Buffalo or Cleveland.
Mr.. Jones, steerage steward, of Scot
land.
The other names, consisting of those of
deck hands, tiremen, walters and others
OF the crew, cannot be obtained.
The story of the disaster, as related by
Capt. Moore, is that the Algoma passed
through st. Mary's canal, bound for this
port, last Friday noon.
RISING OF THE STORM.
Soon after reaching Lake Superior the
wind begun to ireshen up from the north
west, and great bank Of leaden clouds
along the northern horizon denoted the
approach of heavy weather. Realizing,
however, that the AlgOma was one Of he
strongest and most powerful steamers
atlOat, aud well able TO cope with even
severe gale, Capt. Moore kept her on her
course, but as night approached the wind
continued to Increase in violence, and by
dark had developed into one of the fiercest
and most destructive gales ever expert
enced on the upper lakes. AS the gale in
creased heavy sea began TO rise, aud be-
fore midnight Lake Superior was lashed
into a wilderness OF seething foam, while
the tempest screeched and howled.
SWEPT BY THE WAVES.
The great seas swept completely over
the struggling steamer. The situation
was made all the more terrible by blind
ing snow storm that set in before morn
ing. 10 was impossible TO see the length
Of the steamer. The passengers and crew
were terrified beyond measure, and mo-
mentariy expected TO see the steamer
plunge 10 the bottom. BY the instructions
Of Capt Moore the officers circulated
among the passengers trying 10 allay
their fears. They were panic-strlcken,
however, and huddled together in the
cabin, where the screams aud prayers OF
women and children could be heard above
the laundering OF the gale.
WRECKED WHILE SEEKING SHELTER.
Saturday morning Isle Royal was
sighted, and Capt. Moore headed the
steamer for Rock HarbOr, where he hoped
to gain shelter. The island forms a nat
ural harbOr Of refuge, but near the
entrance there ls dangerous reef, and
Just as the steamer was nearing the
entrance she struck the reef There was
a terrific shock and then the steamer
came 10 "a iull stop. The passengers
rushed out Of the CABIN and beseeched the
officers TO tell them what mad happened.
''M e are on q reef" replied the captain,
''but if you will only keep as calm as pos
sible trust all will be safely landed"
PLUNGEs TO THE BOTTOM. A
just then one OF the crew reported that
the steamers bottom had been punctured
and that she was filling with water. The
boats were at once got In readiness, and
all started TO leave the steamer, but just
as they were about TO lower the boats the
steamer slipped of the reef aud disap.
peared with an angry roar. Tho water
was covered with the struggling forms Of
men aud women, and then all was over.
Only fourteen lived to tell the tale. These
cot into one of the boats but were power
less 20 save themselves, as they were
without oars.
REACHING SHORE.
Capt Moore, however, Wrenched the
foOtbOard from the bottom Of the boat and
with that as "A paddle, succeeded in work
ing the boat 70 the island. " here the sur
viYors we're picked up by the Arthabasca.
Mr. Bentley, manager OF the line, has
sent out tugs from here with instructions
10 search Isle ROYAL for any survivors
that may possibly have got ashore, and 10
pick up and take care Of any bodies that
may be found. The tugs are now at the
scene OF the wrecks.