The Portland daily press., 1885-11-11
THE WRECK OF THE ALcoMA.
Forty Eight Lives Known to Have
Been Lost,
Thrilling Narrative of Capt. Moore

PORT ARTHUR, Ont, Nov. 1O.-Forty- eight per-
sons were lost by the wrecklng of the steamer Al
gonna. They We're, so far as known: Mrs. Dud-
Mrs Frost, relatives Of R. P. Eutchart, Of owen
Sound George Pettigrew, chief engineer; Alex
ander MeDermott, Of Sarnia, second engineer;
Mr.. Mackenzie. purser, nephew of Alexander
Mackenzie. of Sarnia; Alexander Taylor, chief
steward, of either Buffalo or Cleveland Mr. Jones,
steerage steward, of Scotland. The other names,
consisting Of deck hands, firemen, walters and
others of the crew, cannot be obtained, as the
ships papers were lost.
The story of the disaster as related by Capt.
Moore, is that the Algoma passed through the st.
Mary's canal, bound for this port, last Friday
noon. Soon after reaching Lake Superior, the
wind began to freshen from the northwest and
great bank of leaden- clouds along the northern
horizon, denoted the approach of heavy weather:
Realizing, however, that the .Algoma was one OF
the strongest and most powerful steamers ahoat,
and well able to cope with even a severe gale,
Capt. Moore kept her on her course, but as night
approached the wind continued to increase in Yio-
lence, and by dark had developed into one of the
fercest and most destructive gales ever expert
enced on the upper lakes. As the gale increased
Superior was lashed into a wilderness of seething
foam; while the tempest screeched and howled,
great seas SWept eompletely over the StIuggling
steamer. The situation was made all the more
terrible by binding snow storm, that set in be-
fore morning. 1t was impossible to see the length
The passengers and crew were terrified beyond
measure, and momentarly expected to see the
steamer plunge to the bottom. By instructions of
passengers, trying to allay their fears. They
were panic-stricken, however, and hudded to-
gether in the cabin, where the screams and
prayers of the women and children could be heard
above sthe laundering of the gale. Saturday
morning Isle Royal was sighted, and Capt. Moore
headed the steamer for Rock Harbor, where he
hoped to gain shelter. The Island forms asnatur-
al harbor Of refuge but near the entrance there is
a 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 to a full stop. The passengers rushed out of
the cabin and beseeched the officers to tell them
what had happened. 1--WE are on reef, replied
Capt. Moore, "but if you will only keep as calm as
possible, trust all will be safely landed" just
then one of the crew reported that the steamers
bottom had been punctured, and that she was fill
ing 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 them the steamer
Slipped off the reef and disappeared with an an
CRY roar. The water was covered with the strug-
Cling forms of men and women, and then all was
over. Only IA lived to tell the tale These got
into one of the boats, but were powerless to save
themselves, as they were without oars Capt
Moore, however, wrenched a foot board from the
bottom of the boat, and with that as paddle sue
ceeded in working the boat to the island, where
the survivors were picked up by the Athabaska.
Mr.. Bentley, the manager OF the line, has sent
out tugs from here with instructions to search Isle
Royal for any survivors that may possibly have
got ashore, and to pick up and take care of any
bodies that may be found. The tugs are now at
the scene of the wreck.