The Daily telegraph. (Monroe, La.) 1870-1886, 1885-11-11
LOSS OF A LAKE STEAMER.
Heartrending Scenes.

FORT ARTHUR, ONT, Nov. TO-.
terrible marine disaster resulting in Ii
drowning of As persons and the loss
one OF the most valuable passenge
steamers on the lakes, was reporte
last night. When the steamer Atha
baca arrived, on board were Capt. Jas
Moore, Commander of the Canad
Pacific railway steamer Algoma
TWO passengers and eleven of he
crew were all that were left GU
Of 81 passenger that sailed for thi.
port from Owen Sound on the Algam,
I last Thursday. The story of the dis
ater, as related by Capt. Moore, is tha
the Algoma passed through st. Mary's
Canal bound for this port last Friday
noon. Soon after reaching Lake Sup.
erior the wind began to freshen up from
the northwest and a great bank oil
leaden clouds along the Northern hor-
lion denoted the approach of heavy
weather. Realizing however that the
Algoma was one of the strongest
and most powerful steamers afioat
and well able to cope with even
severe gale, Capt. Moore kept
her on her course, but as night
approached the wind continued to in
crease in violence and by dark had
developed into one of the fiercest and
most disastrous gales ever experienced
on the upper lakes. AS the gale in
creased the sea began to make and
before midnight Lake Superior was
lashed into wilderness of seething
foam. While the tempest screeched
and howled great seas swept com.
pletely over the struggling steamer and
the situation was made all the more
terrible by binding snow storm that
set 10 before morning. 1t was impos-
sible to see the length of the steamer.
The passengers and crew were terrified
beyond measure and momentarily ex-
pected to see the steamer plunge to the
bottom. BY instructions of Capt.
Moore, the officers circled among the
passengers trying to allay their fears.
The were panic stricken, however, and
huddled together in the cabin where
the screams of women and children
could be heard above the 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 q natural harbOr of refuge,
out near the entrance there is a danger.
BUS reef, aud just as the. steamer was
the entrance she struck the
'eef and there was terrific shock and
ne steamer came to full stop. The
passengers rushed out of the cabin and
the officers to tell them what
lad happened. ave are on a reef'
eplied Capt. Moore sbut if you will
My keep as calm as possible l trust
II will be safely landed" Just then
me OF the crew reported that the
(eamer's bottom had been punched
nd she was filling with water. The
oats were at once got in readiness and
IL started to leave the steamer, but
lst as they were about to lower them
nto the boats, the steamer slipped off
the reef and disappeared with an
ngry roar. The water was covered
nth struggling forms of men and then
II was over. Only IA lived to tell the
Id tale. These got into one of the
oats, but were powerless to save them. {
slves as they were without oars.
apt. Moore, however, wrenched a
at board from the bottom of the boat
nd with that as paddle succeeded In
orking the boat to the island where
70 survivors were picked up by the i
Gamer Ithabasco. Mr.. Bently, the
'anager of the line, has sent out tugs
ON here with instructions to search
lie Royal for any survivors that nav (
'ssibly have got ashore, and to pick
and take care of any bodies that
ay be found. One of the passengers