Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-11-12
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A Lake Steamer wsathers a Gale
but Strikes n Isees--fs Lives Lost.
PoBT Arthur, OsT., Nov. 10.--A terri
BILE marine disaster, resulting in the
drowning of AZ passengers and
the loss Of one OF the most valuable
passenger steamers ON the lakes, was re-
ported last night when the steamer Artha-
basoa arrived. On board the Arthabasca
were Captain James Moore, commander
of the Canadian Pacific railway steamer
Algoma, two passengers and IL
of her crew. They were all that
were left of the 90 persons that
sailed for this port from Owen
sound on the Algoma last Thursday. The
following are the survivors: w. J. Hull
and w. y. Macarthur of Meadford, Ont,
Captain j. Moore, First Mate Hastings,
Second Mate Richard Simpson, Wheel
lnan Henry Lewis, Waterman John O.
McNabb, Fireman P. McColgar, r..
Stevens, James Bolton, deck hands ;
Daniel Laughlnn, John McLane, George
Mccall and John Mckenzie, walters.
Tho captain was badly injured. The
ships passengers were lost and the pas
senger list could not be obtained. The
following is q partial list of the lost /:
Mrs. Dudgeon and her son aged 10 of
st. Paul Mr.. and Mrs. Frost Cor Foster)
relatives of II. p. Butchart, of Owen
Sound George Pettigrew, chief engineer;
Alex. McDermott, of Sarnia, second en-
gineer Mr.. Mackenzie, purser, nephew
| of Alex. Mackenzie, of Sarnia; Alex.
Taylor, chief steward, Of either Buffalo
or Cleveland Mr.. Jones, steerage steward,
of Scotland. The others names, consist
ing of deck hands, fremen, walters and
others of the crew cannot be obtained.
The story of the disaster as related by
Capt. Moore is TINT 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 up from the northwest, and o
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 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
increase in violence and by dark had de-
veloped into one of the fiercest and most
destructive gales ever experienced on the
upper lakes. AS the gale increased the
sea began to make, and before midnight
Lake Superior was dashed into wilder
ness of seething foam. While the tempest
screeched and howled, great seas swept
completely over the struggling steamer.
The situation was made all the more terri
BILE by binding snow storm that set
in before morning. 1t was impossible to
see the length of the steamer. The pas
sengers and crew were terrified beyond
measure and momentarily expected TO see
the steamer plunge to the bottom. BY i'll
structions of Capt. Moore the officers
circulated among the passengers trying to
allay their fears. They were panic
stricken, however, and huddled together
in the cabin where the screams and
prayers of the women and children could
be heard above the laundering of the
gale.
Saturday morning Isle Royal was
sighted, and Captain Moore headed the
steamer for Rock Harbor, where he
hoped to gain shelter. The island forms
a natural harbor of refuge, but near the
entrance is dangerous reef, md Just as
the steamer was nearing the entrance she
struck the reef. There was terrific
Shock and then the steamer came to u full
| stop. The passengers rushed out of the
cabin and beseeched the officers to tell
them what had happened.
We are on reef" replied the cap
tain, but if you will only keel, ns 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 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 them the
steamer slipped of the reef and disap-
peared with m angry rom. The water
WINS covered with the struggling
forms of men and women and then ali
was over. Only IA lived to tell the tale.
These got into one of the boats but were
powerless to save themselves MS they were
without oars. Captain Moore, however,
wrenched foot board from the bottom
OF the boat and with that as II paddle sue
ceeded in working the boat 10 the island
where the survivors were picked up by
the Arthabasca.
Mr.. Bently, the manager of the line,
has sent out tugs from here with instruc,
tions to search Isle Royal for any sur
vivors 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