Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1885-11-14
THE LAKE SUPERIOR DISASTER.
Fortnight Lives Lost.

PORT ARTHUR, ONT, Nov. 10
A terrible marine disaster, result
ing in the drowning of As persons
and the loss of one of the most
valuable passenger steamers on the
lakes, was reported last night when
the steamer Arthabasca arrived.
On board Of the Artllabasca we're
Capt. James Moore, commander OF
the Canadian Pacific Railway
steamer 4Algoma, two passengers
and II of her crew. They were all
that were left ofthe 81 persons that
sailed for this port from Ow Ell
Sound on the .Algoma last
Thursday.
The story OF the disaster, as rela
ted by Capt.Moore,is that the Algo
ma passed through the st. Mary's
canal, bound for this pert, last Fri
day noon. Soon after reaching Lake
Superior the wind began to tresheD
up from the northwest, and great
bank. of leadcn clouds along the
northern horizon denoted the ap
proach ofheavv weather. Realizing.
however, that the Algoma was one
of the strongest aud most powerful
steamers aflo..t and we'll able to
cope with even a severe gale, Capt.
Moore kept her on her course. But
as night approached the wind con
tinued to increase in violence, and
by dark had developed into one of
the tiercest and most destructive
gales ever experienced on the up
per lakes. AS the gale increased
the sea began to make, and before
midnight Lake Superior was dashed
into a wilderness OF Seething foam.
While the tempest Screeched and
howled great seas swept completely
over the struggling steamer. The
situation was made all the more
terrible by a binding snow storm
that set in before morning. 1t was
impossible TO see the length of the
steamer. The passengers and crew
were terrified beyond measure, and
momentarlly expected tosee the
steamer plunge to the bottom. BY
Instructions Of Capt. Moore the 9th
GERS circulated among the passen
gers, trying to allay their fears.
They were panlc-stricken, however,
and huddled together i'll the cabin,
where the screams and prayers OF
the woman and children could he
heard above the laundering of tue
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 a natural harbor OF
refuge butn near the entrance there
is a dangerous reef, and just as the
steamer Was nearing the entrance
sue struck the reef. There WAS a
terrific shock, and then the Steam-
er came to a tull stop. The paSsen
gers rushed out ofthe cabin and be
sought the officers to tell them
what had happened. "We are IN
q leef," replied the captain, "bnt if
you will only keep as calm as posi-
bile | trust all will be safely landed.
Just then one Of the crew report.
ed that the steamers bottom had
been punctured and that she Was
filling with water.
Tile boats we're at once got IN
10 ,Ii-4-t., Il ols~--
the steamer, but just as they were
about to lower them the steamer
slipped off the reef and disappear
ed with an angry roar.
Tile water was covered with the
struggling forms OF men and wo,
men, and then all was over. Only
fourteen live to tell the tale.
These got into Que of the boats,
but were powerless to save them.
selves, as they were without oars.
Capt. Moore, however, wrenched
a foot board from the bottom of
tho boat, and with that as paddle
succeeded in working tile boat TO
the island, where the survivors
were picked up by the Arthabasca.