The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-11-13
WRECKED ON A REEF.


The Canadian Pacific Steamer AIgona
Goes Down Carrying with Her Thirty.
Seven Souls.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Nov. 10.-Thirty-
Seven lives were lost near Port Arthur Sum
day night The Algona, one of the iron
clad transfer steamers of the Canadian Pa.
cific, left Owen Sound, Ont, last Thursday.
yesterday afternoon, while rounding Isle
Royal, the steamer Athabasca sighted the
fragments of wreck on the treacherous
reef. A reseuing boat was manned, and
after considerable difficulty made the
shore, rescuing the crew-thirteen men
and two passengers of the Inflated Algona.
They reported that thirty-seyen passengers
had persisted in the wreck. The survivors
could not have endured the hardships OF
exposure and hunger much longer. When
they were landed at Port Huron by the
Athabasca late last evening many of them
were dangerously Frustrated.
Port Arthur is on the extreme northern
coast OF Lake Superior and distant from
here nearly five hundred miles. The scene
of the wreck is southwest from Port Arthur
thirty miles or more. All the facts known
here are gathered from personal dis
patches announcing the loss of rela-
tives or friends, and from two tele-
grams to the Canadian Pacific officials,
briefly outlining the manner of the
catastrophe 1t appears that a heavy storm
prevailed on the lake Sunday night. one Of
its features being dense fog. Shortly after
the AlgOna rounded into the straits which
Isle Royal skirts she crashed into con-
cealed reef, and few moments later the
boat was shivered asunder. 1t collapsed so
quickly that many of the victims persisted in
their cabins, where they had taken refuge
from the inclement weather. Others, who
reached the deck, were given no assistance,
and chung to the rigging in despair until in
quilted or swept away. The crew, frenZied
by the disaster, thought only of saving
themselves. With quick rush for the
nearest boat. they focked in and swung
it from the davits before the passengers
could follow. Two, however, con-
trived TO crowd in, leaving the aban-
d0ned ones, among them several wom-
en- and children, helpless and hopeless
on the deck of the doomed steamer. The
boat was capsized several times by the
waves, but was righted again. The sur
viyors succeeded in reaching land, almost
dead from exposure and exhaustion. The
storm continued to rage furiously all night
long. The Athabasca came along about
noon yesterday, and as the channel is mar
row could not avoid seeing the wreck and
the distress of those on the island.
There is intense excitement in this city
as many people here had friends on
board. A list of the cabin passengers can
be had at Toronto or Sault Ste. Marie,
where manifest of the passengers is given
to the custom house.
Captain Moore was master of the Algona,
and Alexander Mackenzie, a nephew of
Hon. Alexander Mackenzie, was purser
Both are supposed to have gone down with
the vessel.
Mr.. Bentley, the manager of lake traffic,
has sent out tugs from Port Arthur with i'm
structions to search Isle Royal for any sur
yivors that may 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.
splendidly equipped Clyde-built steel steamer
lighted by electricity The gross tonnage wa.
1,7o0; length, G70 feet; breadth, IS feet She
was complete in every detail, the furnishing
being equal to that of the finest ocean steam
ers. The vessel cost $4500J0 and is under.
stood to have been insured for 100000. II
was one of the teamerS-Alberta, AthabaScs
Canadian Pacific Road for lake traffic since
which time if has henO 11lVinp Sfnadilv he.