The leader., 1889-10-26
A STEAMBOAT I'm FLAMES;
a. Number of Her PASSENGERS
Drowned and Burned. }
TheAGallant Conduct Of Her Pilot
and Captain,

Tine steamerFQuinte has been burned to the
waters edge Hear Deseronto, Ontario. Four
lives were lost and many of the passengers
and crew were injured. The steamerleft Desc
ronto st $50 P. H., Captain Christie IN charge.
with crew of twelve and twenty passengers.
When but few moments from the dock
fire was discovered in the wood work near
the flre hole by deck hand, who notified thei
englneeT, When the pumps were set at work,
but without avail.
Captain Christie was notified and when he,
saw there was no checking the flames he or
dered Pilot Collier to beach the boat on al
shoal, which was done. The Captain and
crew were at their boats and all efforts were
made to save the passengers, who lost self!
control and plunged into the water without
taxing life preserver's or anything to keep
themselves from drowning, with but two or
three exceptions
Pilot Collier stood at Tris wheel until the;
boat was grounded and the engines had3
stopped, the engineer, Thomas Short, leav-I
ing his engines running. The flames droveI
him away. Pilot CollierIeft the pilot house
when the flames burst i'll and he was severely.
burned on the face and hands. Engineer?
Short was also severely burned before he left
his post, both officers endangering their3
lives to insure the safe delivery, if possible.
OF those who had consigned themselves tok
their charge.
Before help could reach them from Deseron-
to the crew of a sloop lying close by put out
IN boats to the rescue and picked up all that
they could find. The steamer Deseronto. ly-f
ing at her dock there and the steam YACHT
Ripple went to the rescue and brought thei
survivors to the town, where medical aid wasj
afforded them and every assistance and conf
fort was afforded that the owners Of thef
burned boat, the Rathbun Company. could
give them.
Captain Christie was energetic in saving
his passengers and was severely bruised and
only realized his injuries when he was taken:
to hotel and cared for. A Harte, trav-l
eler, was in the water and saved boyl
named Charlie Anderson. Both of them satj
on the paddle wheel of the burning steamers
until they were taken off by the crew of thei
DeserUnto.
1t is known for certain that four persons
lost their lives, and that by burning probab-l
ly, as none of them were seen to Jump over-i
board. Mrs. Christie mother of the CaptainI
of the boat, and her twelye-year-old son,
were in the ladies' cabin few moments be-
fore the alarm was given, but have not beeni
seen since and must have been burned. Mrs.
Stacey, assistant to the cook, and her young
son were in the dining hall and perished in
the flames
None of the freight nor anything belong,
ing to the crew was saved. Engineer Short
had large sum of money in his stateroomi
and it was lost. Many of the passengers
lost valuables. The passengers were in thej
dining saloon at tea when the alarm was
given.
The steamer Quinte was owned by the
Rathbun Company and was the best in their
lake service, and was the most popular boat
on the bay and had but three years ago been
thoroughly Overhauled and made almost al
new boat. She was valued at $4,000 and