The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-20
WRECKED IN THERAPIDS
VOTING STEAMBOAT ACCI.
ngNr ON THE ST. LAWRBNCE.

-.aanle While Shooting Cedar Rapids
- "a Dashed on a Rocky Island.
passenpers Escape on q Bridge of
rraes-Ths vessel Probably a Total
From the Net0 York Sun.
,,ovrpEAL. Aug 16.-The passengers of
-. p;chelieu and Ontario Navigation Com
.,1,s nav steamer Columbian, which ran
p.-ornd in the Cedar rapids yesterday
sf,arnoon. reached the city this afternoon.
"a relate thrilling story of their expe-
rience.
The Columbian, which was on her way
s.or, Kineston to Montreal, had about 200
American tourists on board. Everything
want well until the steamer struck Cedar
,onids When about half way through the
r.ni3s the chains connecting with the steam
.tesring gear suddenly broke. Pilot DUEL
Io,,a at once connected the hand steering
,,asr. but to his CONSERVATION this also
broke. The boat was darting down the
-onids at the rate of between fifteen and
twenty miles an hour. but Ouellette ordered
all steam on. This was done to keep the
steamer from going broadsids on to the
current and rolling over.
Hinder the impetus the Columbian made
with the rapidity of a railroad train
straight toward a little island IN the rapids
known as Crane Island, Not a passenger
on board knew what had occurred. None
realized how closely they were to eternity.
Indeed, most Of them thought that 1t was
mart of the programme to take them 80
close to the island, and that before reaching
il the steersman would sheer the boat OF
n. ba would OOutinna har WIS u dOu
the boiling rapids. Suddenly a crunching
sound was heard as the keel of the steamer
grated along the rocks. The Columbian
had gone ashore in the confer Of the danger
Gus Cedar rapids.
As soon as this fact became known there
was general alarm on board, but no panic
occurred Perhaps the easiness with which
the Columbian struck had something to do
with this. There was no sudden shock the
steamer was simply forced upon the shelv-
ing, though rocky bottom, raising the hull
several feet out of the water. Investigation
showed that the Columbian had not sprung
8 leak. The terrific current, running like
mill siuce, caught the stern and swung the
vessel broad side to the island. II she had
not been hard aground the current would
have carried her off the island aud swept
her helplessly down the rapids.
When the passengers realized the situa-
toa great anxiety was expressed to reach
the land, as it was feared that the steamer
might at any moment be carried down by
the current. A rope bridge to the island
was at first suggested, but finally tempo
rsFy bridge was made by cutting down two
trees. Hawsers were thrown out to the
shore and the Columbian was held safe 10
her perilous position. About one-half Of the
passengers went ashore by the bridge.
There were three islands TO he crossed be-
fore they could reach the main land. Be
- sr1. H.
men transferred the passengers, and the
trip was al experience that few of them
will ever forget.
Mr. Gavin, one of the passengers told the
following story: 1--WE had all been reading
graphic descriptions OF how, in shooting the
rapids. the boat would seem TO be going
ashore as on ga island, and then, by skillful
steering. would veer into the channel
When we noticed the steamer bearing
directly upon the island upon which
We were wrecked IL seemed as
though the printed descriptions were per-
ieotly true, but in an instant the sound Of
the bottom crunohinR upon the rocks, the
sight Of the bowsprit In among the
tree tops on the shore, and the sudden stop
page Of the vessel at once produced gem
ersl alarm among the passengers Fort
unately it was only momentary. as the near
ness Of the shore had reassuriug effect
Before the excitement had subsidized a
nch-Canadian, perfect giant in build,
and companion standing on the
shore were waiting to catch the line
thrown from the steamer, and make
rope bridge upon which the gang
ways we're thrown out. The ere W
i'm nediately ran for the shore with their
axes and cut passage through the forest to
the shore, where small boats could reach
and carry as off 10 safety. They then felled
b%o large pine trees, about eighty feet long
" NnFnRn -, 10
THROWN across the stream, from the shore to
the steamer, upon which a permanent
bridge was erected.
In the midst of all the excitement the big
french Canadian, by his strength andiaotiv :
Ivy elected many expressions OF admira-
uon. Ii our experience had ended there
nothing but praise could be said of him and
i his companions, who came thronging to the
Island In their small boats, shooting the turb-
ulent waters with inimitable skill But it be-
came necessary for us TO cross two chan
Aeis, about half a mile wide before we
could reach the maitland. Notwithstand-
ing that the officer of the boat
mad assured the boatman that every
coarge would be settled by the company
Iney TOOK US to the most dangerous places,
suu ehen, when out Of reach of authority,
demanded compensation at the rate of 81
per head. They refused to land us until
we paid, and threatened even personal
violence. On one occasion, when a boat
Ead OF thirty people were struggling in the
cream, these men jumped from their boat
lnto the swift current flowing up to their
"ass, and, holding the boat. demanded
wat each passenger pay 81 before they
"QniQ put them ashore"
W. Dlssauer of New York, another Of the
passengers, was loud in his praises of Sauve,
I nus leader OF the French Canadian rescuers.
ns Sald that this man proved himself last
nlkuV 70 be marvel Of muscular strength
S SHl practical engineering skill. Under
nIs leadership" said Dessauer, 1.-THE other
t .lsa built the bridge from the boat to
S ue shore as well as any trained
inody OF military men could have done
~. IN fact, / think they did 1t
1'oH Tor suppose they we're all Canadian
gaSers accustomed to constructing RATS
1 A binding all kinds OF timber together.
Eau s al events they served us well, and the
80 oil extortion circulated against them
49, n-st unjust. They asked 81 apiece from
uo passengers and l think it was little
ovm.ugh for they worked to their waists in
wafer for hours"
Iue Columbian, which was new
er, commenced running few weeks
oso, she was built in New York, and cost
" 'o[ $4,000. She went from New York
newfoundland with relief for the fire
, nae|us, and then came on to Montreal and
yIaS put on the upper St Lawrence route