St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-11-09

The Burning Boat Flowing
Through the Water at a Furi-
GUS Rate Sighted by an Indian
Who Rushes to the Assistance
of the Imperiled Crew-Life
Boat Swamped.
North BAY, Ont, Nov S.-A fright
tul fatality, word of which reached here
at a late hour last night, occurred on
Lake Nipissing yesterday, which re-
suited in the loss of large number of
lives and the destruction of valuable
vessel. The steamer Frazer was pro-
ceeding up the lake. and when about
twenty-five miles west of North Bay,
near what is known as Goose island,
hre was discovered on board. All
efforts to eXtinguIsh it proved unavail-
Ing, and the entire vessel was soon
wrapped in flames. The number on
board the unfortunate vessel has not
yet been positively ascertained, but no
less than twenty lives n ave been lost.
The announcement of the calamity has
caused great excitement in North Bay,
and further pal ticulars are being eager
ly awaited. Seven people were saqed
from the wreck, some of whom are ex-
pected at North Bay tonight.
The burning boat was sighted from
Franks bay by Capt. Barrett and an In
dian, who at once haStened to the as
sistance of the imperiled crew, but by
the time they reached the spot the
Frazer was burned to the waters edge.
Seven survivors had succeeded in
reaching the scene in boat from the
Frazer. The boats are In about twenty
nVt feet OF water, and the only thing
marking the scene of the disaster is a
short stump above the waters edge
The large loss of life is due to the fact
that the engine was not stopped until
the engineer was driven away by the
flames. In consequence, the Frazer
continued to plough the water at fu-
rlous rate, and, as the steering appar-
atus was not handled, the steamers
course was so erratie that it was impoS-
sible for the crew to save themselves
A lifeboat, which was launched and
occupied by a number of men, was
caught under the wheel and Immediate
ly swan ped.
The boat was taking gang of men
to work, which accounts for the large
number being on board. Among the
dead are Capt. Carr and Storekeeper
Douglass.
Following is a partial list of those
Known to have been drowned by the
burning Of the steamer Frazer on Lake
NipiSsing yesterday:
Capt. w. Carr, Matthew Bremen. j.
Sutherland, Alf Barbeau. William
Storey. Thomas Osborne, Alex Doug
lass. John Haw, Isaac Shaw. John
Smalley, Tom Massey. Tom Bowers,
Tom Sheriff, James McCann, and seven
others whose names are not known by
the survivors. The survivors are: Neil
Macarthur, Alex Robertson, Stanley
McMannemy, r. Pharaoah, Fireman
w. Mcintosh, Edward Major, Cook
John Adams.
The affair has caused great excitement
throughout the district. The steamer
was owned by Davidson, Hay & Co.. of
Toronto, and was bound for Franks
Bay with supplies for the lumbermen.
She caught fire about three miles from
Goose island, and panic must have en-
sued, as only seven lives, including the
fireman and cook, were saved out of
tWenty-seven or twenty eight, notwith-
standing the fact that the steamer car
the usual supply of liteboats and pre-
servers and had large scow in tow.
Capt. Carr and Mr.. Douglass, the firms
=
the lost. The fire was witnessed from
Franks Bay by Capt. Burritt and
young Inaian named Pete in the employ
of j. B. Smith e. Sons. They imme-
diately put off in their boat to the
scene of the accident, but by the time
they reached the spot the boat was
burned to the waters edge, and the
seven survivors had reached the top of
the scow. The engine for some unac-
countable reason was not stopped, and
during all the time the boat was burn
ing she continued to plough through the
water. Some of the men struggling in
the water managed to climb into a boat
which had been launched. but were
caught in the steamers wheel, and
went down. The hull of the boat sank
in about twenty-five feet of water, and
all that now marks the spot of the ca
tastrophe is short piece of the smoke
stack which appears above the waters
edge. The yacht OkImawkiawa, with
Judge Doran and number of citizens
On board, has gone to the scene of the
fatal misnap.