New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-13
RIVER CRASH KILLS FIVE.
ST. LAURENCE BOAT SUNK
Collier Rams Passenger Steamer
10 IN Danger.

Montreal, June 12-The Richelieu and Ontario
Navigation Company's steamer Canada. bound
from Quebec for Montreal. came into collision
with the Dominion Coal Company's collier Cape
Breton. six miles below Sorel early to-day.
Twenty lnlnutes later the Canada went 10 the
bottom. At the time Of the collision there We're
10 persons on board. and all were rescued ex-
cept five. Those who perished were:
BONNETERRE. purser Of the Canada
he ptrished do'' ne Is missing and II is supposed that
Sd SGe0'' and his two sons twelve and fifteen years
The collision occurred Just as the frs. signs
OF dawn were becoming visible. The Cape
Breton lay at the entrance of the Lake St
Peter Channel waiting for daylight so as 10
lnd her way through. She was just getting
uncer way when the Canada, making for Sorel
AT Full speed. came into view.
Just how the collision occurred and who is re-
sponsible for it has not yet been determined for
the officers OF the Canada decline 10 talk but
from the statements given out it would appear
that the Cape Breton had not headway enough
to answer her ru1der. ana that she swerved
across the path OF the passenger boG. her bow
striking the Canada just forward o: the paddle
box on the starboard side ana tearing its way
half through. Then she swung clear and the
two steamers came alongsidz each Other
There was 70 necessity Of arousin; the sleep
ing passengers. for the shock OF the collision had
already done that. The Canada NJ once began
TO settle, and. as tho Cape Breton did not appear
to be seriously damaged. the passengers we.e
hurriedly transferred 10 tha, steame- In the
excitement some of the passengers jumped over To-
board, and were picked up by boats from the
Canada and the Cape Breton, hut generally
those on board were composed. while the disci-
p!ine shown by the crew Of the Canada was ex-
ceIlert
Twenty minutes late-. When the Canada went
down alongside the Cape Breton. resting OF he-
side in the mud. all the passengers had been
transferred to the Cape Breton. Thibeault and
his two sons occupied a stateroom Just about
where the Cape Breton's bow entered the can
ada. and It is supposed that they were killed in
their berths. The body of the father was re
covered later in the day, but those of the sons
have not Yet been found. Bonneterre the
purser, was seen after the collision making his
way 10 his quarters on the lower deck, with the
intention of saving his cash and his records and
IT is supposed that he perished in the attempt
Brunei was second class passenger, and no one
him after the collision, though IL is iusr
possible that he went ashore with the crew of
one Of the boats which was sent to secure help
from Sorel
This arrived a few minutes after O'Clock the
steam barge Prefontaine being in the harbor
with steam uP. She brought the passengers and
crew 10 SoIel, and they brought up TO this
city this afternoon board the company !
steamer Columbian. Many OF the passengers
who occupied stateroOms the upper deck
We're fortunate enough Ia save their baggage.
but those on the main deck lost theirs Some Of
them had little clothing on, but they were sup
piled with the necessary garments on arrival at
Sorel when they arrived I'm Montreal there
was no evidence of the fact that they had jus-
been through I. wreck.
All the passengers speak highly OF the efforts
made by the captain and the crew OF the Canada
TO save the lives Of the passengers. and to their
exertions IS ascrbed the slight loss OF life There
was great excitement when the news of the
sinking OF the steamer became known. first re-