The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-06-13
SANK THE CANADA
Riohslieu and Ontario Steam
er Rammed by Collier.
WENT DOWN NEAR SOREL, FIVE LOST
Collision Occurred at Early Dawn.
Passengers Were Hastily Trans
ferrcd-Crew showed Excel
lent Discipline.

MONTREAL, June 13.-The Richie,
lieu 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 in the
early morning. Twenty minutes after
the crash the Canada went TO the bot
tom. At the time Of the collision there
We're 10 people on board, and all were
rescued except five.
Those who persisted We're: Alfred
Thiebault, ticket agent of the company
at Quebec, and his two sons aged
twelve and fifteen; Purser Bonneterre
Of the Canada; man named Brunei
of Sorel. He is missing, and it is sup
posed that he persisted.
The collision occurred just as the
first signs of dawn were becoming Wis
ible. The Cape Breton lay at the en-
trance of the Lake st. Peter channel
waiting for daylight, so as to find her
way through. She was just getting I'M
derway when the Canada, making for
Sorel ut full speed, came into view.
Just how the collision occurred and
who is responsible for It has not yet
been determined for the officers of the
Canada decline 70 talk, but from the
statements given out it would appear
that the Cape Breton had not got head
way on enough TO answer her rudder
and that she swerved across the path
Of the passenger boat, her bow strik-
ing the Canada Just forward Of the
paddle box on the starboard side and
tearing its way half through. Then
she swung clear, and the two steam.
crs came alongside one another
There was no necessity for arousing
the sleeping passengers, for the shock
of the collision had already done that.
The Canada at once began to settle,
and as the Cape Breton did not appear
to be seriously damaged the passen-
gers were hurriedly transferred to that
steamer. In the excitement some Of
the passengers jumped overheard and
were picked up by boats from the Can
ada and the Cape Breton, but general
ly those on board were composed, while
the discipline shown by the crew OF
the Canada was excellent
When the Canada went down along
side the Cape Breton, resting on her
side In the mud. all the passengers had
been transferred to the Cape Breton.
Thiebault and his two sons occupied a
stateroom just about where the Cape
Breton's bow entered the Canada, and
It is supposed that they were killed in
their berths The body of the father
was recovered later in the day, but
the bodies OF the sons have not yet
been found.
Bonneterre, the purser, was seen aft
er the collision making his way TO his
quarters on the lower deck with the
intention of saving his cash and his
records, and it is supposed that he per-
ished in the attempt. Brunei was a
second class passenger, and no one
saw him after the collision, though il
is Just possible that he went ashore
with the crew Of one of the boats
which were sent to secure help from
Sorel.
The steam barge prcfontaine brought |
the passengers and crew of the Canada /
10 Sorel. Many of the passengers who !
stuterooms on the upper deck |
were fortunate enough to save their |
baggage, but those on the main deck |
lost theirs. Some Of them had but lit, |
tie clothing on, but they were supplied |
with the necessary garments on arrival |
at Sorel, so when they arrived I'm |
Montreal there was no evidence of the |
fact that they had iust been through a
wreck All the passengers speak high |
ly of the efforts made by the captain
and crew of the Canada TO save the
lives of the passengers, and to their
cxertiOns is ascribed the slight loss Of
life that occurred.
There was much excitement when
the news of the sinking Of the steamer
became known, first reports placing
the loss Of life at a hundred.
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