Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1904-06-13
SANK THE CANADA
Richelieu and Ontario Steam
or Rammed by Collier.
WENT DOWN NEAR SOREL, FIVE LOST
Collision Occurred at EARLY Dawn.
Passengers Were Hastily Trans
ferred-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
were ITO people on board, and all were
rescued except five.
Those who persisted were: Alfred
Thiebault, ticket agent Of the company
at Quebec, and his two sons, aged
twelve and fifteen; Purser Bonneterre
Of the Canada; a 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 vis-
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 at full speed, came into view.
Just how the collision occurred and
been determined, for the officers of the
Canada decline to 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
ers 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,
| 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
| Iy those on board were composed, while
/ the discipline shown by the crew OF
the Canada was excellent
When the Canada went down along
4 side the Cape Breton, resting on her
4 side in the mud, all the passengers had
been transferred to the Cape Breton.
Thiebault and bis two sons occupied a
stateroom just about where the Cape
Breton's bow entered the Canada, and
1t 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
! err 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 ii
is just possible that he went ashore
with the crew Of one of tie boats
which were sent to secure help from
SoreI
The steam barge Prefontaine brought
the passengers and crew OF the Canada
to Sorel. Many OF the passengers who
occupied staterooms on the upper deck
were fortunate enough to save theAl
baggage, but those on the main decA
lost theirs Some of them had but lit
tie clothing on, but they were supplied
with the necessary garments on arriva
at SoreI, SO when they arrived II
Montreal there was no evidence Of The
fact that they had just been through {
wreck. All the passengers speak high
~ of the efforts made by the captain
and crew of the Canada to save thu
lives Of the passengers, and to theil
exertions is ascribed the slight loss o.
life that occurred.
There was much excitement wheH
the news Of the sinking Of the steamer
became known, first reports placing
the loss of life at a hundred.
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