The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-06-10
CARRIES AWAY GATES OF LOCK e- al Accident on a Ship
 Canal. THREE VESSELS DAMAGED Water Rushes Out Carrying the
 Boats. Captain MosHes of the Steamer Walker Says Accident Was Caused By Ensineer Making Mistake
 in Signals.
 

Eault Ste Marie, Mich. June 9.-with all the weight of Lake Superior behind 1t, an >ungoverned torrent of water rushed tonight through the $4.oo0,ooo Canadian canal.
 The lock was wrecked today when the steamer Perry G. Walker rammed her bow through the lower gate. The canal encased within its walls this evening tremendous spectacle. in- cluding two waterfalls and giant whfrplool.
 The upper gates were open when the Walker crushed open the lower gates. and the tremendous power of the rap- ids was given instant play. The big steamer Assintbioa moored within the lock chamber, was torn away. She rammed the Walker from her path. the Assiniobioa's port anchor ripping a hole in the Walkers side.
 The Assinibioa swept Into the open reaches of the river below. Her cargo shifted and this gave her q con- siderable list and several plates on her port side forward of amidships were loosened.
 The Walker was whirled around sev- eral times and finally landed on 0 shoal out of the channel.
 The ore laden steamer Crescent City. just entering the locks from Lake Su- perfor. was swept down stream like a feather. She overlook the Assinibioa and struck the latter two glancing blows after having e great hole torn in her side as she swept past the broken lower gate. Tugs caught her and lowed her to the American side, where she settled.
 The loss to the Canadian Government will probably reach s2go,e00 and the damage to the Crescent City is esti- mated at s1o0,000. The damage to the Lea lTar rar comparatively light.
 Captain Moeher of the steamer Wal ker declares that the accident was caused by hiB engineer making a mis- take and throwing his lever. to full speed" on the captains signal to back up."
 Worst ygreek ea CanaIs. Detr@it 8oue ss-SA diapatdh to Tn, | NeBs frprn Eanlt atn Marie says tha the accident caused the wofat wFAcl In the history Of the ship cAnkls The accident happened while tn, steamers Assdnaboia, of the Canadian Pacific Railroad line and the Emplr. City, of the steel trust fleet, were be, ing locked through. One of the leavel os the upper gates of the lock gave way. With terrifc force the water from the higher level rushed Into ths
 
 the lower gates before it. The Empire City was hit by the Asslnaboia aa the, were carried out of the lock and 2 large hole was torn in the bow of tn, steel trust boat. The Assinaboia reach ed the American side. where she ties up at the government pier. She II slowly sinking.
 The Gilchrist liner Perry c. Walker was tied up above the lock and wher the accident happened the rush of tn, water broke her line and she wa swept through the canal, sinking a the lower entrance. It is said the ac cident was caused by the steamer As sinaboia hitting the gate as she en l tered the lock.
 The flood from the upper level fl l pouring through the canal at a ter | rife pace. Efforta to lower the mova bie dam above the upper gates are be ing made.
 The accident to tie Canadian Ioe, will not tie up trafflc between the up | per and lower lakes; 1t will, howeyef | necessitate the use of the Poe, o | American lock, by all steamers an, l therefore result In considerable delay A message to President Livingstone | of the Lake CarrierS Association, say that So far as known no one was hur either on the lock or the steamer which went through 1t. President Livingstone says that ow | Ing to conditions on the lakes this sea | son and the resultant light movemen | of traffic the accident will not result fl serious delay to shipping. There ar fewer boats than usual in service d the present time.