Historical Niagara

Posted to Facebook January 3 2025

The Sinking of the S.S. Asia was one of the worst on the Great lakes at the time and it was built in St Catharines here is her story.

Built in 1872/73 at Simpsons Shipyard located along the Second Canal at lock 5(now Westchester near the 406) The Asia was a wooden Canaller at 136ft long and was made to haul passages and Cargo.

On Sept 14 1882 it left Parry Sound loaded with possibly 125 passengers and a full cargo hold but reports suggested the ship was overloaded and much cargo was stored on Deck. Captain Savage was heading towards The French River when they struck a gale. He turned the ship towards Byng Inlet but the ship capsized. Now some did make it to a life boat including the captain but over the course of the day all but 2 teenagers remained alive and were found near the lighthouse at Byng Inlet by a passing Ojibwa in a canoe.

Christie Morrison 17 and Dunk Tinkis 19 had survived to tell the story. Christie died in 1937 and Dunk passed from illness in 1918.

It’s believed that 24 crew members, 85 male passengers, 11 women and 9 children were lost

that day but numbers are not confirmed. At the Time it was one of the worst tragedies on the Great Lakes. The Shipwreck has never been found but several searches have been done.. sadly several other Ships built at Simpsons Shipyard in St Catharines sank and claimed many lives but that’s another story to tell..