[1] Algoma (Official #85766) was built in 1883 by Aitken & Mansell in Glasgow, Scotland, for use by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company.

[5] Alberta and Algoma sailed from Glasgow on September 25, taking 13 days to cross the Atlantic and arrive in Montreal, Quebec.

"[5] There was some concern that the new steamers were disregarding safety to minimize their run times; indeed, Alberta was involved in a collision with the steam barge John M. Osborn in July 1884 near Whitefish Point which resulted in the loss of three lives.

[5] At 4:40 am, shortly after resuming steam power, Algoma ran aground on the southeast shore of Mott Island off Isle Royale.

[3] Many of the passengers and crew were swept away, but three people made it to shore (only 50 feet, 15 m away) and another 11 remained in the bow section of the ship until the morning of November 8, when the storm abated.

[5] Forty-six people died in the wreck of Algoma; there were 14 survivors, including two passengers, 11 crewmen and the captain.

[5] The force of the storm was such that nearly all the cargo was smashed; only portions of some bodies were found as the waves had "dashed them to pieces against the rocks", and some hull sections were completely flattened.

[5] The wreck of Algoma was the worst loss of life in the history of Lake Superior shipping.