Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-05-04


| Pnof-The Captain Last Seen Floatins
Ont to sea-Enfire Destruction OF the
Vessel.
ESPECIAL BY TELEGRAPH TO TIN RE0oRD-uNIos.I
VICTORIA (B. CO., May 3d.-John Meal.
lister arrived at Nanaimo last night from
Seymour Narrows, and reports the burning
of the steamer Grappler within four miles Of
Seymour Nagrows, Sunday night at 10
o'clock. The fire was first suspected by the
engineer, and reported Immediately to the
Captain. All the passengers 100 in
number, and principally Chinamen-were in
bed. An immediate search was made below
by the CAPTAIN, assisted by the engineer,
purser and McAllistel. Being satisfied that
the fire was at the back connections of the
boiler. the engineer immediately started the
donkey and connected the hose.
INTENSE EXCITEMENT.
By this time the passengers were getting
cut Of bed. and the excitement among them
was intense. McAllister remained below I'M
til he saw the fire, which had hold of the
bulkhead and canvas. He then ran on deck,
called for buckets, and advised the Captain to
heach the vessel at once. The Captain or
dered Pilot Franklin to head the vessel for
the Vancouver shore. The passengers were
so excited that they bsgHn crowding into the
boats, which were enveloped in smoke. The
sb -;aIyu cf tba Cb;oauay, x,ara tarr;hla Nc.
Allister then went aft to clear four boats Of
his owp, which vera also being crowded by
the Chinsmen. who were still yelling like de.
mons. The steamer being under way. and
the smoke pouring aft, caused SO much ex-
element at the stern that it was difficult, if
not impossible, to launch the boats. One
boat McAllister launched, and Chinaman
and white man got into it, McAllister jump
ing into the water and climbing into his boat
Immediately afterwards. There were no oars
in the boat, but Ysldes Island being the
nearest shore, McAllister sculled the boat by
means of broom and bamboo cane to-
wards it. When half way up to the island
they saw that
THE STEAMER HAD BECOME UNMANAGEABLE
Through the burning of herwheel ropes, and
had changed her course for the Valdes side.
She passed McAllister, and turned again
when near the Valdes side, when number
of passengers plunged overheard. McAllis.
ter picked up the purssr, man named Roe,
and two or three Cinnamon. One of the
Cinnamon was supporting himself on board
This McAllister split in two and made into
paddles. which were used by himself and
another man TO good advantage afterwards.
In the meantime the steamer kept going
backward and forward in an cratic manner,
the passengers shrieking and yelling for as
sistance, the flames spreading rapidly over
the vessel. Having landed those picked up,
McAllister then proceeded, guided by the
lights, towards where the steamer had made
her last turn on the Valdes side. They
picked up Cinnamon, Siwashes, Steele, the
engineer, and several other white men, max.
ing about a boat load, and although Nc
Allster was 10th 10 go ashore from the con-
tinusd shrieks which wero being INCREASINGLY
given from those around, discretion COM
pslled him to put to shore again. As he had
had terrible hard work to land this time, being
exceedingly close to the Narrows and the tide
increasing rapidly, he did not consider it safe
to venture out again, but lighted fire to
warm those who were
HALF DEAD WITH COLD,
Some having been upwards of an hour in the
water. By this time the steamers en- sine
had stopped, and catching in On eddy,
she grounded at point near Duncan
Bay. close to the Vancouver shore. She was
wreathed in flames from stem to stern, several
slight explosions taking place of intervals.
She burned for several hours. and at daylight
no signs of the steamer could be obtained.
One boat thrown from the steamer turned
bottom up, aud the largest boat filed on
launching, through bungliDg in the stacking
Of forward tackle. The steamers small boat
was successfully launched, and picked up the
mate and several others, all white men, whose
names are unknown to McAlIister. At day.
light Smith, in the ships boat. proceeded to
the Vancouver shors in search Of any who
might have bsen saved. In the mean tine
McAllister left for the Uclataw camp and
Cape Nudge, to procure paddles, oara and
provisions. Here he met John Dick and A.
Mayer, of Nanaimo, and MoPhie, trader
from Conox, who Immediately sent Indial s
in Canoe 20 bring the survivors to the camp,
McPnie preparing food for them on their ar
rival Captain Jaggers was last seen in :he
water in midcurrent with life preserver on.
Franklin, the pilot, has not bsen seen, except
in the pilot-house, where he was heroicslIy
doing his duty. he might have escaped TO
the Vancouver shore, but little hopes are en-
tertained of any having been saved on that
side. McAllister left for Cape Nudge before
the ships boat returned. He estimates the
loss at Fifty iyes-the lowest figure. The
steamer Alexander has just left for Comox
and the scene OF the wreck, by orders of Mr..
Dunsmuir, who generously sent her forward
at a most oeportune moment.