Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-05-19
A TEAM BURNED.

Destruction by Fire Of the Steamer Crap
pier, OF Seymour Narrows, b. C.-Fright-
full Scenes Among h Panic-Stricken
Passengers-Sixty Cinnamon Burned.
VICTORIA, b. c., Maya.
John McAllister, who arrived at Nanaimo
Wednesday night from Seymour Narrows,
reports the burning of the steamer Grappler
within four miles of that place at ten O'Clock
Sunday night. The fire was first discovered
by the engineer and reported to the Cap
tain. All the passengers, n hundred in
number, principally Cinnamon, were in bed.
An immediate search was made
for the fire, and it was dis
covered back of the boiler. The donkey
engine was started and connected with the
hose, the passengers getting out of bed in
great excitement. The fire, which had hold
Of the bulkhead and canvas, broke out, and
the Captain ordered Pilot Franklin to head
the vessel for the Vancouver shore. The
passengers were so excited that they began
crowding into the boats, which were cnvel-
oped in smoke. The shrieks of the China
men were terrible. Mr.. McAllister then
went aft to clear four boats that were being
crowded by Cinnamon, who were yelling
like demons.
The steamer being under way and the
smoke pouring aft caused so much excite
ment at the stern that it wa difficult to
launch the boats. One boat was launched,
a Chinaman and white man getting into ii.
McAllister jumped overheard and climbed
into it afterward. There was no oars in the
boat, but they sailed her with a broom and
bamboo stick for Valdes sland, the nearest
shore. When half way to the island they
saw that the steamer had become unman-
ageable through the burning of the wheel
ropes, and had changed her course
sor Valdes Island. She passed McAllister
and turned again when near the Valdes
shore. A number of the passengers plunged
overheard. McAllister picked up a man
named Roe and two Cinnamon. The steam
or kept going backward and forward in an
erratic manner, the passengers shrieking and
yelling for assistance and the flames spread
ing rapidly. Having landed those picked
! up, McAllister, guided by the light Of the
flames, proceeded where the vessel had made
the engineer, some white men and
Cinnamon, about a boat-load, and
made for the shore. He had great difficulty
in landing, being so near the narrows. He
| did not venture out again. He lighted a
fire for the men who had been in the water
over an hour and were half dead with cold.
By this time the steamers engine had
stopped, and, catching in the eddy, she
grounded at a point in Duncan Bay close
to the Vancouver shore. She was wreathed
in flames from stem to stern, and several
explosions took place at intervals. She
burnt for hours, and at daylight no sign of
her could be seen. One boat thrown from
the vessel was turned bottom up and the
largest boat was filled in launching through
bungling. A small boat was successfully
launched, and picked up the mate and sew
eral white men, names unknown.
At daylight, Smith, in the ships boat,
proceeded to the Vancouver shore for help,
where he found a trader, who sent Indians
in canoes to bring the survivors into camp,
where food was prepared. Captain Jaggers
was last seen in midcurrent with a life-pre-
server OH. Pilot Franklin was last seen in
the pilot-house, h%erocially doing his duty.
He may have reached the Vancouver shore,
but little hope is entertained of this. Nc
Allister estimates the loss of life at sixty
persons at the lowest. The steamer Alex
ander has just left for Comox and the scene
Of the wreck, being sent forward by order
Of MI. Dunsmire.