, 1883-02-15
Steamer Gem Losr /!
FIVE PERSONS DROWNED.
DESTRUCTION BY THE FLAMES !


We stop the press to announce that
news has reached here of the burning OF
the steamer Gem on Hoods canal yester-
day with loss of following persons: L.
Raisbec, Jno. Gowan, f. G. Vickery and
wife, and the Chinese cook. These all
jumped overheard from the steamer to
escape from the flames and we're drowned
The Gem was loaded with 500 sacks of
-four and five tons of hay for Union City.
1t is supposed the fire originated by u
spark from the smokestack falling among
the hay. Capt. Williamson and most of
the crew were saved by boats from the
shore.
Since the above went in type we have
gIeaned few additional particulars from
the Post-Inteitigencer and from the
steward of the Evangel.
The Gems cargo was valued at about
$500.
The fire was discovered at 3:45, p. NJ, of
Apple Tree Cove, when Capt, Williamson
headed for the shore which was about
three miles off, and put on all steam; the
tiller.rope.burning of, hoewver, soon at.
ter, the vessel was rendered unmanage.
able.
&c. Vickery and wife were a young
couple on their way to the Skokomish
reservation to engage in teaching. A
sister Of Mr.. Yickery's was also on
board, and attempted to Jump overheard
as her brother and sister-in-law had done
but was prevented.
The life boat was lowered, but
swamped. Finally the small boat was
lowered and two deck hands and The
Chinese cook jumped inio it, oyerturning
it; two OF them were drowned.
After an hour of terrible suffering from
heat and fear two small boats manned
by ioggers came to the rescue Of those
who stood on the bow of the burn
ing steamer, shielding tlemselye
from the fire by chunks of wood or any
thing they could get to place between
themselves and tn. flames. Their fears
were increased by the expectation that
the boiler would explode, but fortunate
lv it did not.
Soon the steamer Addie came along
aud took the survivors on board, and
started to tow the burning wreck. About
this time the
EvANGEL
Came and the waves from her washed
over the Gem, andall that remained OF the
ill-fated steamer sunk forever from NOR
tai view. The survivors were placed on
the Evangel, and arrived at Seattle at
ten o'clock last night.
vi. Plaskett saved himself by throw
ing the gang plank overboark and jump
ing on it.
The Gem is the first steamer ever
burned on Puget Sound. She was load
ed by W. d, Scott & Co., OF Seattle, for
the Puget Mill Co,
F. G. Buffum, the commercial traveller,
lost all his samples, valued at $500, and
also had his hands badly burned in his
endeavors to save himself and his fellow
passengers.
The Gem was built in Michael Tier
ney's yard in North Seattle in 1878 for
Capt. G. w. Cove, and was run by him,
principally on the White river route, till
about six months ago, when she was sold
to John McReavy & Co, of Union City,
and has since been in service principally
on Hoods Canal for that firm She was
valued at about $4,000
The Gem and the Josephine were both
built the same year, in adjoining yards
in North Seattle and launched within a
week or so Of each other. They both
passed from other than their builders
hands, and were lost within few weeks
of each other, and the disasters oc.
CURED within few miles of the same
nlaoa and n number of lives were lost