New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-18
THE LOSS OF THE ALASKAN.
THIRTY PERSONS MISSING IN ADDITION TO
THOSE KNOWN TO BE LOST.
PARTICULARS OF THE DISASTER OFF CAPE
BLANCo-ARRIvAL OF THE SURVIVORS
AT SAN FRANCISCO.

Portland Ore, May I7.--Captain r. E. Hoves, OF
tho foundered steamer Alaskan, and First Officer
Wood arrived here on the steamship Columbia. Tho
Alaskan sailed for San Francisco from Astoria last
Saturday noon, and crossing the Columbia River bar
safely headed down the coast on Sunday forenoon.
gale sprang up, which soon increased to storm, the
sea high, and the vessel began labonng heavily
and leaking The officers and yanly eDdeavOr
stop the leak by suflng in blankets and bedding
The storm continued with undated fury,
and early Sunday evening the upper works OF the
steamer went t. pieces The water poured in on all
Sides putting the fires In the furnaces and literally
flooding the upper works The engines were stopped,
and the vessel pitched and tossed at tho mercy Of the
waves. The pumps could not be worked and the
vessel began filing. However, Captain Howes gave
orders for all stay by the vessel In hopes that the
storm would abate
About l2 O'Clock Monday night, It was evident
that the steamer would soon founder Captain
Howcs then gave orders TO launch the life boats and
RATS. All the boats launched but one, which was
crushed against tho sde Of the steamer. The men
behaved we'll acting with coonesS and obeying orders
promptly. There were forty -four nnn on board tho
vessel, and three stOwawayS All but seven or eight
put life prrservcs, got into tho boats and the
life RATS and drifcd away. Some refused to leave
the Al ALL prefrrring takc drs perate chances
board rather than commit themselves tO the
hungry waters. At 2.l5 a. n. Monday, Tho
steamer went down. s. sm first. Captain lowos stayed
with the vessel until she sank, and cngng "a 4 por.
ton of the wreckAgc aoacd away. lie afterwaId
picked up by thosc OF IT, RATS. After
thirty three hours he and others picird up by the
tug VlEllanto The vessel also picked
up the first officer. g. W. Wood T. wallace. W. Col
Inns, j. Bornhoid, J. Monaghan J. ". Brown W.
Alfred Johnson, John Wech and George Shlldcrp, tho
last named person had leg broken by tho falling Of
Imbcs before ho left tho steamer and died soon
after being picked up by tho ViHlantc. John Welch
found dead a piece Of wrccksgo. Chief En-
ginoer swayne was washed of OF the RATS soon
after leaving the sinking vessel and Is known TO be
lost. Among those Who refused 10 leave and
certainly lost Albert Rswes, tho steward; r. I.
Week, second officer; W. Jcnney, seaman.
Thirty PERSONS remain unAccOuntrd for. The tug
ViElsntc, after picking up those mentionet crnIsed
about the Sene OF tho disaster for over twelve
hours, bat saw signs Of the others. The United
States Lighthouse tender ManIAntA Is cruising about
looking for the survivors, there DO any. CaTo
Blanco Is about 200 miles south OF tho mouth Of the
Columbia River the coast ot Oregon, and Is only
a short distance from the north port OF Capr Orfori
The Alaskan saak about eighteen miles of the cape.
The VigAnte uEht the survivors 10 the mouth OF
the Columbia and waited until tho ocean stcaInoT
Columbia came along and then transferred tho sUr
Hvors 20 that vessel.