, 1889-05-23
LOST In THE SEA.
The GREAT STEAMER ALASKAN
SUNK.
SIX OF HE-GREW DEAD AND THIR'
TY-THREE MISSING.

PORTLAND, May 16.-The Oregon Rail
way II Navigation Compauy's beautifH
steamer Alaskan lies at the bottom o.
the ocean somew here off Cape Blanco
on the southern coast Of Oregon. Five
of the crew are known TO be lost. Six
teen more are either drowned or drift
ing about in the ocean in two of the
ships boats, while thirteen were picked
up by the tug Vigilance and turned
over to the steamer Columbia, which
will arrive late tonight. The Alaskas
was worth $4,000, and was insured for
$780, 600
News of her loss reached here at II 30
to-day, when the Columbia arrived at
AstorIa, an hour before the Information
was wired to this city. As nearly all
| the men lived here the receipt of the
news of the disaster created great ex-
citement.
THE LAST VOYAGE.
The Alaskan steamed out of Victoria
at 1870 p. N. Saturday. She was bound
for San Francisco where she was TO go
into the dry dock for repairs, after
which she was to be brought to Port
land and placed on the route between
Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia and Victoria
during ihe summer season. Her crew
numbered forty-seven men, the most
competent seamen that could be picked
up in this vicinity. Though many ap-
piled for passage tie company refused
to allow anyone to 90 on the vessel be
side the officers and crew. No freigl,
was taken either.
Captain Howes, of Astoria, was in com
mand, and Pilot Woods, OF Astoria, was
first officer. Pilot Weeks, of that place,
was second officer. Mr.. Swain, OF Seat
lie, who. was fist engineer OF the T. J.
Potter, occupied the same position on
the ilI-fated steamer. A Rhales, of As
toria, was steward.
TOSSED II THE STORM.
When the Alaskan left Astoria Satur-
day the weather was warm, though indi-
cations were for foul weather. The bar
ometer was falling rapidly in Oregon and
rising in California. Sunday Storm
began, ard since then the weather has
been hoisterou5 all along the coast. Sun
day night the steamer behaved fairly
well. Before sailing for San Francisco
she was thoroughly rebraced and her
rdc faE EDn fH 70 tEr
plenty Of play. Her forward guards
were not removed. 1t is supposed that
on account of the guards she caught wa
ter under them, which ran into ber hold.
She was fixed mp in pretty much the
same manner as she was when coming
around from the Atlantic.
ALL HANDS TAKE To THE BOATS.
Monday morning found the steamer
riding hard. Three hours after midnight
it was found that she was sinking, and
all hands took to the boats. Captain
Howcs, Captain Woods and eleven of the
crew were all in one boat, and the re-
mainder of the crew in the others. The
wind was blowing III southWesterly
direction at the time and the men were
drifted toward the land.
ONE BOAT PICKED UP.
The tug Vigilance, towing the big
dredger, on her way from San Diego to
Tacoma, run across Captain Howes and
hir party and picked them up. Captain
BolIes OF the steamer Columbia sailed
up from San Francisco last Tuesday at
10 4. m. When shortly this side of Cape
BIanco she ran acroos the tug and took
the passengers aboard, bringing them
up with him.
| TWO BOATS MISSING.
What the fate of the others was is not
yet known, but hopes are entertained
that they drifted landward and Were
saved. 1t is positively known that all