Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-05-23
THE WRECKED STEAMER.
Serious Loss of Life Feared by the Wreck
of the Steamer Alaskan Seventeen


Serious Loss of Life Feared by the Wreck
of the Steamer Alaskan Seventeen
Missing.
PORTLAND, Ore, May lS-Captain R
E. Howes, of the foundered steamer
Alaskan, and First Officer Wood have ar
rived here on the steamship Columbia
They state that the Alaskan sailed for
San Francisco from Astoria last Satur-
day, crossed the Columbia river bar
safely ard headed down the coast Sum
day forenoon. A very heavy gale sprang
up which soon increased to a terrible
storm, and the sea ran very high and the
vessel began laboring heavily. In the
afternoon the steamer strained and
began taking water. The pumps
were kept going constantly and
the officers and the crew vain
ly endeavored to stop the leak by
stuffing in blankets and bedding. The
storm continued with unabated fury and
early Sunday evening the works of the
steamer began going to pieces. The
water poured in on all sides, putting out
the fires in the furnaces and literally food
ing the upper works. The engines were
stopped and the huge vessel pitched and
tossed completely at the mercy of the
elements. The pumps could not be worked
and the vessel began filling, but Captain
Howes gave orders to all to stay by the
vessel, hoping that the storm would soon
abate.
About twelve o'clock Monday night it
was evident the steamer would soon
founder aud Captain Howes then gave
orders to launch the lifeboats and RATS.
All the boats were launched but one or
two. which crushed against the side
of the steamer. The men behaved with
GOODNESS and obeyed orders promptly.
There were forty -four men on board the
vessel and three stowaways. About one
O'Clock all put on life preservers, got in the
boats and RATS and drifted away. Some
refused to leave the steamer at all, pre-
ferring to take their chances on board
rather than commit themselves to the hum
cry waters.
AT 2:15 a m. Monday the steamer took
a plunge and went down stem first,
Captain Howes gallantly stayed with the
vessel until she sank, and, clinging to q
portion of the wreckage, foated away.
He was afterward picked up by those on
board the RATS After thirty five hours
he and others were picked up by the tug
Vigilante. The same vessel also picked up
the first officer, G. W. Wood, L. Wallace,
w. Collins. b Bernard, j. Monaghan, j.
W. Brown, Alfred Bronson, John Welsh
and George Childrup.
Childrup had leg broken by the heav-
ing of timbers before leaving the steamer
and died soon after being picked up. John
Welsh was found dead ON piece of
wreckage. Chief Engineer Swaine was
washed off one of the RATS soon after
leaving the sinking vessel and is known
to be lost.
Among those who refused to leave the
Alaskan and were certainly lost were AL
bert Rahles, steward; S. T. Week, second
officer, W. Jenney and A. S. Leman-
Thirty men remain yet unaccounted for,
whose fate is unknown at present. The
tug Vigilante, after picking up those
mentioned, cruised about the scene of the
disaster for over twelve hours, bNt saw
no signs of the others.
At the time the vessel foundered fear
full storm prevailed and the rain descended
in torrents. There is scarcely any hope
that the other part of the crew escaped,
but efforts are being made to find them OF
ascertain their fate. The United States
light house tender, Mazanita, now on the
Southern coast is cruising about looking
for the survivors, il any.
Cape BIanco is about 200 miles south OF
the mouth of the Columbia river on the
coast of Oregon, and is only short dis
tance from Cape Oxford. As near as can
be ascertained the disaster occurred about
eighteen miles off the cape.