The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-06
STEAMER TELEPHONE SUNK.
Lost in the Fog, She Runs Into the
Willamette BreakMatAr.


Columbia river, was sunk at the mouth of the
willamette river at an early hour this morning
by running upon the breakwater during q dense
fog. She was due at her dock in this city at !
a m, and her non-arrival created some excite
ment, which grew apaee as the hours wore on,
and the widest rumors of the awful catastrophe
spread like w.ldfire through the city.
Every family, any member of which was in
Astoria and likely to be returning home, hur-
rled to the water front, eagerly seeking news of
the missing boat. Astoria had teegraphei her
departure, since which time, owing 10 the dark
ness, no report had been received. The river
has been running high and filed with
snags and sawlogs, and when 10 o'clock
in the forenoon came and still no
news OF the missing craft, women began
TO wiring their hands and shed tears, while
the faces of the men grew pale with fear, for it
was not impossible that she had been snagged
in midstresm and gone to the bottom, with her
passengers drowned in their staterooms.
At l0:l5 the steamer Undine came
up the river and when within haiiing
distance a score of voices shouted
queries about the Telephone. Back came
the glad reply: Passengers all safe and aboard
tais boat" The shout that went up from those
anxious ones on the wharf was one of I'M
bounded joy, and when a-[ew minutes later the
passengers fled ashore, they We're embraced as
II departed ones were come back TO life. Capt
ain William Larkins, the coolest man in the
crowd, told the story OF the disaster to the Posi-
ISTELLIGENCER correspondent.
The night was one Of the meanest and dirtiest
OF any have ever experienced on the river. The
fog was so thick that We could not see boats
length ahead. As we approached the mouth of
the Willamette / slowed up, as | could not see
the east sign OF light, aud finally stopped the
boat. ] knew / was at the bar, but the fog was
so thick that / could not see the light
at all, which is stake light
near the breskwster. As the current was run
ming very swift, We were drifting pidiy and
rang the slow bell 10 go ahead. We were pro-
ceeding slowly and trying TO discern the red
light in the darkness when we crashed into the
br ankwater.
The accident occurred at 8 o'clock and the
passengers We're all asleep. As as the
shock was felt they poured out from the cabin,
bat l must do them justice to say
that when they learned the trouble l never
saw more orderly set. The boat commenced
filing rapidly. Lifeboats were at once lowered
and the passengers transferred to them from the
steamer There were about twenty lad es on
board, who were placed II the boats first, the
male passengers next ana the crew bringing up
the rear. he bank of the river was only a
short distance from the steamer, aud they were
soon landed on shore. The stern of the Telephone
was in deep water. | should Judge the depth of
the water was about Atty feet, aud rs soon as
she filed she sank out Of sight, except the for
ward part bonfire was built on shore for the
comfort or the passengers, ami, considering all
the circumstances, we made the best OF things.
We waited there Ri morning, ana You
can imagine how glad they all were when
the steamer Bonita came in sight. bound
for Astoria. She was sgnaed, landed ut the
bank and the passengers were taken on board.
On meeting the Undlne, bound for Portland the
passengers were again transferred and brought
up To this city.
The accident was caused by the dense fog
The rcd light near the breakwater could not
have been over fifty feet away, but we
could not il 1T all. The river be-
ing high at the present time was another
cause for the accident. as the breakwater was
entirely under the water, though il is usually
when the river is at its average height. above
water. Had the steamer slipped on oackwaters
into the deep water surrounding her din I
think soul out .: the elghty-tiye passengers
on board would have lived TO tell the story.
some of the male passengers at first acted
very cowartily, according To the statements Of
the mate and chief engineer. That Is, g few OF
them did so. They rushed down the stairs and
insisted on getting into the boat which had
been lowered by order Of the captain. Between
the time passengers had been notified and be-
fore the frst host load left occupied only four
or FIVE minutes The steamer had COM
mcnced 10 settle rapidly and there was
probably three feet Of water in the hold before
every one had lef; the steamer. No water had
vet showed On deck. The stern had commenced
20 g down. while the bow remained about the
same height above the water. strange 20 say,
the women, of whom there were about twenty.
were very calm. in great contrast 10 the excite
rnent snd fears among the sixty
five men. Several men got into
the f-st boat, as the crew was
unable 70 cope with them. However. after
this they came to their senses and realized what
the Ulcers bad known from the first. that there
was no danger % drowning. The ladies. most OF
whom managed TO clothe theaselye were then
permitted 70 go ashore and the male portion Of
the list waited About ten trips ashore were
made by each II the two boats bsfore they were
sIl landed. By the time the last boat load left
the steamer had settled down into the position
in which she has remained since the accident
When the accident occurred everything was
coue by the officers 10 prevent q stampede, and
great creii; is due them, especially the captain.
fo- their coolness and the ability with which
they managed the boat an1 passengers