The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-08-11

good ship
II never saw vessel fight so hard for
life" said Piio. Cornell. describing this
last scene In the Mexico's career IF i,
had not been for the lse tons of ballast Of
coal in her. I am practically certain size
woaid have watsrlogged ard been doa.-
ing vet. AS it vas. she flied and settled
x adualiv until the sea ar single guo
seemed to swallow her UP. II was in
eighty-five fathoms of wster. and so the
good Old Mexico is gone beyond hope of
recovery
Making for MetJakahsla.
Left to themselves and the boats. .he
shipwrecked ones followed one another
like sheep. making first Of all In the al
rection Of the nearest land, which would
bs the northernmost point OF the Queen
Charlotte islands. Very little reflection
was sufficient TO convince the captain and
pilot that this was not the best course to
pursue. for the reason that they would
here be out of the way OF passenger
steamers, and a relief party would have
70 ne sent far afieid to bring aid to the
majority. Accordingly. taking advantage
Of fair weather. the boats were rowed to-
wards Metlakahtls. the launch having
rather than a help. owing TO her coal be-
ing wet.
Picked Up by the Topeka.
The little village was made by the pilots
was picked up in port, and the rounding
UP of the other boats accomplished with
little hard work. When all had been
been brought together again. the church,
stores and dwellings OF the little place
were turned over for the sneitering OF the
unexpected visitors. while the cannery
steamer was dispatched to intercept tha
Topeka
This. too, ~as accomplished without dis-
ficulty. and the victims OF the adventure
came through TO Victoria with no mora
loss than that Of time. and one and ali
were heartily appreesative OF the bravery.
coolness and capabiity of the officers and
crew, the generosity and s. '-sacrlaclne
efforts OF the latter being especially
spoken of.
On the other hand. officers say ~. a
more easily handled. common-sens.. lot
OF passengers could not have been got to-
gether. Danger there was none ia the
literal sense OF the word, for. as the off.
GERS describe the weather conditions. no
life could have been lost unless deiiber-
a,eiy sacrificed
The Rock Not On the Charts.
The rock is described as unmarked on
any of the charts. the nearest known
menace to free navigation being at al point
two aud one-haIf miles east southeast.
At the time the Mexico struck The tide
Was an hour and half from food and
hence the rocks must lie close TO the sur
face The place is marked by little
floating kelp. but not sufficient 10 excite
any alarm In the mind Of navigator ac-
oustorned to the waters CT the north.
A Woman's Graphic story.
OF tho passengers none have more in
teresting story 10 tell ;han Mrs Eugene
Stahl. wife OF the editor OF the Alaska
News Mr., Stahl has scae to the klon-
dixie. and she is on her way 10 Tacoma
with her daughter and year-old baby.
"The nighs was dark and foggy." she
says. and The ship was drifting about.
while the Offices kept track OF ths, tides
and currents TO see where we were. Just
a5ou; daylight the engines were started
up. and less than ten minutes after a
tremendous shock xas felt in all quar-.
ters OF the ship. J spraag 10 the state
room window and inquired Of deckhand
passing what had happened.
Struck a whale nc said Shortly
after a rap came at ny door and I was
told to get into my clothes quickly and
wrap the baby in blanket.
did SO. rnd. when we got on
deck. VIC found everything In
perfect order. without the slightest trace
oe excitement. although the women all
looked very pale and the men spoke in
low tones Meme OF US seemed to realize
exactly what had happened.
1--WE acted exactly ike lot o, people
at ruasraL When we were lowered into
the boats TO one showed The least fear,
and the ofncers ard crew I'D everything
that could be wished. Fortunately the
sea was perfeet!y calm. When the boats
were clear q. inc ship. ws lay a little
distance oA and watched her. r vas a
Ieng tine before ste gave up. and went
down with 3 plunge hy she head
Down sas want oat % sight. ard we were
lef, IN the morning fog. fifty niles from
lard. without food. watar Or a compass.
II wss not long before our boat lost sight
q the others. and for twenty hours we
rowed q through the fog. not quite suge
where we wsre going. or Il we would ever
get fAs-e-