The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-08-12
srEAmsH1p MEXICO LOST.
Strikes a Hidden Rock and Goes DOWN. Had Just Left Sitka for Puget sound With 133 Passengers--All Are Saved.

Strikes a Hidden Rock and Goes Down Had Just Left Sitka for Puget sound With 133 Passengers--All Are Saved. Seattle, Aug. 1.-The steamship Mex leo, en route for getSound on they way home from Alaska, struck a rock in Dixon entrance, eleven miles northwest of Chacon Cape, at o'clock last Thurs day morning, and went down In sixty five fathoms of water. Her crew and passengers, including several Christian Endeavor excursionists, had two hours their slumbers to save their lives by taking to the boats There was no con- fusion, and every one of the 133 men and women on board was saved. | There had been heavy fog all night, ana poor progress had been made in consequence. The Mexico was under full speed, with smooth sea before her, and clear view of the water for a mile or more. Suddenly she drove nara on rock, no sign of which ap- peared on the unruffled surface of the sea. The vessel shivered and went on The engines were immediately revers- ed, but with the way she had on the ship ran for an eighth of mile before stopping. The sound of rushing water and the settling of the vessel told the pilot that a mortal blow had been re- ceived. He had, an instant after feel ac4 land. but he soon saw that in the boats lay the only safety of the passen- gers.
 The crew made rafts of the cabin and the staterooms and got together all the hand baggage, which, with the malls, was placed on life rafts. There was a hurried scramble for fresh water and eatables, and the time to leave the ship had come. The passengers and crew were on deck within a quarter of an hour, and ten minutes later the work of placing the women in boats had been accomplished.
 Just then someone thought of Charles Berry This man seems to bear a charmed life, and at the same time to be veritable Jonah He was on the Willapa when she went on the rocks.
 At that time he had attempted sui eide, but had been prevented. After taking passage on the Mexico his sui cidal mania returned The day before the steamer made Sitka he had ap- preached an officer on watch and asked permission to commit suicide He had then jumped overheard, but had been rescued and put in irons. When the last two passengers had been lowered into the boats Berry was thought of and rescued. Then the captain, crew and passengers stood by and watched the ships go down.
 q never saw a vessel fight so hard for life," said Pilot Cornell, describing this last scene. "If it had not been fo1 160 tons of ballast coal in, her she would certainly have water-logged and beer floating yet. As it was, she filled and settled gradually until the sea at g single gulp seemed to swallow her up It was in sixty-five fathoms of water , so that the Mexico is gone beyond hope of recovery"
 The shipwrecked party made in the direction of the nearest land which was the northernmost point of Queer Charlotte Islands. Very little reflec , tion was sufficient to convince the cap. tain that this was not the best course to pursue, for the reason that they would be out of the path of passenger steamships, and that relief party 1, would have to be sent far out of the way to bring aid. Taking advantage o1 fair weather, the boats were rowed to-
 ward Matlalka. A launch, having ear , ly in the struggle proved a tindrance rather than help, owing to her coa being wet, was abandoned.
 A village was reached and salmon cannery steamboat was dispatched tc intercept the City of Topeka. This was , accomplished, and the passengers ant crew of the Mexico came on to the sound on her, arriving last night. The rock which sunk the Mexico Is un marked on any of the charts, the near. est known menace to free navigation being at point two and half miles east-southeast of there.
 At the time the Mexico struck the
 tide was an hour and half from the flood hence the rocks must lie close tc the surface.
 The place is marked by a little float
 ing kelp but not enough to excite any
 alarm in the mind of navigator ac
 customed to the waters of the north. The Mexico sailed from Seattls or July 26 for Dyea. She Is owned by the