The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-12
STEAMER MEXICO LOST.
SIZE sIRIK Es A ROCK AND SINKS
ON HER WAY FROM ALAsHA.

her PASSENGERS ana Crew saved and Taken
Back TO Seattle By the Steamer Topeks-
Some Encurnionists Aboard - The Hidden
reef she struck Not Marked on tho Charts.
SEATTLE, Aug. 1.-THE steamship Mexico,
en- route for Puget Sound on hor way homo
from Alaska. struck q rock In Dixon entrance,
eleven miles northwest of Chacon Cape and
$50 miles south of sitka, at 4 o'clock on last
Thursday morning and went down In sixty
five fathoms of water. Her crew and passen-
gers. including several Christian Endeavor OK
cursionists, had two hours from the time they
were aroused from their slumbers to save their
lives by taking to tho boats. There was no con-
fusion, and every one OF tho 1873 men and womec
on board was saved. 80. -,
There had been a fog early In the night, and
poor progress had been mado In consequence.
The Mexico was under full speed. with a smooth
sea before her and a clear view Of the water for
a mile or more. Suddenly she drove hard on q
rock, no sign of which appeared on the unrufiied
surface. OF the sea. The vessel shivered and
went on. Tho engines were Immediately re-
versed. but with the way she had on the ship
ran for an eighth Of a mile before stopping. Tho
sound of rushing water and the settling Of the
vessel told the pilot that a mortal blow had been
received. He had. an instant after feeling the
blow, headed for the nearest land, but he soon
saw that in the boats lay the only safety Of tho
passengers.
Tho crew made RATS and got together all the
hand baggage, which. with the mails. was
placed on them. There was n hurried scramble
for fresh water and catables. and the time to
leave the ship had come. The passengers and
crew were on deck within q quarter Of an hour.
and ten minutes later the work OF placing the
women In the boats had been accomplished:
This man seems to bear a charmed life and at
tho same time to be a ~yeritable Jonah. He was
~ fha I pa t.hAn pla rnr m fhA Nnb
At that time he had attempted suicide. but
had been prevented. After taking passage on
day before the steamship made sitka he had ap-
preached an officer on watch and asked per-
mission to commit m ,u suicide led ,od He ros had then hen
put In irons. When tho 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 ship go
down.
said Pilot Cornell, describing this last scene.
III 1t had not been for 100 tons OF ballast coal
in and her Sson she fo, Would I certainly tai Y n asye sS Sst sTisSg SSd
settled gradually. until the sea at a single Rulp
seemed to swallow her up; It vas In sixty.fve
fathoms of water. so that the Mexico is gone be-
The shipwrecked party at first made in the
direction of tho nearest land. which was tho
northernmost point Of Queen Charlotte Islands.
Very little reflection was sufficient to convince
pursue, for the reason that they would be out Of
tho path of passenger steamships. and that, a
relief party would have to be sent Tar out OF the
weather. the boats were rowed toward Matiaika.
A launch, which early in the struggle had
proved a hindrance rather than a help, owing
to her coal being wet, wac abandoned.
A village was reached and q salmon cannery
of Topeka. This was Accomplished, and tho pas
sengers and crew of the Mexico came on to tho
Sound on her, arriving last night. The rock
which sunk the Mexico Is unmarked on any OF
the charts, the nearest known menace to FREQ
navigation being at a point two and a half miles
east-southeast of there.
At the time the Mexico struck the tide was an
hour and a half from the flood; hence the rock
must lie close to the surface.
The place is marked by a little floating kelp,
but not enough to excite any alarm in the mind
OF Il navigator accustomed to the waters Of the
north.
The Mexico sailed from Seattle on July 20 for
Dyea. She is owned by the Pacific Coast Steam
ship Company.
The passengers were composed principally Of
Christian Endeavorers from tho East and Cali
u. W. Lewis, Mrs. E. stahl and baby. Miss
MissA. c. Lock. Miss Fletcher, +. RI. McNabb.
W. H. Lewis, Mrs. w. M. Stahi, William Wheel
or. A.. II. Hillman and wife, J. p. Pomeroy.
Miss 7. Gray. Miss Sloan, B. B., Griffin, H. B.
!: Fisher, Miss i. PETERSON, +. Il. Pensis and
L. N. Howe. A. II. Wilbur and wife. Miss J. Mel.
son, George N: Roe. F. 7: Calf, p: ". Graves
and wife; Billy, schooler, C., F. Buchanan
J. r. McGregor. Mr.. REESE. Mrs. CD. Mariager,
DR.. z. +. Marker. Miss +. Z. Millitt, Mrs. c. e.
Richards. Miss Diamer. Miss NJ. Nelson, g: L.
Fox, Dewitt Devendorf,. T. Tagliabut, Mrs.
Glenn. c. f. Burg, A.. c. Edwards and wife. tho
II. Anderson, and J. W. Squire, wife. and three
children.