The times., 1897-08-12
Struck West Devils Rcek, Not
Far Frem Sjfka.
ALL THE PASSENGERS SAVED
Arrive in Seattle on Steamship
Topeka Tell Narrowing Tales OF
Disasters That Have Befailen the
Gsoscseekefs on the Way 10 the
KiUcd Ike Diggings.


Topeka, which arrived here last evening.
reports that the steamer Mexico on August
Is, while going into Dixon entrance from
siiEa during heavy fog at fuu speed,
struck West DEVILS Rock
After two hours the steamer sank in 300
feet OF water, stern first. The captain
exhibited great coolness, and with the
Officers, did everything that was possible.
The passengers and crew were saved with
their baggage in small boats. After row
ing till midnight they arrived a Aettlakala
The time she struck is believed 10 be 4
ia tie morning The ship is a total loss.
The passengers and crew are or the Topeka
When lie vessel struck off Sitl.a the boats
were lowered without hitch, splendid
discipline being maintained.
After the passengers were safely off the
crew turned their attention to the hand
baeea re which the passengers mad in Their
cabins and the treasures and raluables he
longing &c the steamer There was 40 time
10 attempt 10 save anything slowed away
below deck, and, al il was, everything IL
s!se cabins could not be secured. although
tie captain and crew sta yed on the steamer
lntn il was 10 longer safe for them to
do so.
They tad baiely got away from her
when size made final plunge and went
down stern first. She struck on her
starboard blge keel. and a large hole
was torn IL her side Only short time
before orders were sent TO the engine
room 70 send her under fal steam aheTd,
and consequently she went right through
the rocks.
Had she beea an iron vessel very few
would have lived 10 tell the story Of the
sccident She would have gone down
like rock.
At Kew Afetakakthala they hadto spend
several days awaiting the arrival OF the
Topeka, news of the wreck having been
scnt north 10 her by the steamer Aild
The passengers and crew had their wants
attended To hy Rev. Dr. Duncan and his
Indians OF the seyenty-fiye Passengers,
forty were tourists who made the round
trip. and others were coming south from
different Alaskan ports Included IN the
latter were party OF naturallsts who had
spent the summer in western Alaska col
Iecging specimens for the Columbian Mu-
scum.
wtth the steamer When she sailed from
Seattle 4he Mexico carried 278 passengers
ana some $50 tons OF freight, consisting
principally oe the outfits of the intending
miners. and carried in addition thereto
sizty-.:ghJ horses andone burro, " hich were
used in packing these outfits
The Mexico was owned and run by the
Pacific Coast Steamship Company, and
-. = aaa
built in san Francisco in 1892. Her gross
tonnage was 1,797; net, $50 She was
275 feet lsag. 36 feet beam, and had a
nominal hOrse-pOw er of 500.
The passengers from the Mexico, who
were brought in by the Topeka, bring more
narrowing details OF the disasters which
have happened TO tie gold seekers who
lave lately left for the Klondille diggings
by way OF the overland route. The most
violent storms have lately raEed in the
seas about Ala ska, and thousands Wi. start
without being able 70 get through 20 the
Yukon Rains have washed away the rails
and bc-.kadrd the passes Of the mountains
The lakes have been swollen 10 such an
extent and the roads have been rendered
30 dangerous that it has been found inl-
possible 10 push forward Five thousand
would-be Klondike treasure seekers are
stuck, hopelcssly stuck, between Skagway
and Lake Tagish. These VIII be con
demned 10 pass many months and TO face
the fierce rigors of the Arctic winter
thousands OF miles away from the point
they sought to reach.
Many cannot fan TO suocuTnb to tie bit
ter cold, and the stormy nature of tlle
present season is said by old, experienced
Alaskan travellers to presage an exception
ally severe winter.
il is said that they must necessaril Y con-
s,une ali their supply of provisions before
reaching Kiondike, and The survivors will
be compelled to return next spring for
more.