Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-08-12
Struck A ROCK and SANK.
The Steamer Mexico Went Down OFF
the Sitka HarbOr.
Splendid Discipline Was Maintain
ed and the Seventy-Five Passeu-
gers Were Taken Of Without a
Mlshap "A Party Of Naturalists
Lost Their Specimens.

Victoria, August 11.-For several
days anxious inquiries have been made
regarding the Pacific Coast Steamship
Cumpanys ship Mexico, which was
scheduled to leave tomorrow on her
second trip to Dyea. The vessel struck
off Sitka harbor and sank at o'clock
on the morning of August 3. Capt.
Wallace and his officers quietly awaited
their turn to be lowered over the side
in boats. This was performed without
a hitch, splendid discipline being main
tanned. After the passengers were
safely off, the crew turned their atten-
ton to the hand baggage which the pas
sengers had III their cabins and the
treasures and Yaluables belonging TO
the steamer. There was no time TO at
tempt TO save anything slowed below
deck. and as it was everything IN the
cabins could not be secured, although
the captain and crew stayed oD the
steamer until it was no longer safe for
them to do so. They had barely got
away from her when she made a tital
plunge and went down stern first. She
struck on her starboard bilge keel and
a large hole was torn in her side.
Only a short time before orders were
sent TO the engine room to send her
under full steam ahead, and consequent
" she went right through the rocks.
Had she been an iron vessel very few
would have lived to tell the story of the
accident. She would have gone down
like a rock. At New Metakathla they
had to spend several days awaiting the
arrival of the Topeka, news of the
wreck having been sent north to her by
the steamer Alki. The passengers and
crew had their wants attended to by
Rev. DR.. Duncan and his Indians.
Of the seventy-fve passengers, forty
were tourists who made the round
trip and others were coming south from
different Alaskan ports. Included IN
the latter were a party Of naturallsts
who had spent the summer in Western
Alaska collecting specimens for the
Columbian museum. Their specimens
and notes went down with the steamer.
When she sailed from Seattle the Mex
leo carried 27S passengers and some $50
tons of freight. consisting principally
Of the outfit Of the intending miners,
and carried in addition thereto sixty
eight horses and one burro, which were
used in packing these outfits.
The Mexico had been running at half
speed because of the dense fog until
few moments before rock was struck.
Pilot Connell then rang for full steam
ahead. and soon after there was a ter
rife shock on the starboard quarter.
So great was the momentum that the
ship was carried through the reef,
which, it is believed, was the West
Devil rocks, and into the deep water
beyond
Instantly there was q call of the
crew. and without the slightest confu-
sion the seventy-fve passengers on
board were safely placed in the ships
boats. Soon after the vessel struck the
heavy fog cleared, and it was bright
and sunshiny before she went down.
There was 10 excitement on board. The
passengers and watch below were awak-
ened by the shock. The alarm was
quickly given and all were quickly
dressed and reassured by the GOODNESS
of the officers and awaited their turn
to enter the boats.
The vessel was valued at about $780,
OOC. She was owned and run by the
Pacific Coast Steamship Company and
was we'll known on the sound. She
was built in San Francisco in 1892. Her
gross tonnage was /, 1,707; net 1,340 She
-. o-E eoo+ Iop1 DC faa+ booro ond had
a nominal horse power of l 500.