Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-11
Steamer Struck a Rock at Entrance
of Sitka Harbor.
PASSENGERS and CREW ALL SAVED
Was on Her Return Trip From
Alaskan Ports.
CARGO IS AN ENTIRE LOSS

VICTORIA, B. c., August 1.-THE
steamer Topeka, which arrived here last
evening, reports that the steamer Mexico
on August ), while going into Dixon en-
trance to the harbor of Sitka, during a
heavy fog, struck West Devil rock at full
speed. and in about two hours sank, stern
first, in 500 feet of water.
The captain exhibited great GOODNESS. 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 at Mettla-
kala. The time she struck is believed
to be 1 o'clock in the morning. The ship
is a total loss. The passengers and crew
are on the Topeka.
Struck at Full Speed.
The steamer had been running at half
speed because of the dense fog until a few
moments before the rock was struck.
Pilot Connen then rang for full steam
ahead and soon after there was a terrible
shock on the starboard side. So great
was the momentum that the ship was car
ried through the reef, which, it is believed,
was the West Devils rocks, and into the
deep water beyond.
Instantly there was a call of the crew.
and without the slightest confusion the
safely placed in the ships boats. Soon
after the vessel struck the heavy fog
cleared, and it was bright and sunshiny
before Sne went down.
There was no excitement on board. The
passengers and watch below were awaken
ed by the shock. The alarm was quickly
given, and all were soon dressed and re-
assured by the GOODNESS of the officers, and
awaited their turn to enter the boats The
vessel was valued at about 100000.
Party of Scfentists nm Ro.r1
A party of scientists, who have been COL
lecting specimens in Alaska for the Co.
lumbian Museum, were returning on the
steamer. They lost all their instruments.
notes and specimens, which were in the
hold of the vessel, only the hand baggage
OF passengers and officers being saved.
News From San Francisco.
SAN FRANCISCO. August 11.-A special
from Victoria to the Chronicle SAYS: For
several days anxious inquiries have been
made regarding the Pacific Coast Steam
ship Company's ship Mexico, which was
scheduled to leave tomorrow on her second
trip to Dyea-
When the vessel struck off Sitka. as re-
ported in an earlier dispatch Captain Wal
lace and his officers quietly awaited their
turn to he lowered over the side i'll boats
Ihls was performed without a kitch
spleLdld discipline being maintained After
the passengers were safely off the crew
turned their attention to the hand bag
gage which the passengers had in their
caDlnS and the treasure and valuables be-
longing to the steamer. There was no
tune to attempt to save anything slowed
below deck. and as 1t was everything in
the cabins could not be secured although
the captain and crew stayed on the steamer
until IL was no longer safe for them to do
So They had not been away from her
long when she made a final plunge and
went down stern first.
She struck on her starboard bilge keel.
and large hole was torn in her side. Only
a short time before orders were sent to
the engine room to send he- under full
steam ahead and consequently she went
right through the rocks. Had she been an
tell the story of the accident. She would
have gone down like a rock
Waiting for the Topeka
At New Metakthala they had to spend
several days awaiting the arrival of the
topeka, news of the wreck having been
sent north 70 her by the steamer Alki.
The passengers and crew had their wants
attended to by the Rev DIR. Dunn and the
Indians OF the seventy-ff-e passengers
forty were tourists who made the round
trip, and others were coming south from
difterent Alaskan ports. When she sailed
from Seattle the Mexico carried 27S pas
sengers and some $50 tons of freight con-
sisting principally of the outfits of the in
tending miners, and carried IN addition
thereto sixty-eight horses and one b,.rro
which was used in packing these outfits.
The Mexico was owned by the Pacific
Coast Steamship Company and was well
known on the sound. She was built In San
Francisco in 1892. Her gross tonnage was
1,f9I: net ] $40. She 215 feet long, 36
feet beam and had nominal horsepower