The herald., 1897-08-12
Feeling Very Glad to Be
Still Alive
SHIPWREcKED PRoSPECT0RS
ARE BETTER OFF THAN MANY
OTHERS
Outfits Cheap at Dyea, and Disguised
Miners Are Anxious to Re-
turn Home
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire
SEATTLE, August 1.-THE steamer
Topeka from Alaska arrived here early
this morning bringing the crew of the
steamer Mexico, wrecked near Sitka.
When seen this morning Captain
Thomas of the Mexico preferred to give
out no extended statement concerning
igation to be made this afternoon by
Inspector w. J. Bryant. The captain
was in bed when the accident occurred
about 4:30 o'clock Thursday morning.
From the time the steamer struck the
rock until it disappeared beneath the
waves about two hours elapsed, Cap
tain Thomas and Pilot Connell being the
last to leave the sinking ship. The self
control of the passengers was commend-
| ed by Captain Thomas. He said there
was no unnecessary excitement, the pas
sengers were aroused and put in the
| boats with as many of their personal
effects as possible.
| Percy Higgerbotham, who went up
on the Mexico as far as Dyea and came
| back ON the Topeka today, describes in
a graphic manner the sinking of the
Inflated vessel. He said: 1.-THE ves-
sci went on a rock early in the morn
ing, and when the officers said that the
| passengers had better take to the life
boats, every one was cool and calm, ard
the ladies, when going down the ladder
| over the side of the steamer to get into
the small boats, sang Christian En-
| deavor songs. The captain was cool,
but could not realize that his boat was
doomed. Some one rushed to him and
asked: Can I get my baggage in small
boat?'
"Calm yourself said Capt. Thomas
| You had better get in the small boat
yourself and leave your baggage take
care of itself 1t is impossible that the
Mexico will sink
"Some other passer gers rushed to
him for advice later, and the captain
said: Take no chances but get into
the boat 1 am going to save my ship
if I can. She will not sink, she cannot
sink
within twenty minutes after the
shock the steamers hold was filed with
water, and baggage was floating around.
We could hear the swish of water, and
could feel the steamer settling.
Just two hours ard ten minutes after
the rock was struck the Mexicos bow
sank out of sight. Then the bow bob
bed up again and her stern sank. Sud-
denly the bow shot upwards in a. per-
pendicular line, and the Mexico went to
the bottom like shot, stern first. The
life boats then pulled for Percy island.
thirteen miles distant, where the pas
| sengers were landed on a rock ar d had
something to eat. Then the long row
was renewed, and the passengers were
landed al Metlakatla, seventeen miles
from the island and thirty miles from
| the point where the vessel went down,
and there all remained until the arrival
of the steamer City of Topeka, bourd
south"
The steamer Rosalie arrived today
from Dyea and from the statements of
passengers it seems probable that a
large number of people who started for
the Yukon will return without having
gone further than Dyea or SkagwaY.
1t is reported on good authority that
outfits are being sold for almost nothing
and disguised Klondykers are arranging
TO come home as fast as possible. Sew
eral were passengers on the Inflated
Mexico, and some twenty or thirty men
have returned to juneau. Between $500
and 5000 miners are now encamped at
| Dyea. They have organized to keep down
the packing rates, and are doing every
thing possible to get over the pass. A
rate of twenty cents per pound from
Dyea to the head of Lake Bennett has
been decided on by the miners organi-
zation, and no one is allowed to pay more.
This step was made necessary, owing to
! the fact that men with money were
on the ground offering to pay as high
as thirty cents per pound in some cases
to get their goods across, while the poor
man was left behind.
GETTING SERIOUS
DYEA, Alaska, August (via Seattle,
Wash, August IL. 1.-The British steam
ers Islander and Gees have arrived with
about 500 proepectors, which increases
| the number of the Dyea and Skaguay
trails to fully 1900. Late reports have
come in to the effect that the Skaguay
route is open to the lakes and that It
is about forty-five miles long. 1t is Of
Zigzag course over the mountains and
the road is very soft. There are some
200 or 300 head of horses on the trail and
they will soon tramp it's road into de-
plorable condition. The probability Of
one man in ten reaching the Klondyke
is remote. Old Alaska prospectors, some
Of whom have wintered in the Yukon
and know what to expect, are becoming
| frightened and are turning back. Not
that they fear the hardships, but that
they are apprehensive of famine on
Account of so many men rushing head
long to the mines without enough pro-
visions to last them two months. The
best evidence that those upon the
ground, regard the situation with more
or less alarm is the fact that many are
paying twenty cents per pound to have
freight packed across Dyea pass. This
is an increase of three cents per pound
since the sailing Of the AlKi. at which
time Is and 10 cents were charged.