The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-08-11
Passengers Take to the Boats
and All Escape.
Picked Up By the getty of To-
peka" Later.
WAS SAME STEAMER
In Which Joaquin Miller Made
His NOrthward Trip.
Naturalists Lose An Entire
Summers Collections.

Victoria, B. C., Aug. 11.-The steamer
Topeka, which arrived here last even
ing, reports that the steamer Mexico
on August 5, while going into Dixon,
entrance from Sitka, during a heavy
fog, at full speed, struck West Devils
rock.
After two hours the steamer sank in
500 feet of water, stern first. The cap
tain 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 rowing until midnight
they arrived at Metakathla- The time
she struck is believed to be in the
morning. The ship is a total loss The
passengers and crew are on the To-
peka.
Later details say the steamer Mexico
which was wrecked at the entrance of
Sitka harbor at o'clock a m. on Au-
gust 5, had been running at half speed
because of the dense fog until a few
moments before a rock was struck Pi
lot Connel then rang for full steam
ahead, and soon after there was a ter
rifle 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 rock
and into the deep water beyond. In
stantly there was a call of the crew
and without the slightest confusion the
rs passengers on board were safely
placed in the ships boats. Soon after
the vessel struck, the heavy fog clear
ed and it was bright and sunshiny be-
fore she went down.
The passengers and watch below were
awakened by the shock. The alarm
was quickly given and all were quick
~ dressed and reassured by the cool
ness of the officers and awaited their
turn to enter the boats The vessel
was valued at about 100000
San Francisco, Aug. IA special
from Victoria, B. C., to the Chronicle
says:
For several days anxious INQUIRIES
nave been made regarding the Pacific
coast Steamship company's ship Mex
leo, which was scheduled to leave to-
morrow on her second trip to Dyea
when the vessel struck off Sitka. Cap
tain Wallace and his officers quietly
aWalted their turn to be lowered over
the side in boats. This was performed
without a hitch, splendid discipline be-
ing maintained After the passengers
were safely off, the crew turned their
attention to the hand baggage which
the passengers had in their cabins and
TO the steamer. There was no time to
attempt to save anything slowed below
deck, and everything in the cabins
could not be secured although the
captain and crew stayed on the steam
er until it was no longer safe for them
to do so. They had been awoy from
her but few minutes when she made
final plunge and went down stern
first
She struck on her starboard biIge
keel, and a large hole was torn in her
side Only short time before orders
were sent to the engine room to send
her under full steam ahead and con-
sequently she went right through the
rock. Had she been an iron vessel
very few would have lived to tell the
story of the accident. She would have
gone down like rock. At New Meta
kathla 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 AlEd. The
passengers and crew had their wants
attended to by Rev. DR.. Duncan and
his Indians. OF the 75 passengers. 40
were tourists who made the round trip
and others were coming south from diff
ferent Alaskan ports.
Included in the latter were a party
of naturalists who had spent the sum-
linens for the Columbian museum.
Their specimens and notes went down
with the steamer. When she sailed
from Seattle, the Mexico carried 27S
freight, consisting principally of the
outfit of the intending miners and car
ried in addition thereto 6S horses and
one burro which were used in packing
these outfits.
The Mexico was owned and run by
the Pacific Coast Steamship company
and was well known on the sound. She
was built in San Francisco in 1892. She
was 275 feet long. &c feet beam and had
a nominal horse power of 1,500.