The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-17

steam launch had been lowered. and we
We're told to get into them as quickly as
We could. ] had gathered up lot or my
things. but no heavy baggage was allowed
to be taken into the boats, and l lost prac-
tically everything had with me except the
rev handy things iii my stateroom IL was
exactly ten minutes past in the morning
Wnen the vessel struck, and after the last
person had got into the boats we waited
In the vicinity for perhaps an hour ana a
half. The steamer then settled very rapid
ly, and in a few minutes had entirely dls-
appeared. Then began our search for land.
1t was very foggy-in tact, we only saw the
sun twice on that whole day-and consid-
cradle time was lost in trying to ind out
where we We're, for the compass got out
of order and was of no use at all
"A couple of baskets full or bread mad
been thrown into the bottom of each boat,
these two articles formed the sole diet OF
the entire party while W. were IN the boats.
But that did not affect me very much, for
1 was more seasick than ever, and could
not have eaten if my life had depended
upon it. Fortunately the sea was very
calm.
the officers afterward told me, that not one
of them would have been able to ride
through a storm. We were out of sight of
land all day until about half-past O'Clock.
when a small island, the name of which
never heard, was sighted. ours was the
third boat to reach it, but we did not go
ashore, and kept right on toward an island
called New Metakahtla, where we were
finally landed about IL o clock.
sight of land is enough to make the average
mortal glad to see land once more AS We
neared the shore the boats drew together
and we all sang that good old hymn N carer,
My God, to Thee. Then we all joined in the
DoXology, and L can tell you We ali meant
IT, eyeEy word OF 1T i6o NeW Is I'M
q Scotch missionary, Father Duncan has
been working for over ten years, and we
could not have been treated more hospita-
"They are much more civilized than any
of their kind l have ever seen elsewhere,
and they did everything they could for us.
OF course a great many of us had to i'm
provise beds on the floor that first night,
but after the day in the boat we could have
slept on boards. The steamers do not touch
at Metlakahtla, so boats We're sent out 10
watch for passing vessels, and the Topeka
was signaled We left the island Sunday
morning and arrived in Seattle last
Wednesday. The conduct of the officers and
crew was excellent throughout the trip In
the boats and at the time of the accident.
They were seriously alarmed on more than
one occasion, but their behavior was such
that none of the passengers got excited.
There was one incident that struck me
as quite curious. The day before the acct
dent one of the passengers, who had at
tempted about month before TO cut his
throat in Juneau, jumped overload the
steamer was stopped, and he was picked
up safely and locked below. Just before the
some one thought of him and went below
and liberated him. In spite OF ms former
aversion to living he was one of the most
efficient of the passengers in helping the
men row. After what he had attempted 1t
struck me as being rather amusing.
''All of the men among the passengers
helped the sailors row, and one OF them
improvised novel sail for our boat. a
number of umbrellas were dashed together
to make mast, and two blankets and a
bedspread were used as sail that helped
us along considerably.
Eyes, everybody in Alaska is wild about
gold. Every steamer brings more miners,
and the Mexico on her last trip out landed
4S0 at Juneau. My son, who has been in
Juneau for several years publishing the
Alaska News has the fever, and is on his
way now to the Klondike with a large
quantity of supplies. His wife, who, with
her baby 1 left in Tacoma to see about re-
covering the value of the baggage we lost
and will join me at my home in Hartford
City. Ind, and will stay, with tin me ne until until
time before | attempt that journey again.
as I've had about all the shipwrecks I
want"