The San Francisco call., 1897-08-12
LOST WHEN MOST NEEDED.
GoodalI. Perkins g. Co. Find 1t Diff
ficult to Replace the
Mexico,

fcult to Replace the
Mexico.
The following telegram was received by
Goodail, Perkins & Co. from Nanaimo, B.
, c.:
The Mexico started from Sttka at A. NJ on
the 4th inst Took the outside passage and
arrived at Cape Chacon at midnight. Got un-
der way again at 3 A. N. and at 4 20 A. NJ struck
rock on the starboard bilge, supposed to be
West Devil Rock. fourteen miles from Cape
Chacon. The steamer filed very rapidly, and
at 6: 80 A. NJ. sank in eighty-fve fathoms of
water. All the passengers and crew were
saved. Such baggage as was in the staterooms
was also saved. Everything else was lost
Boats were left at Metlakahtla in charge of Rev.
Mr.. Duncan, head missionary on the Alaskan
station. Captain Thomas and all passengers
and crew came down on the City of Topeka.
The Mexico left the sound last nj month
with large party of Christian Endeavor
excursioniss and went as far as Dyea,
where she landed a few miners bound for
Klondyke. Over 400 miners who had
booked to leave on her on the return trip
were awaiting her at Seattle, 80 Captain
Thomas took the outside passage, or "the
short cut home" 1t proved to be the
long way around.
Goodall, Perkins & Co. are in q quan.
dary over the loss of the steamer. A few
months ago half their feet was idle and
now they cannot charter vessel o. love
or money. All of last Tuesday night men
worked on the City of PueDIa getting her
Puget Sound freight out and yesterday
afternoon she sailed for Port Hartford to
bring up load OF grain. With her went
forty longshoremen and forty more will
be engaged at Port Hartford. It is hoped
to have the vessel loaded and back in San
Francisco tonight in order that she may
leave for Puget Sound ports some time
to- morrow. The Oregon has to be hauled
out of retirement and put on the Co.
lum bia River route to relieve the glut
there, so the company has not a vessel
available to take the place of the Mexico.
Among those who were awaiting the
arrival of the Mexico at Seattle is Sam
Pond, son OF ex-Mayor Pond. He is bound
for the gold fields, and yesterday his father
spent half day trying to get him pas
sage on the City of Topeka. The latter
goes only as far as Juneau. however, and
the only way by which Dyea can be
reached is by the George w. Elder, which
leaves six days later.
"We will do everything In our power
to straigh hten out matters" said Edwin
Goodall yesterday: ''but such matters
cannot be fixed up in a moment. If by
any possible chance we can secure a
steamer she will at once be sent up to
take the Mexico's place. If we can't, we
will have to do the best we can with the
Elder and Topeka. The Mexico was par
TALLY insured
There is just chance that the Zsalandia
may be chartered from the Oceanic Stea m.
ship Company and put on the southern
route. In that event the Corona would be
sent north to replace the wrecked steamer.
The Mexico was built by the Dickies
about ten years ago for com pany trading
in the Gulf of California. Captain John
Birmingham superintended the building
of the vessel, and be stuck so rellgiously
10 the terms Of the contract that the build
ers lost at least $50, 000 on the job.
About seven years ago. when on her way
here from Nanaimo, B. c., she struck on
rock in the Gulf of Georgia and sank.
She was afterward raised and brought to
San Francisco, where, she was thoroughly
repaired. Since that time up to the pres
en- disaster her career was an uneventful
ono