The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-11

BY the steamer Kadiak. Of the Alaska
Packers Association. which arrived in port
shortly after O'Clock yesterday afternoon
non Kariuk in southeastern Alaska. Comes
the news that the ship Sterling recently
ran ashore in the Nushesak river about
sixty-hve miles north OF Nushesak. and is
total loss. Capt c. o. Anderson, master
OF the Inflated weasel. and Chief Officer r.
r. Neville come down on the Kadiak. and
are on their way 10 San Francisco. The
remainder of the crew and Passengers
were landed a; karluk Nm lives were lost
in the disaster
Capt. Anderson was seen yesterday bv a
Observation-Disclosures reporter ON board the
kadiak. and gave the following account
OF the accident:
The Sterling left San Francisco on
April q. bound for southeastern Alaska,
with supplies for the fish canneries along
the coast Besides the crew, she carried
i1a passengers who were going up north
to work In the canner.es. Twenty-Five OF
the passengers We're white people and the
others were Cinnamon. We made a pleas
ant run up the coast TO Alaska, and al
went well until on the morning of May
90 when the ship In the Nushegak river
about sxty-five miles from the town OF
that name. for which We were heading.
and about ten miles from the rivers mouth.
The weather was fine, and the ship was
moving along under a stiff breeze Sud
denly. without warning, there came a vio-
lent shock which threw down several Of
The men who were standing on deck The
shock was accompanied by duh scrap.ng
Noise The vessel moved ahead a few feet
and then stopped. We were in the middle
OF the channel and steering the usual
course. had no idea that we were near
any rocks or reefs. and could not imagine
what had happened
Fast on Reef.
Il ordered the mate to heave the lead
over the bows and he reported the water
there to be Of depth Of five fathoms. AT
the sides Of the vessel we got deep water.
and We knew by this that We were hard
and fast on reef. Boats were lowered
and the crew set about examining the con-
dillon OF the vessel. II was found that she
had struck on a reef running out we'll into
not marked on the chart. The ship struck
the reef head on, and as she was moving
through the water at a rapid rate of speed,
she was dragged well up on the reef before
she stopped. ! ordered kedge anchors to
be got out and did everything I'm my pow
er to get the ship off. but she never budged
an inch. ana soon saw mat she was there
for good.
THE next day ] sent the second mate
and four men up the river TO find assist
ance After rowing for thirty-sx hours
| they arrived at Nushegak. where they
found the steamer Polar Bear. of the
| Alaska Packers Association. The captain
Of the Bear was told OF the accident and
he at once went to the scene OF the wreck.
/ made arrangements with the captain TO
take the passengers aboard his vessel. and
he proceeded with them TO Nushegak.
where they were landed. The following
day the weather grew stormy and the sea
began TO run high. The vessa had listed
| considerably 10 one side ana was in a bad
position. During the day the storm grew
worse and an hour or two later. the Sterl-
| Ing showed signs OF breaking up.
Take to the Boats.
When this became certain, / ordered
! the men 10 take 10 the boats The vessel
| commenced 10 break up rapidly and the
| men only had time to secure their cloth
| ng and some provisions before We were
obliged to pull away. In my boat were
| the steward and eight sailors. In the chief
| mates were the cabin boy and eight men.
| The cook and the remainder of the crew
! were taken In the second mates boat.
| The three boats pulled UP the river In the
| direction OF Nushegak.
The next day after leaving the Sterling
! We were picked up by the steamers Presi-
| dent and Polar Bear. which were return
! ing TO the scene or the wreck. The crew
! we're taken on board the steamers and
! they proceeded up the river again. Upon
| arriving at Nushegak, the men asked To be-
| put aboard the ship Oriental and the
| barkentine While II. Hume. which were
| n port. The chief mate and | stayed on
| hoard the Polar Bear and We're taken 10
| Karluk. where / reported the disaster 10
| the authorities at that place.
Prom there We came down TO Seattle
/ en- the Kadiak- I am now on nay way to
| San Francisco 10 report 10 the Merchants
| Exchange and shall leave for there very
/ shortly. The reef on which the Sterling
! grounded is nor on the chart. and extends
I cut into the middle OF the channel
/ The Sterling was "a three mastei wooden
! ship OF l.73i.s2 gross tonnage and 1855 40
| net She was ba.lt in 1873 at Bath, Me-
/ she is now owned at San Francisco For
/ many years she has been operated between
/ Seattle and san Francisco as 4 coal car
( r.er and was ore Of the fastest sailing
1 vessels OF the feet Of coasters. Daring
/ the latter part OF last September she made
/ a record breaking trip from SEATTLE 20 san
| Francisco under command OF Capt. Davis.
! Ndshegak river empties into Bristol bay;
an arm Of BeTiug sea