The herald., 1898-02-27
TOURISTS TO ALASKA
FAIL TO FIND THE COMFORTS OF
HOME
OREGON STICKS IN THE MUD
Foolish Frightened Passengers Fail
to Mutiny Only for the Lack
of Leader
Special to Tho Herald

Special to Tho Herald
VICTORIA, b. c.. Feb. 2e-The officers
of the City of Topeka. from the north. tell
NJ a irving experience had by the Port
land steamer Oregon while battling with
the gale off Juneau on Sunday last. IN the
climax of the hurricane the steamer drag
red her anchors and drifted broadside-oh
to the mud flats. The perils of the situa-
ton were greatly intensified by the pas
sensers losing their wits in their terror
and at one time threatening to take pos
session on the refusal of the onicers 10
lower boats and desert the SNIP Inc
Oregon was, at this time. listed over at an
angie of forty-five degrees. every sea wash-
ing her from bow to stern, and the cries Oh
the frightened horses. four of which were
killed by being dashed against the side
Of the ship added to the excitement. For
tunately there was no organization among
the passengers, or serious consequences
might have resulted. AS 1t was the oHicers
we're able to maintain comparative as
cipline while for two days and night
the Oregon was rocked on the mats SO
roughly that even the galley fires were
extinguished as soon as lighted, and with
the Thermometer at the time between SIX
and eight below zero. and a nerce sho"
storm falling from a leaden sky. with the
cessation of the gale the steamer was
foated and a roll call showed but one Sc
rious mishap on board. the carpenter hav-
ing broken his leg, while four horses were
dead and eight had broken limbs.
O, 1T WAS COLD
nc ACGnCiQfpd
Pressl The steamer Topeka arrived TO-
night from Juneau. Alaska. The onicers
of the Topeka report that In terrlhc wliio
storm last Sunday the steamer oregon was
blown ashore on Juneau flats. Sne was
living In Juneau harbot at anchor when
the gale struck her. and after straihihe
at her anchor for some time she pesan
to drag and then at tremendous speeu
she was hurled on the mats. SeVerai VI
the horses on board were thrown aeains.
the side Of the vessel as she struck anu
some were killed. All day she lay IN tna'
nos,tion. the passengers sunering terri-
hlx as during the gale a dense snow
storm ragged. The thermometer registered
eight below zero and the fierce wind was
piereing cold When the gale abated a.
hirh tide the vessel was fioated. For
tunatcly the flats are soft and the oregon
suffered no injury.
On the way down the Topeka spoke the
Corona and brings word from Captain
cood.ll that she can be raised. Divers
found no large holes in her hull. and what
leakaces found had been stopped and the
water pumped out. and everything peing
in readiness 20 raise her.
On Thursday the long-overdue steamer
Scotia was passed. bound to Seattle from
Skaa.iay, and reported all well. Inc
steamer Rustler had returned to Juneau
eff nj search for the
bodies of those who perished in the Clara
Navada disaster.
Juneau has coal famine and there is
only sufficient fresh meat in town to last
from one boat to another.
The weather has been something terrible
for a week past cyclonic gales have been
blowing continuously and the thermometer
has been from zero to nine below
PLEASANT PROSPECTS
WASHINGTON, Feb. "a memorial
sent by a committee appointed at a mass
meeting of citizens at Juneau has reached
the house committee on coinage, weights
and measures, advocating the establish
ment of a United States assay office AT
Juneau. instead of at Seattle or Portland.
1t makes some important statements about
the Alaskan situation, saying, among other
things:
"A conservative estimate of the present
annual DulliOu OutPul VI IL Oiii .tS
quartz mines alone is about $1,000 900, pro-
duced from approximately $50 stamps.
Within twelve months the number of
stamps in operation in lands tributary to
Juneau will exceed 1100 and the annual
bullion product will exceed $5.000, 900. Dur
ing the last twelve months more than ST.
5oO, 600 of gold dust produced from Canadian
Northwest Territory has been brought
through here and there is now on hand in
Dawson CITY approximately ST. 500 600 to
which will be added from this springs
cleanup an additional 81, 500, 900. Two COM
panies have constructed fleets of lake AMI
river steamers to operate between the head
of the lakes and Five Finger rapids on the
Yukon river where tram portage has been
established connecting with fleets of river
boats running through to Dawson City,
and assurance is given that during six or
eight months in the year. round trip can
be made from Juneau to Dawson City in