The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-10
Of Eighteen Persons on Board
the Jessie
Which FOundered in the Kus-
kOWin River
OF ONE is ALIVE.
A Loaded Barge and a Raft
Drift Ashore.
Indians COnfiscate Them and
Bring In the News.

Seattle, Wn., Aug. 1O.-Further de-
tails state there were IS persons on the
river steamer Jessie, of the Columbia
Exploration company, which foundered
in the Kuskowin river, Alaska, during
a severe storm June %. It is thought
all were lost. The steamer Jessie at the
time of the disaster had in tow the
barge Minerva, loaded with supplies.
The news of the disaster was brought
to the headquarters of the Alaska Com
merciaI company by Indians, who had
found the loaded barge belonging to the
party partly wrecked. The Indians as
sert that the steamer foundered, and
that all of her party persisted in the
storm that swept down on them before
they were well into the river, and only
few hours after they had left the
steamer Lakme on which they had gone
north. The Indians confiscated the sup
plies.
The party consisted Of the following
persons:
E. S. Lines, Seattle.
A Q. StastOn, Seattle.
v J. Murphy, Bowling Green, KY.
Robert 2. FriersOn, Gallatin, Tenn.
w. T PaytOn, Gallatin, Tenn
+. G. CHmOrdhare, Gallatin, Tenn.
Engineer KenslOck, Milwaukee.
- Sma1lhOuse, Louisville, Ky.
Eli KnudsOn, Idaho.
Harry c. Hadreen, Seattle.
o E. ArirOd, Seattle.
Doc Allen, Kentucky.
The Rev. r. Weber Moravian mis-
sionary. wife and child.
Two Indian guides.
The expedition was composed of a
number of well to do young men of
Kentucky and Tennessee families, who
Joined the others in Seattle. They were
furnished with the steamer Jessie and
the barge Minerva by Richard ChiIcott
in the party.
Captain Murphy of Bowling Green.
KY, got his license after coming here
and 1t is said, had never commended
from Milwaukee and had formerly
worked on a. railroad locomotive
Ihe party left Seattle May 81 on the
steamer schooner Lakme. The Jessie
was strongly built stern wheel boat.
90 feet long and 1415 beam She had
powerful engines. She had a low deck
house, with a small pilot house on TOP.
The barge was an open affair to be
used TO carry supplies. Both the Jessie
ana the Minerva were securely dashed
to the deck of the barge Admiral which
was tOWed by the Lakme At Good
News bay, the boats were to put into
the water and on June 27 We're rea DIV
10 start up the river. They left at 10
O'Clock ana by were out of Singht of
the Lakme, which proceeded to St Mi
chaels. The rest of the story comes
from the Indians
The mouth of the KuskOwin, like that
of many other Alaska rivers is very
wide and with the wind from a Droner
direction gets exceedingly rough. A
storm came up before the Jessie and
Tow reached safe anchorage. A few
days later the Indians found the barge
party wrecked on the north shore of the
river. A few days later they found a
hastily constructed raft. Nothing was
seen OF heard of steamer or DoSSaneers
All are believed to have been lost.
Captain ChilcOtt, who Quilted the
party and built the boat. has not vet
given up hope. He believes the pas
sengers will yet turn up, as the Jessie
was built especially strong to go against
the river currents