The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-31

ments. Men and women, total strangers
TO each other before the ship started upon
its ill-fated voyage. helped 10 make each
other comfortable or suffered together
In spite of the great provocasion there
was little grumbing or evidence displayed
of dependency. Men who had lost their
all expressed a determination TO press on
and make another stake Good cheer ana
hilarity characterized the brief life or the
camp. Many of the passengers were most
unfortunate in their loss, as they had ex-
pended all their money 10 provide an out
fit and pay passage 10 points IN Alaska
The blow was most severe. yet they Were
not disheartened. Food was abundant the
first two days on the island; but after that
time Ii was difficult for all TO obtain
enough to eat. If the officers OF the Co
roma had taken charge of the ships stores
and passed them out. all would have
shared alike and this programme would
have been benefit to ALL 1t was most
fortunate that q majority of those on
beard were more or less prepared for
camping. Some of us had all our blank
cts and warm clothing checked "a bag
gage and the steamer was too low in the
water for much of that stuff 10 be landed
in Il dry condition"
Pilot Caufrman's Defense.
Pilot II. F. Cauffman. who was on duty
at the time OF the catastrophe, tells the
following story:
THE directions on the chart say to
steer direct from Gibson's island TO the
northwest slide on Kennedy's island. In
this water there are no soundings marked
on the chart less than seven fathoms
deep. and seven fathoms Is only found at
the extreme end of Lewis island. close to
the shore. The souadings taken all around
the ship after the accident ranged from
five to ten fathoms with the exception
of where the ship struck. which, was only
two and a quarter fathoms.
ut is six and one-half miles from Glib
sons island 10 the northwest slide. I
kept the ship due northwest for seven
teen minutes after passing Gibson's ISL
and and then altered it to northwest by
north. Seven minutes later she struck
Mr.. Cauffman declares that he followed
directions laid down, and that he Is not
10 blame. On the other hand he said to
several men after the accident that he
was to blame. and that he was n ruined
man. He intimated again and again that
he believed he could commit suicide. This
was his first trip as pilot in these waters.
and II was Capt. Pierce's second trip as
captain.
Against Pilot Caunman's declaration
that he was on the correct course is the
word of Pilot Thompson, who was on the
boat and who went off duty at 4 o'clock
the mo1hing of the accident. He says
that the reef upon which Cauffman ran
the ship is we'll known among mariners.
and that the vessel was out OF her course.
III. F. Cauffman the pilot. has been on
Pacific waters for about a year In the
East he is well known having commanded
such Atlantic steamers az the Indiana. Il
linois. Pennsylvania and Ohio. He ran be-
tween Philadelphia and Liverpool and
Philadelphia and Antwerp. Since he has
been here he has been second officer on
several of the Alaska boats.
Among the PRas@ngers.
Henry Tobin, OF Walla Walla. was one
of the passengers. Tobin is the man who
shot at Embezzler Edmiston several years
ago. He had TO stand up several nights
because he could get no place TO sleep.
There were two infants in arms ON the
boat One of these belonged TO f. J. Rey-
nslds and wife. Of Port Townsend. who
were on their way to Juneau Mr. Rey-
noids lost nearly $1,000 on the wreck in
goods. The other infant belonged to III.
Foster and wife, going to Wrangel from
Missouri.
l.. c. Sihler, OF Seattle was a heavy
loser. He was taking up 0oo cigars. fifty
bedroom sets complete, stoves and every
thing complete for starting big hotel at
skaguay- He places his loss at 81 400
j. Jacobs representing Meyerstein a.
W. VI san fTanclSco, lost four or five
large sample cases Of fur garments in the
wreck
j. Il. Powles, the commission man OF Sc
attic. was on his way to see Alaska for
recreation. He said upon his return that
he had plenty OF it,
Il. q. Wilson. who came out OF the W.
kon country several weeks ago was on
the way back with ten dogs and several
hundred letters. He lost all his outfit
except the letters, which he saved. He
came down to Seattle to replace his goods
and VIII start again about February 4
Charles Dexter. the sporting man. for
merry hacker Of Jack Dempsey was on
the steamer with eight or ten assistants
They were going TO Dyea to open a gam
bling house. George w Randall. Of Chi
cago, Was one Of the party.
L. 7 watson was on the way in charge
OF prospecting party fitted out by Sec
rotary Of State VIII u. Jenkins.
Mrs. @. c. Stark. Of Seattle. whose hux
hano Is owner OF the Rainier cafe. on
FHst avenue. lost all % her baggage and
ireisht' she was on the way 10 Dyea to-
open restaurant. and her entire outa,
was lost Her TWO sons were with her
one OF whom IS paralyzed. she NETS ,h.
value OF her goods at & CSC She also los,
a geld watch and chain seve~al 4ava
after the wreck the handbag containing
these yaluabies washed ashore. lut the
jewelry was gone.
Mrs Knox Experience.
one tent In the woods was oecupied bv
!. r Giunz and wife and AIRS. O. Knox.
al or oakiaLd. Cal. and 3 Niarcuse II
san Francisco. Mr.. Glunz was taking up
several ions OF goods ard proposed 10