The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-18

having come down OF one Of the steam
sfs which arrived yesterday.
sueicer Ia In a position 10 throw more
light on the inside history or the Ne
yada's trip TO Shsgway than any other
person interviewed. because ne was friend
~ with Capt. Lewis and talked with MIN
frequently about incidents that are now
OF great Importance.
He was one of the last 10 leave the Ne
vada before she pulled ouf Of Skagway.
February 5. at $50 o clock in the after
noon. Being Of an Observing nature, ne
took mental inventory OF the passengers.
In my opinion" said Mr. smeicer last
evening '.the Clara Nevada took on TWEEN
ty-iive passengers at Skagway, iive or
six Of whom were women. A small por-
tion OF these passengers Intended 10 get
off at Juneau.
Il Is evident from this statement and the
fact that the officers and crew numbered
forty that between sixty and sixty-Ive
souls were lost In the wreck. Mr. SmeIcer
said that he did not know any OF TIE pas
seHgsrs.
even before Port Townsend was reached
the passengers commenced to worry and
wished to be transferred 10 another boat.
The trip Was attended with misfortunss
from the very start. To begin with, the
Clara Nevada proved herself 10 be q very
unruly craft. and in addition TO this. the
route to Skagway is the most difficult one
to run / ever saw When the Nevada
backed into the United States revenue
cutter In the hafbor at Seattle it was
claimed that the bell cord had broken.
Ii was the same story when the Nevada
piowed into the wharf al Port Townsend,
smashing her bowspTit and damaging tne
wharf The uEruliness Of the craft Is
again shown by the fact that We mad
trouble at Skasway. When making
landing the captain yelled his orders 20
a man on the deck. who yelled 10 the first
engineer. who yelled TO the second en-
gineer.
Capt Lewis was worried and did not
dare go to bed. He was up night and day,
always on the bridge. The pilot was
cool. unconcerned man, but so far as
COULD see was attentive TO his duties. There
was considerable drunkenness. This was
especially true Of the steward. 1 became
Well acquainted with Capt. Lewis during
the trip and he talked with me freely.
While we We're tied up az Juneau, after
having blown out three hues near Fort
Simpson, be told the story OF how IL hap
peued.
He said that the sea was very rough
and the wind blowing a gale. The steam
or had not been making any Roadway.
The pilot and himself capt. Lewis were
standing on the bridge. The pilot called
for more pressure. and the next thing
they knew the fiues were blown out
Don't do that again. for Gods sake
said Capt. Lewis. The captain told me
that the steamer was allowed 10 carry
only sixty pounds Of steam. az the boilers
would not stand more.
capt. Lewis told me that IL he ever
got the Nevada back to Seattle IN safety
she would never 20 cut with him again
unless she was I'm proper shape. He said
her hull was all right, but that she needed
new machinery. The captain claimed thai
when the Nevada was being remodelled
and fitted the owners would not listen TO
him. but did things 10 suit themselves.
ON enc occasion CAPE Lewis said that
IL no called on the engineer 10 back up
he was sure 10 60 ahead
Another Victim.
George wroe. formerly pin boy az the
Seattle Athletic Club bowling alleys. was
one Of those lost on the Clara Nevada
lie left the club 10 accept subordinate
position on the steamer. His mother went
10 California a few days after he left. lie
has sister In Seattle.