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


| many wanted 10 go back 10 Seattle Much
/ speculation was had as TO where the pas
/ sergers would be taken.
| During the afternoon a drunken sailor
| started fight and before the scrinmage
ended 4 dozen men had taken hand in
! the fight One OF the cooks. a negro.
.slapped a hungry man who wanted piece
! OF bread. In return. he was Knocked down
ny another passenger. Dan Egan. the
/ Montana Kid. worked heroicaily 10 save
| property until he sprained his ankle and
viii not be able 10 walk for a month.
| With the Dawn Of Monday.
| The early dawn on Monday witnessed 8
new SCENE on the water--the ship had stood
| half submerged, broadside to the fearful
| storm all night, and the wind and waves
had torn the after cabins or. burst in the
doors and windows of the others on the
starboard side. while much wreekage was
! cHnsing by few ropes to the ship. Your
correspondent visited the wreck at low
tide. Water filed the hold forward. aud
the ship was far below the surface astern.
The mizzenmast stuck up out of the water
and the saloon was filed with water to the
social hall steps The piano WAS smashed
and lay on It's side. the roof broken In and
All the cabins Up TO the first officers. On
the starboard. Were in one long room. Be
low were floating trunks, boxes and bed
ding Two dogs and a black eat remained
under some straw A little dry bedding
was found on the port side and this was
taken ashore and divided up among the
women Half car OF lumber piled on
the deck was put on a raft and taken
ashore. where it was used for firewood
and TO repair and strengthen tents.
Monday morning il was confidently ex-
pected would bring rescue in the shape Of
the steamer Al-ki. but no rescue came.
ne DAY was calm and bright and numer-
Gus tflps were made to the ship TO secure
provisions, dishes and baggage. A dozen
trunks were taken out of the hold and
broaght ashore. The wind came up again
monday night and blew a terrible gale all
DAY Tuesday. accompanied in the after
noon py driving. icy rain storm. This
was the most uncomfortable day OF all
Inc homeless people were forced to stay
unuer tnSlr temporary shelter or stand in
the smoke and rain about the fires. So
many nres were going on all sides that the
smoke, not and binding We'd with the bit
yer weather in making the day not
only dismal, but of distress and
suffering. Only three or four yn-
kon stoves had been brought ashore and
the owners We're much enyied by the
others The accessible timber was rotten
and water soaked. and it was only by the
greatest difficulty that fire could be kent
uO. fs
'ioupie was experienced by the
castaway people TO obtain food tn
steerage people came supplied with uten-
siis and provisions Of their own. and otb-
eis GRABBED boxes of food as soon as II
iaiueu- bread ran out after the first
meal Salt and sugar were not brought
over. The principal diet was meat cooked
on sharp stick over a fire and coffee.
served from tin cans. There were not s
uozeh trying pans. forks or spoons in the
ha htrr
away from the sinking ship.
Put To Mnkexhifts.
All Tuesday night the wind and driv.
Ing rain made the wrecked people STAY
under their rude shelters, shiyering and
miserable. big terpaulin had been
rugged up as tent, in which a dozen
women had been put, and a number of
pieces or canvas had been taken from the
steamer and brought ashore to be used
TO cover some of the blanket made houses.
But the moisture came up from the
ground, soaked through the thin walls
or the tents. and there was no way to
keep either warm or dry. Some could Sc
cure measure of comfort by climbing in
between wet blankets and heaping soggy
coats on top. II was a checrless night.
with only the deferred hope of the ar
fiVai OF the Ai-ki TO comfort them. Again
and again someone would cry out the
warning Listen" and all would strain
their ears to hear the sound Of the whis-
tie or the boat which was to bring relief
Early in the day Mr.. Cave, of the Mis-
soula Rod and Gun Club, of Missoula.
Mont. while out hunting near the north
end OF the Island shot deer and brought
it to camp. A few ducks were also Sc
cured.
On Wednesday morning, three full DAYS
after the accident, 1t was thought that
the Al-Ki would surely be along, and the
closest watch was kept or the channels
10 the north. The weather was mild and
the sun even cal out a few moments
TO cheer the weary and almost disheart-
ened prisoners. Along the rocky shore
on the east side of the island pieces of
wreckage had washed ashore. and these
were eagerly picked Up. Some few got
the number plates OF tneir berths and
OF their staterooms. A few quarters of
| beeves and butchered hogs drifted ashore.
/ too and these were carried up the cliff
and through the woods to the camp.
More wood was cut and food became
easier to secure. The day previous Mr..
Steii. of Los Angeles. had started free
cooking camp near the point of the ISL
and. He made mutton c,ew and coffee
and gave IL 10 all who called for IT. On
| Wednesday he enlarged his bill of fare
and dealt out other meat dishes to those
who would take the delicacies in their
for Steils camp. and he was declared to
be the most royal fellow on the island.
On this day too. the steamship company
began 10 give out rations. At one time
the announcement spread through the
/ camp that eggs were being given out at
the rate OF two TO the man. A rush for
the point ensued, and the eggs quickly
scattered.
steamer In sight.
ABOUT 3 O'Clock In the afternoon
steamer was seen approaching from the
south. All through the woods rang the
cry A steamer in sishtr' Everybody
hurried 10 the point. Sure enough, across
the smooth water was little steamer
| coming straight for the island. When
| II drew near the captain went out and
spoke her 1t was the steamer Aocking
bird. three weeks out from Seattle bound
| for Skaguay. The captain of the craft
said the most OF the time had been spent
| in cutting wood. The Corona had passed
| the little steamer four days Before near
F., Bella Bella. The passengers had pitied
the lttle insignificant steamer a. they
/ swept by II that day, but now they. en-
/ WED her. During the pleasant part OF
I the day the rocks on the east side OF the
island tx-ara lined xf-tfn s,r9Sr,.af,fors The