Stikeen River journal., 1898-12-03
COMMUNICATIONS.

This column Is open to the public. All com munications must be signed by the writer, not for publication, but as an evidence of good faith.
 We are not responsible for the views of our correspondents published under the head of communications
 Rake Village, Alaska Nov. 26, 1898. Mr. Editor:
 On the afternoon of the 22d two of our Indians brought white man to our house. John Hicks by name, from near Tacoma. Washington. He was a first class passenger on the steamer Utopia evening of the 14th of this month.
 He and three other men occupied d room next to the captains. He said there was q terrific explosion. On awakening he found the fire coming out of the captains room into their room. Rushing out to the hose he found the captain $ door locked, he being in the pilot house. He broke in a window and saw the lamp lying on the floor. Find ing the hose would not work, it being disabled below, his next thought was to get boat to save the women and chil- dren. who were in the social hall. The passage aft was burning, so he had to go below and pass through the engine room to get to the boat. The rope was burned, so he pushed the boat off and jumping into the water, got into the boat and found no oars nor any drifting on the windward side. The rim of the ship caught his beat and capsizcd it. E It being very dark he was some time in getting to it. Thus he battled with an angry sea, from or D. m. until 10 a. m the 18th, holding on to the keel and sometimes astraddle it and washed off about every fourth or fifth wave until he drifted to the shore of Kuprinoff Is- land, near Portage Bay. Wringing his under clothes out, they being all he had on, he proceeded to find some habi- tation. Thus he travelled for eight days without food and barefooted over bar nacled rocks and crawling over cliffs.
 At night he buried his feet in moss which he would find frozen next morn- ing and on taking it off he would stand in fresh water to take the frost out. He had laid down to die and where the tide could wash him off, when he heard sing ing and, raising up, he saw, rounding d point, q canoe, which took him in and clothed and cared for him that night. His feet were bably frozen cut and bleeding.
 We dressed his feet and made him as comfortable as we could in bed and gave him nourishment; but since the first Is and is feverish at this writing. We had hoped Wm. Tamma-ree would be able to take him over to Wrangel for medical aid.
 One of his room mates was the son of a Chicago banker, but he could not re- call his name.
 
 had store in Skagway. He feared he was the only one of the 40 passengers who lived to tell the story. The steam er was loaded, principally, with hay and apples. The last he saw was a blaze about hundred feet high and he heard the cries of the people.
 One of the passengers asked the cap tain if he had better not stop and an- chor till morning, but he would not do it.
 The young man is about six feet in height, black hair, dark eyes. 26 years of age. Gives his name as John Hicks, his mothers as Lizzie Hicks, F. o. Ia coma, Wash, General Delivery.
 $. +. MOON.
 Missionary Later.-Tne man has since died and was buried by the indians. Ed.