The evening times., 1898-04-18
a WOMHN'S
GRAPHIC PEN
Hannah S. Gould Describes a
Klondike Vessels Wreck.
Terridc Gale Encountered in the
Straits of Magelian-"AII to the
Boats, Women First.

The following letter from Mrs. Hannah
S. Gould, who took party of women to
the Klondike on the steamship City of
Columbia, starting from New York in
January, has been received by friend In
that place.
The City of Columbia was wrecked in
the Straits of Magellan in February, and
the letter is dated Valparaiso, Chile,
February %"
Mrs Gould writes: Nearly all business
here in Valparaiso is conducted by water.
The largest business house is that of w.
r. Grace & Co, of New York. This port
is filled with vessels; the railroad is own
ed by the government and does little
business. The street cars have women
conductors. who seem proud of their po-
sition. When you wish to alight you are
expected to knock vigorously with your
umbrella, IL you have one. We have been
delightfully."- entertained on the Chilean
men-of-war. and the Pacific Steamship
Company has wined and dined us on their
beautiful steamers.
I'VE reached here under difficulties, af-
ter being wrecked In Smythes Channel.
In Magellan Straits. Our trip has been
beautiful, indeed; filled with pleasure, ex-
element and sometimes with fear. We
encountered a windstorm when nearing
the Horn and before entering the Straits
one which We are not likely to ever for
get. The waves were mountain high, and
when the stern of the ship dropped into
the trough of the sea we received a shock
that We thought would be our last. There
was no blue water visible: nothing but
white foam The cook said it was one
IA han hA haafa rod -fi rrif
No pen can picture the grandeur of
the straits with its towering mountains
and deep chasm, with the beautiful green
below and the snow-caDped mountain
above. The passage between the rocks
was narrow and winding, and it often
seemed as though we should never get
out. Every little while We came upon a
wrecked vessel standing on its end. but
through II all we touched many places of
interest. st. Thomas is a beautiful har-
Dor, with its tropical plants white houses
with red roofs and no chimneys. The peo-
pie are intelligent, with good faces and
sweet voices. AT Martinique. the home
OF the Empress Josephine, we cast
anchor, but owing to a storm we could
not land. At the Barbados we were en-
tertained by the representative of the
Rothschlds. The town is under English
government, and is the prettiest and
cieanest of any We have yet visited. The
ancient masonry makes the scenery
grand.
we had ten days and nights of storm
before We reached Rio Janero. which is
next in size TO the largest port in the
world. The mountain and gardens there
make a beautiful picture. picturesque
convent. suggesting quiet and seclusion.
has for its background the Botanical Gar
dens. where the greatest collection OF
palms in the world is grown.
Our next stop was Sandy Point, in
the straits, the most southern city in the
world. 1t is now 'on a boom on account
of it's gold mines. Meat is l cent per
pound. The Patagonians are the lowest
kind of people imaginable. The men.
women, and children are perfectly nude.
and while we wore our winter coats and
furs. they had only the fire In their rude
but wonderfully constructed canoes
whereby to keep warm. The following
night after leaving the point We were
wrecked in a gale of wind and rain in the
straits The wind was blowing hard and
storming when We heard the ominous
grating of the vessel. In less time than
it takes to write it We heard the call Of
every man TO stand by: then all to the
boats: women first The men got their
arms and ammunition ready as we were
in the midst of savages their boat was
the only one pulled with oars and con-
tanned five women, four sailors. and the
second officer. The other boats used a
lifeline. Our trip to the island of rocks
was a perilous one, as the boat headed
for sea several times. Our captain. i'm
tones too forcible TO write, called to pull
hard. but the Mighty and Strong Arm
guided us safely and has been stretched
TO protect us ever since.
I'VE were landed on rocks covered with
eighteen inches daan and for
everywhere. The only thing 1 had of
value was matches, but there was no
wood. The crew stretched a sail TO pro-
tect us from the pouring rain and over
one hundred people stood or sat on this
covered spot, twenty-five by eighteen
feet. all night long. We sang to cheer
the sailors. who We're working 10 save
the vessel.
The next day we were taken across
the bay TO another camp called Columbia,
where We could find several more feet OF
ground to camp on. We made two tents
out of canvas. for ii rained all the time.
We built a campfire, slept on life pre-
servers, had provisions sent from the
boat and imagined q Klondike without
gold.
IAN the Klondike outfits that were
brought from the vessel were utilized.
and We were the most comforta ble-look-
ing wrecket people you ever saw. Our
vessel wa fioated at last. and We started
again on our journey. but it was soon
discovered that the ship was leaking bad
ly. and despite the fact that the pumps
were kept working to their utmost capa-
city the water gained eight inches every
hour. For three days and nights we did
not undress. but all were calm and cool.
I'VE are awaiti-.g repairs here to pro-
ceed to Seattle on our craft. which de-
serves all the credit for our safety. Our
men now sing Columbia, the Gen. of the
Ocean, giving to the words a new sig
-