The Saint Paul globe., 1898-01-30
THE DETAILS RECEIVED oF THE
Loss OF TIE KLONDiKE
e STEAMER.
RAN SUDDENLY ON ROCKS.
PANIC AMONG THE PASSENGERS
WHEN THE. SHIP STRUCK THE
REEF.
STORM ADDED TO THE SUFFERING.
1t Struck: fthe Camp of the Ship
wrecked People Waiting Res
cue on Lewis Island.

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 29.-Further
particulars have been received of the
wreck of the Pacific Coast Steamship
company's steamer Corona. on a reef
at the southeast point of Lewis island
4S0 miles north of Victoria, B. c.. and
opposite the mouth Of the Skeena river.
on Sunday, Jan. "a. The Corona sailed
fIom Seattle with 247 passengers for
Juneau, Dyea and Skaguay on Thurs
day, Jan. 20. She carried a cargo of
zoo tons, together with ten horses and
and thirty-eight dogs. This was to have
been her final Alaskan trip, as she was
to run on the San Francisco and San
Diego run, and be replaced by the
Queen.
At 300 O'Clock on Sunday morning.
when 4S0 miles from Victoria. in what
Is known as Al thur Passage. tha steam
er suddenly crashed upon the reef. The
first shock was followed by several les
ser ones as the vessels headWav
ground her further on the rocks Most
of the passengers were up awaiting
the breakfast call. but a scene of inde-
scribable confusion followed the rock
ing OF the ship. when her engines were
reversed. in an effort to get her off the
rocks
When she finally settled down. the
ohlcers and crew succeeded in claiming
the panic-stricken passengers. and
Capt. Pearce at once ordered the boats
lowered, and the pumps TO be worked
AS soon as it was ascertained that the
vessel was taking in water. Cant
Pearce ordered the women and children
INTO the boats, and a 1885 a. m. the first
peat, IN charge of Second officer Mar
snail, put off for the nearest land
Lewis island. Seven boats were man
ned and the passengers were all landed
In two trips, without accident. The
hand baggage and that in the forward
hold was then transferred, and the dogs
ana horses saved. Mattresses and blan-
kets from the cabin staterooms were
aiSo lahded for the accommodation of
the ship-Wrecked passengers.
AT O'Clock the Corona had settled
SO far that the fires under the main
boiler were eXtinguished.
Later. Capt. Pearce ordered Purser
Ballintine to take the mail ashore and
at l;45 the. captain ordered the resi-
OF the crew ashore, and followed him
sell twenty minutes later the steamer
S, am, Stern foremost, with her bow
hanging to the rock upon which she
struck e
At 2:3o P. m. the tug Golden Gate.
with barge. in tow, passed and an
,sWered. the signalnOf distress. bur tha
sea being too heavy to admit of her
parting with her tow, she proceeded
ard returned next morning. when Cant
rearce dispatched her to Mary island
with the news of the wreck.
A severe storm, which struck tho
camp, added TO the sufferings of the
napiess passengers, huddled upon Lew
IS island, which continued until
"Wednesday morning. On WedneedaI
night at 500, the schooner Danube vas
Slghted. and answered the signal harad
from the point and Capt. Pearce board
ed a canoe manned by SiWashas fror,
an-adjacent island. Upon her ratI,rn
he conveyed the glad news thar the
the steamers Alld and Elder were close
behlnd the Danube, and would recaiva
them, the Danube proceeding on ba,.
way south with the news of the disas-
ter 1t was supposed that one of the
Two vessels would turn back to Fort
WrdhgeI with such passengers as de-
slred to proceed north, while the other
would bring the remainder to Seattle.
VICTORIA, B. c.. Jan. 29-The
steamer Danube. which arrived bera
early this morning from Alaska
brought news of mishaps to three yes,
sells in Northern waters In addition
to the wreck of the steamer Corona al
ready reporteds she brought confirma-
tory news of the report that the steam
er Ccquitfan Of Vancouver. had run
on rock south of Fort WrangeE The
Coquitlan was not foated until a part
OF her cargo was jettisoned. She re-
m.alned on the rock about five hours
When met by the Danube at Fort
Wraneel, the sCoquitlan was taking
Jlfteen to twenty inches of water an
hour, The pumps were able to keep the
water down and the captain of the Co
quitlan proposed to continue his trip
to the mouth Of the Stickeen river.
The third accident consisted in the
sinking of little ferry boat Alaska
which runs from Fort WrangeI to the
Suckeen river. The Alaska settled
down on some rocks with the falling of
the tide and several holes were punch
Cd in her side. She was towed off but
sank in deep water. No lives were
lest.