The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1899-04-04
STRUCK ON
A REEF
Details of the To-
peka's Accident.
RECEIVED BY SrPT. TROWBElDcE
The Boat 10 Nigh Up On tho Rocks
In wfsugel ksrro~s


Particulars regarding the seeiasr.
10 The steamship city Of Topeka.
were received THIS morning By su-
pefinfendeni J. r. TrosbridKe Ia a
letter written by Captain Thompson.
~ the Topeka. The letter II dated
Mareh 70. and was written the day
following tho disaster. IL was
brought Down 10 Victoria by the
steamer Danube.
The letter states that the Topeka
had left WfanFei ct 81 o'clock on
the evening 81 March 70. and All went
we'll until $50 o'clock. when the
steamer was near Point Alexander.
In Wrangei narr0Wh AZ this point
The channel II very narrow. 70 such
vessels 70 eArsi ~ snme places there
ne vicinity % Point Alexander tnfi}r
extends rocky reef the eare -
which Il marked BY a red buoy
niaFaed ~ The charts as Red buo,
-" = ~ this part Of the ehanns
me toe runs very strong. whef
ABREAST Of the buoy. Captain Thon,p.
son hecahse aware o. the fact thai
ih~ tide was steadily taking his yes,
sci IN towards shore A. there VA.
NOT sufficient rsa-s oafn in the chan.
mel for the steamer 70 swing out An
mi1-Htrcsta by going ahead withon,
danger % fetching ur on the shore
captain Thompson stopped his EN-.
zines anf rang the order t. go full
speed aatsrn A. this innr,nre. II
- stated. something caught the
ruddeT. which failed t. work proney.
". aud the steamer refused 10 an
swcr To her helm.
Meanwhile tho bow OF the Topeka
was swinging 90 port under the
impulse ~ her engines. Suddenly
she brought pr with q sudden shock.
and the officers and crew knew that
the vessel had struck a submerged
rock A prompt Investigation was
made which resulted in the discovery
that ahple had been nunetusesf In
the port aide u the steamer In what
u known a. the port hiige plates. IL
vas also found that she was taking
water freely.
rzx9ntfnntinn alse dlsaIaaess .he fact
that the Topeka vas fast on the
rocks % the reef This. Il seems,
was fortunate. for II the steamer
slid hack into deep water after
striking. she would probably have
sunk In a Hhart sirnc. anlsas she was
promptly brached with this fact
apparent. there was nothing to do
but wait FOR the first nofthhaund
steamer 10 arrive unon the scene.
The first vessel to appear was the
British steamer Danube. bound
south. she steamed up within a
short distance % the Topeka. A
boat was lowered from the Topeka
and sent or To thse Danube with
word that she was in no danger
and that no assistance was needed
The letter written by CAPTAIN
Thompson 20 Superintendent Trow-
bridge. was put aboard the Danube.
and the British steamer proceeded
south.
The letter further stated that the
would he sent 10 Juneau
on either the lighthouse tender Man
santa or the Cottage City. which
vessels were shortly expected north
ward bound. The letter requested
that a diver be sent up 70 Inveatf-
Eaie the damage done t. the Topeka,
In the meantime the water NAY be
pumped out. and the hole IN hsr side
sufficiently repaired % enable the
steamer 10 proceed 20 Juneau. where
sae win secure the services % a
ever there.
superintendent TrowbrldFe said
Ihi- morning that a diver VIII be
sent north on the FIRST steamer to
cave Seattle. This lH the Ai-KI, |
which Is scheduled 10 sail tomorrow.
At juneau the freight will be dis
there aud the damage ra-
paired 10 such an extent as 10 en-.
lhie the Topeka TO return TO Seattle. /
Upon her arrival here she will be /
AIKEN to the dry dock at Quarter
master harbor. where Hhe will be |
repaired.