The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-07-29
STORM AT ST. MICHAEL.
WIND PLAYS HAVOC AT THE
ALASKAN PORT.
Boats Anchored in the Stream
Torn From Their Fastenings
and Blown Ashore OF Seaward.

ST. MICHAEL, July Is, per steamer
st. Paul, San Francisco, July 29.-The
most severe summer wind storm seen
here in many years swept over this
bay yesterday from early morning until
nearly midnight. Boats anchored i'll
the stream were torn from their fas-
Jennings and either swept ashore or sent
flying seward, the direction of the
wind being southeast
Fortunately no lives were lost, as the
majority of the vessels wrecked were
small steamers, built in 1897 for the
Koyukuk rush, and which since early
spring have been idle at anchor in the
bay. Their owners in many instances
have either gone to Cape Nome or Gal
OWN Bay, giving up all hope of selling
or leasing their vessels. The damage
will amount to many thousands of dol
lars. e -ase
Beginning about o'clock in the
morning the velocity of the wind in
creased until it approached a hurri-
cane at noon. Ocean craft and large
river steamers tugged at their ponder
Gus anchors, firmly rooted in the mud,
but try as he would the storm king
was unequal to the task, and turned his
attention to the smaller fry with great
success, as the beach for several miles
will testify.
The point of land on which the
Alaska Commercial Company's plant is
built got the full benefit of the wind,
and considerable damage would have
occurred, had not the greatest care
been taken, as it was the company lost
its lately acquired tug boat, the Anna
Eva Fay, purchased last winter at
Unalaska, and nearly lost the fine large
river steamer Margaret, which was
swept to sea several miles before her
Captain could get her about.
The Margaret had a successful trip
to the troop ship ST. Paul, which also
belongs to the Alaska Commercial Com
pany, and with a number of passengers
aboard started for the dock about noon
AS she cast loose from the steamer the
wind caught her square astern and sent
her flying seward. At that point it
was useless to attempt to put her about
and for about ten miles she went along
faster than she has ever gone before
The st. Paul passengers and several
of the crew were almost washed over
board. During a temporary lull she
put about and after fighting the head
wind she was driven into cove about
a mile from st. Michael and anchored
there for the night.
The tug Anna Eva Fay dragged her
anchor opposite the Alaska Commercial
Company's wharf, and drifted to the
rocks a few feet astern of the river
steamer Louise, which was firmly tied
to the wharf All efforts to get the
Fay off were in vain, and she pounded
to pieces in few hours. The river
steamer Dorothy, owned by James
DIETRICH, dragged her anchor and went
ashore, but there are hopes that she
can be saved. Along the beach several
other small steamers and numerous
sloops and Yukon River boats are tota!
wrecks. Among the wrecked craft is
the steamer William Mckinley. The
river steamer Anna Wanda is smashed
to bits. The May West and the w.
Seig are also on the rocks. One of the
fine new barges belonging to the Alaska
Exploration Company was blown to
sea with a valuable cargo.
Captain Brant and mate of the four
masted schooner Carrier Dove, while
trying to row to the wharf, were
washed ashore, but were pulled out.
narrowly escaping drowning.