Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-01-30
TRAGIC EVENTS IN ALASKA ON
LAND AND WATER.
CORRESPONDENCE of the Alexsndfis Gazette

On board Cottage City, Jan. 90
The winter of 1899 and 1900 will re-
main lopg 10 the M mory OF those per-
sons who resided in Alaska, and espe-
cially those Of Skaguay. White Pass,
and the near vicinity. The night of
December II ushered in the first Sc
we're snow storm with north wind
blowing a veritable blizzard for forty
eight hours, aud the snow was pileo
10 huge drifts mauy feet deep. On the
night of the 19h the wind veered
around to the south and warm
rain came down for several hours which
hacked the snow close and lowered the
drifts. but the weather soon turned
colder and more snow fell, the wind
changing again to the north, continuing
without interruption, and with dark
days up to the 18th of January, 1900,
the mercury falling below zero,
and the snow covering the earth
TO a death of three feet on
vel with dri Is so deep in the
streets OF Skaguay that tunnels were
dug through them for passage OF the
pedestrions. No such storms of wind
aud snow have ever occurred in the
memory of the oldest Inhabitants, and
two persons have resided in Skagusy,
or on the same spot, for ten years or
more. The steamers from Seattle ex-
perienced terrible gales and rough pas
sages. The Townsend" got to Skae-
uay safely, and, started on her returned
rip to the sound only to be beached at
Haines' Mission, eighteen miles down
Lynn canal and getting afoat, made a
few miles when her boilers sprung q
leak and she was blown ashore becom-
ing a total wreck; the crew and pas
sengers barely escaping with their lives,
and being compelled to travel for miles
through six and eight feet of snow be-
fore reaching a place of safety. The
"City OF Seattle"on her down trip LETT
Skagusy for Jupean, and after running
through the storm for several miles lost
ber propeller and lay floundering oil the
rocks with her anchors out. Steamer
and all would have been lost
! had not the "Cottage City" come to
her assistance and towed her to Juneau,
thirty miles distant. 1t was a provl-
Dental circumstance indeed, as the
,"Cottage City" was day ahead OF
time on her up trip, and had reached
Juneau where relief party from the
stranded vessel with five brave men
made their way and notified the cap
tain of the situation; six or eight hours
more and it would have been too late.
After towing the "City OF Seattle" to
Juneau the cottage City" continued
on to Skaguay, but it took her all day
Monday and until Tuesday afternoon
to battle against the storm. Wnen sne
arrived at Skaguay she looked IKE
GREAT white bird drifting over the
waters, being covered with ice ana
snow from stern to stern, and her ropes
great cables of ice. Tuesday night the
storm was very severe, and the Got
tage City" lay at the dock all night,
the thermometer at zero, the snow fall
ing and the wind blowing heavi-
lv. At three o'clock on Wednes-
dsy morning the Brannick Hotel,
one of the finest in Skagusy,
was totally destroyed by hre'
osing ali its contents, the guests only es-
Gaping. The fire department struggled
nooly and succeeded in saving the large
store building on the opposite side OF the
street. The passengers on the Got.
tspe Citv" we're all in their hunks and
only got the particulars of the fire three
davs afterward, upon arrival at Juneau
although the steamer did not leave the
dock at Skaguay until 6 o'clock Wed
nesday morning.
The trip to Sitka was very stormy
and the steamer laid over two nights
} arriving at juneau Friday night
Among the passengers on the disabled
"City of Seattle" was the widow OF
, rrominent business man OF Sksgusy
wbo a few days before had lost bis life
He slipped of the gangplank OF
steamer and fell into the water, TN
shock killing him instantly. Inc via
= ow and her little boy were accompany
ing the remains, and after the acciden
thew we're transferred to the "Cottae'
CITY" to proceed on their way 10 Oai'
J fornia. their former home.
Another sad occurrence to family
in Skaguay is the loss OF one OF tn'
sops. who bad been missing for severe
weeks. He Left Dawson for Skaguay
cot over the rail in safety as iar q
y Minto. and in company with TWO o'n
ers left Mimic for the next station, 0nl
fourteen miles distant, since wn1c
time not even trace has been Iouno