The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-18
Files Up on the Rocks Of Sullivan
Island, in Lynn Canal.
POSSIBILITY or SAVING HER.
Passengers Taken Ashore and Later
Sfeamers-scene Nenr Where ILL.,
Fsted CIarn Nevada Went Down
--steamer Dolphin to Rescue-Ef-
forts to Float Wrecked Craft.

AS the result OF an accident which oc-
Cured at $50 p m Saturday, December S,
steamer City Of Topeka, of the Pacific
Coast Steamship company's Southeastern
Aiaska line, lies a partial and possibly
total wreck on the rocks Of Sullivan ISL
and, In Lynn canal, forty miles south OF
Juneau No lives were lost The vessel
al the time was In command of her mas
ter. Capt. a. l.. Olsen. and Pilots EsG-
wards and Thompson, all three or whom
stood on the bridge as the ship crashed
against the rocks.
Details OF the disaster came on the
steamer Dolphin. Capt John a. O'Brien.
which arrived from Skagway yesterday
at p. m. Purser Y. r. Jones and Freight
Clerk Donnelly Of the Topeka. and
cral Of her passengers returned on the
Dolphin.
The Topeka struck on her port broad
side, STAYING two Jagged holes, one ten
ana the other twenty feet IN length, In
her port bow below the water line. Had
she gone head on the vessel, despite the
fact that she was running under a slow
bell, would have met almost instant de-
struction, AZ the island Is surrounded ny
prccipitous depths of water; but striking.
as she did. running side blow. tde shock
was little more than perceptibIe. While
all realized that something had happenec
the passengers were not unduly alarmed
They were taken ashore and subsequently
transported 10 juneau on the local Lynn
canal steamers Alert and Rustier. There
we've sixty-eight passengers and with the
crew about 100 souls in all on board. From
thirty to forty OF the passengers were
local principally residents OF Skagway,
bound as witnesses to attend the United
States district court sitting in Juneau.
The Topeka sailed from Skagway at 9
a. IN. December s. with the wind blowing
gallo from the north. BY noon the snow
fell thick and fast. The fall Increased in
density. al times 80 binding that the Off
GERS could scarcely see a ships length
ahead. In the face of this. and realizing
the difficulties Of reaching Juneau. Capt
Olsen concluded TO put hack to Haines
mission and wait fer more favorable
weather.
When the vessel struck II was for few
minutes impossible to tell whether she
had merely run aground or brought up on
a reef In midcnannel. The Snow fell so
thick that ii was impossible FOR the ofii-
GERS to see the timber and trees with
which the island Is covered. though they
were rot more than 100 yards distant.
Meanwhile the vessel listed badly. All
hands were called to lower the boats, but
the ropes were covered with Ice. causing
a delay or at least thirty minutes before
the boats could be swung clear of the
rail The ships searchlight disclosed the
rocky shore line of the island not more
than 100 feet distant from the port DOW.
A cheer OF relief burst forth from the
anxious passengers the welcome rocks
doomed up In the darkness.
The tide was now ebbing, and within an
hour left the Topeka high and dry on the
rocks. The passengers were hurried
ashore, as II was question whether the