The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-19
HOW ALPHA WAS WRECKED.
TOOK Az IxusuAL COURSE 70
REACH UNION BAY.
Lives Were Lost In Desperate Effort
to Save the stricken ship-Bodies
of the Two BARRIERS and "a Sea-
man NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Escape.

= VANCOUVER, b. c., Dec fs.-Late de-
tails OF the laundering OF the steamer Al
pha. with the loss OF nine lives. indicate
that the disaster was primarily due TO
taking an unusual course into the coaling
citation at Union bay Encounfering
fierce southeast gale while steaning up
the strait, the captain decided TO take
what is known az The inside passage 20
Union bay. and kept on the inside Of Dem
man island. steaming up TIE channel
known rs haynes sound al the head of
which stands yellow island lighthouse. on
rocky isiat, about 600 feet across. The
light from this lighthouse is said 10 only
cast It's warning reflection towards the
north and east, the recognized navigation
The Alpha ateaming Up the channel at
a ten-knot speed, with half gale Of wind
almost behind her, adding greatly 70 her
speed, I'D not perceive the Hight and sud
denly, before a voice OF warning from her
lookout or forward watch was heard, she
ran. her bow high up amidst the rocky
reef surrounding the Island The wind,
which had been Increasing Ia force all the
afternoon, was now blowing a gale and
seas repeatedly broke over the vessel.
Plucky seamen volunteered to swim ashore
with lines. and three were thus made fast
10 the island. BY means Of these some
Twenty-Five members OF the crew were
landed on the small surface OF the yellow
rock. but the captain, engineers and 9TH
ers, who were later drowned, decided to
stand by their vessel and save her from
becoming a total wreck Their efforts
resulted In their own lives being sacrificed
to duty's call.
Sens swept. the Deck.
The gale Increased and fearful seas
swept over the vessel Boats, bridge. pr
dollhouse and mast We're carried by the
board aud with them perished those who
had stayed to fight their forlorn hope.
Soon her decks were ripped open and
the crew, standing on the unprotected
wave washed rocky islet, both heard and
saw the waves playing havoc with this
cargo In the vessels hold The plight of
the twenty-five shipwrecked men was not
favorable one. saved, with but the
clothes they stood In, but cast on a small
rocky slet, wind and water swept The
lighthouse keeper however did his best
for their comfort, and In his small dwell
ing they found shelter from the stormy
blasts and fierce which threatened,
almost. destruction 70 the island itslf.
Sunday morning dawned with peace
ful sky overhead. but long sullen swell
swept over the sea, breaking over the
wreck and rocks with an angry swirl
ms though disappointed that some lives
had escaped from the deadly onslaught
of past fury. The superficial examina-
ton OF the wreck showed her to be under
water at even low tide. and beyond hope
OF repair by her crew. Towards the aft
ernoon a sloop hove In sight, and by It's
aid Chief Officer Wilkinson and his ship
wrecked crew were enabled 70 reach the
mainland and at 5 ?. m. on Sunday even
Ing they reached Union bay, just as
rescue crew appraised OF the disaster
through the wreckage filing the bay, was
about to proceed 10 their assistance.
Three bodies Recovered.
Three bodies have been recovered OF
the nine men drowned-the two BARRIERS,
one part owner and the other purser,
and sullivan, an able seaman. Capt,
Gosse, Of the steamer Coquitiam, arriv-
Ing from Union bay this afternoon, says
that the wreck has nearly gone to pieces.
The vessels back was broken In three
al ~
gether with portions of the cargo, are
strewn along the rocky coast for three
miles.
Fireman Joseph Young told a thrilling
tale OF the disaster today After the
first smash on the ledge OF rock under the
yellow island lighthouse, he was IN the
s,okeholes and tried 70 Chamber out as he
felt the vessel lurchtng under his feet.
He had on Jacket, shirt, overalls, boots
ana socks. As he climbed out he was
swept away from the iireroom door by the
suction uf a wave. Then he WINS carried
against the rocks, where his feet caught
IN a Jagged crevice. and he left both boats
and mangled his feet horribly as he
1crked himself free from the course of
the next wave, which would have dashed
him against the sharp rock and probably
killed him, He was hurled repeatedly
! acting as Tenders were friEhttuliy LAGER
: nted before he finally was able 10 OBJ
Y tain footing. All his clothes were torn
or exceri remnant Of hts shirt Above
the roafing Of the storm he could hear
men shouting and crying for help and
several were In the rigging as the ves-
sci went down,
Young says that the helm refused to
answer SO great was the force Of Wind
and wave against the side Of the vessel
Then there was delay IN reversing the
says that the night was the roughess he
ever saw In ten years Coast experience
J. Genee part owner left today for tho
scene OF tho wreck,
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