The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-20
Crew Behaved spIendidly, Giving the
Boats tn the Passengers and TAX
ing Chances Themselves.
STORIES TOLD BY SURVIVORS
EXPERIENCE OF PILOT LABLANC,
WHO WAS THE NAVIGATOR.
Accounts of the Chief Engtzeer and
Others-Death List May Not
Exceed Forty-Two.

VICTORIA. B. c.. Aug. 19-victorians
are waiting patiently for an official list OF
those who lost their lives in the disaster
which overlook the steamer Islander, on
Douglas island. on Aug. IS. for. although
the list Of dead has been reduced to forty
two. according to reports which reached
Vancouver this afternoon. there are still
a number of names which have not been
received here. The day has been giving
to a discussion of the accident. 1t is said
by some that 1t is quite possible that the
steamer struck on Jagged reef which
runs out from Tantillon point. as few ice
bergs are about in that part OF the sound.
they mostly finding their way out by the
Taku arm. But it must be remembered
that for every foot of ice above water
there are seven feet under water. and ii is
possible for a navigator not to see one
which his steamer is running to. All
admit that by the time Captain Foote
reached the bridge IL vas too late 10
beach the vessel. In fact, IL was impossi-
bic. the propellers out of the
water. for the vessel sank twenty minutes
after striking. The crew. according to the
evidence OF all. acted splendidly and left
the boats to the passengers. they them
selves being satisfied with pieces of wreck
age TO cling to until picked up by the
boats. Some of the passengers acted most
inhumsnely. cutting the ropes as soon as
they got into the boats and pushing off
from the steamer. The chief criticism as
to the operation OF the steamer is that she
should have been slowed down as soon as
1t was found that she was running into
ice.
The Islander had los passengers, and all
of them were in bed when the vessel
struck. The shock was so severe that many
were thrown from their berths and the
widest excitement prevailed. Word was
soon passed that the vessel was doomed
and a general scramble for the lifeboats
ensued. many jumping overheard and at
tempting to swim to the shore, the distance
being short. In the scramble to get into
the boats many were hurled headlong into
the chilly water. which. according to pas
sengers arriving from the scene. seemed
alive with human beings. Before all the
passengers had left the vessel she gave a
iunge and went down bow first.
1t is known that sixty lives were lost. 1t
will be some time before their names can
be definitely learned. as the purser lost his
passenger list. Among the passengers
known to have been saved are the follow
ing:
N. A. BELLCOURT. NJ p. Ottawa.
e. c. RAY. Ottawa.
r. BOWMAN. wife and son Oscar, Van
couver.
A. MORRISON. Dawson.
CHARLES DOYLE. Fort Cudahy.
VIRGIN DOYLE. Fort Cudahy.
ARTHUR LONGMANE, Fort Cudahy.
II. REAL. Dawson.
DR. w. H. SMITH. Vancouver
II. W. HENDERSON. Dawson.
H. H. HART. San Francisco.
j. r. BANNtN. San Bernardino. Cal.
A s. LABLANC. pilot. Victoria
ALLEN j. sALKER and wife. Skagway.
r n. HIGHON. Victoria.
CHARLES DENNY. fourth engineer.
H. FRASER. third pantryman. Victoria.
c. III. L. SHERMAN. Northwest mounted
police. White Horse
II. WALKER. mounted police. White
Horse.
r. y. MARSH. White Pass & Yukon
Railway.
G. w. SIMPSON. steward
@. L. coTTER. mounted police. White
Horse.
LOUIS A. BERTHA. Dawson
JOHN L. GOSS. Seattle
J. W. SNODGRASS. Dawson
A. DICKEY, Seattle
u. o. FERRY. quartermaster
OWEN M'LAUGHLIN, wife and child
6kagway.
L. ]. DEAN. Cariboo Crossing.
f. c. FLINT and wife. Dawson.
J. c. HENDERSON. Skagway.
EVERETT g. YOUNG. Vancouver
ANTON KRE1SHE. Dawson.
JACK kOCHVER, Dawson.