The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-08-20
NEEDLESS LOSS OF LIFE.
The Mad Scramble on the sinking
S1enmer IsInnder.

VICTORIA. b. c.. Aug. 21-AddIu0nal
accounts from survivors Of the wreck Of
the steamship Islander. Of the Alaska
service. of Douglass Island last Thurs
day morning. emphasizes the fact that
much needless loss OF life was caused by
the mad scramble among the passengers
for boats as soon as il became evident
that the vessel was sinking
Second Officer Powell. one Of the sur
vivors Of the islander. who remained on
the sinking ship 20 the end. gives details
of the death Of Capt. II. p FoOIe. and
other happenings just before the steam
ship went down Powell was helping 60
get the boats ont and ne confirms the re-
ports already given Of the scramble for
them He was below when the vessel
struck the ice. but was awakened BY the
shock and hurried on deck. He went 70
work at once and when the boats had
been got out. he went into the pilot house
and took down a hfebelI which he tied
on and then went out on the main deck
one boat was being pushed OF and
there was a place in il which he was
lust going 10 take. when Powell saw two
women and stepped aside, assisting them
into the boat. which was then pushed
of. Powell ran along the main deck OF
the steamship into the saloon through
one Of the staterooras- IN the saloon he
found Dr Duncan and Mrs. Ross, her
child, and niece. and another woman
They had Ifebelts on. He noticed that the
HfebeIts had been put on wrong and stop
ped to change them. The belts were tied
inside and would have tapped and per
haps given away.
After putting the belts on the persons
Gathered there he talked To them ana
tried to quiee the women, who were much
excited As ne did so the steamship gave
her last plunge and was sliding down by
the head He shouted TO Dr. Duncan and
the others 10 jump and ran T0r the rail
himself The niece Of Mrs Boss about
eighteen years Of age, threw ner arms
around his neck and shouted 20 him %
save her. She remained cIiugiUg TO Pow
ellis neck as he rushed along 10 the rail.
and they went over into the water to-
gether. When they struck the girl let 90
and the second mate did not see her
again.
Powell had jumped well out and struck
out from the ship, for she appeared 20 De-
turning over He swan out past the
stern. which was high up. and saw a raft.
which he tried 20 reach on this raft he
saw lie Bianc, the pilot, aad Captain
Foote.
Soon after the second mate grasped the
lifeline Of the raft 10 support himself one
big fellow on the centre Of the raft drew
a revolver. and. with an oath, shouted 10
the second officer TO let 90 or he would
blow his brains out shoot away said
Powell, FOR / guess you will soon follow
me. anyhow 1 believe your cartridges
are too wet"
he continued TO cling 20 the raft until
he saw q door floating by. Then ne struck
out for that. I.e Blanc. who had been
Clirging to the raft. cried out about the
same time from a different direction
Captain Fo0te had pulled his pipe from
his pocket as ne sat on the raft, an action
which. according 10 those who knew him,
would show that he was agitated. Tor he
invariably began filling his pipe when eX-
cited 10y anything AS he pulled out his
pipe some Of the passengers on the raft
the man with the revolver in particular
began TO make cutting remarks 70 the
captain. Captain FOote replied: "Oh.
I've lost my ship and 1 suppose ] have TO
take my medicine but 1 can Gle as game
as any Of YOU"
The man in the centre remarked that
there was little room on the raft anyway
lie said he did not think there was room
enough for the captain Il guess there is
too many Of us on the raft said Captain
Foote. "Good-by boys" he added and
with these words he slipped of the raft
and swan away
Steward Simpson. who came home last
night by the Yosemite having reached
Vancouver on the steamship FaraIi0n,
tells Of seeing the captain so down 10
death. He spied the captain supporting
himself on an oar and shouted. Are you
there. captain Captain FOote replied
Yes and the steward said Come and
take hold here. I've got the jack staff
It's too late" said the captain. and
moment or two afterward he let 90 and