Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1901-08-23
SCORES ARE LOST At SEA
The Steamer Islander Strikes an
Iceberg OFF the Pacific Coast
and Goes Down.
AN EXPLOSION ADDS TO THE HORROR.
At Least seventy Persons Lose Their
Livcs-BoiIers Of the ship Let Goa
She sinks, killing Many Who
Might Have Escaped-Forty Sur
yiNors Picked Up.

Victoria, =. C., Aug. 19.-As result
OF a collision with an iceberg early last
Thursday morning the steamer Island
er, crack boat of the Canadian Pacific
Navigation company, sank and carried
down 20 of its passengers and crew.
The steamer hit the floating mass Of
ice just before dawn. \ heavy fog hung
over the sea, and 10 this is attributed
the fact that Capt. Foote, who was on
the bridge, failed TO observe his dan
ger.
The force of the collision was such
that an immense hole was torn in the
bow Of the vessel The water poured
into the ship in such volumeS that il
was impossible TO close the water-tieht
compartment doors. and the food soon
reached the engine-rooms.
Just as the boats were lowered
terrific explosion occurred, and scores
Of people who otherwise might have
been saved were killed.
Caught in Death Trap.
The passengers, awakened by the
shock, were confronted with what
seemed certain death. When they
started in mad rush for the deck they
found that the force Of the collision
had been such that every door and win
dow was iammed fast.
With whatever came handy they
started TO break doors and windows.
A number succeeded, but those who
had failed 10 gain even temporary lib
erty went down when the boilers ex-
ploded.
Tells Graphic story.
Steward Simpson, who lost ten OF his
men. tells graphic story of the wreck.
He forced his way on deck and reached
there Just as the lifeboats were being
lowered.
The moment after the collision the
chief engineer started the pumps, but
the thrush Of water was too rapid TO
be checked.
Heroism of the Crew.
The captain headed party of Off
GERS and seamen, who, armed with
axes, broke in the doors of the state
rooms and rescued a many Of the i'm
prisoned passengers as they could.
Soon the water drove them to the
upper deck.
BY this time the boats were filed,
and while the officers were getting out
the last life raft the explosion came.
The captain leaped into the sea and
was picked up by lifeboat. just IS
he was pulled on board the boat was
overturned and its occupants lost.
The story of the wreck was first
learned at Treadwell Alaska, when
a party of the survivors, headed by
the chief engineer. staggered into
that little town. They had walked %
miles up the beach. and were nearly
dead from exhaustion and hunger.
Two steamers were at once sent TO
the scene Of the wreck TO search for
possible survivors.
Forty Survivors Picked Up.
At noon one Of them, the Flossie,
returned with its flag at half-mast.
On board were six dead bodies and
twoscore passengers who were picked
up while drifting around in open
boats without oars or sails.
Loses s275.0OO in Gold.
There was $4,000 in gold on the
steamer. 100000 of which was carried
by passengers. II. II. Hart, who has
spent 16 years in the Klondike, lost
5000 in dust.
some of the Victims.
Among the passengers lost were:
]. /. Blethen. Vancouver Or. John Dun
can Of Victoria, body recovered; - Doll
and two children, bodies recovered; j. V.
Douglas Vancouver; Mr.. Fail, Victoria;
AIRS. = g. Henderson. Victoria; w. II.
Heating and Two sons Los Angeler, 90,
+ Mills Victoria; Mrs. Nicholson, wife OF
cant Nicholson; w. G. Preston. of Seat
tie Mrs w. G. Preston; Mrs. Phillips and
child Seattle: Mrs. Ross, wife OF the gov
ernor Of the Yukon territory, her child and
niece: Mrs j. w. Smith, Vancouver; Mrs.
I Wilson Seattle.