Warren sheaf., 1901-08-22
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 Lenst Seventy Persons Lose Their
Lives-BOilers Of the Ship Let Go a.
She Sinks, killing Many Who
Might Have Escaped-Forty Sur
. vivOrs Picked Up.

Victoria, B. c., Aug. 19.-As result
of collision with an iceberg early last
Thursday morning the steamer Island
er, crack boat of the Canadian Pacific
Navigation company, sank and carried
down 70 of its passengers and crew.
The steamer hit the floating mass of
ice just before dawn. A heavy fog hung
over the sea, and to 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 it
was impossible to close the water-tight
compartment doors, and the flood soon
reached the engine-rooms.
Just as the boats were lowered a
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 jammed fast.
With whatever came handy they
started to break doors and windows.
A number succeeded, but those who
had failed to gain even temporary lib
ploded.
Tells n 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 ifeboats 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 as, many of the i'm
prisoned passengers as they could.
Soon the water drove them to the
npper 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 Hfeboat. Just as
he was pulled 'on board the boat was
overturned and it's occupants lost.
The cfnrv nf Tho x,,ro,1, ~,,.. c--L
learned at Treadwell, Alaska, when
a party of the survivors, headed by
the chief engineer staggered into
that little town. They had walked 25
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. .-r
At noon one of them, the Flossie,
returned with! it's 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 $275,OOO in Gold,
There was $275,000 in gold on the
steamer, 100000 of which was carried
by passengers. H. H. Hart, who has
spent 16 years in the Klondike, lost
$4,000 in dust.
Some of the Victims,
Among the lost are Mrs. Ross, the
wife of the governor of Yukon terri
tory, her child, and niece; DR.. John
Duncan, Victoria; w. G. Preston and
bride, Seattle; F. Mills, Victoria;
Mrs. J. c. Henderson, Victoria; w. H.
Keating and two sons, Los Angeles,
CAL; J. V. Douglas, Vancouver; Mrs.
Phillips and child, Seattle; Mrs. Fall,
Victoria; Mrs. Nicholson, wife of
Capt, Nicholson.