The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-08-21
KLONDIKERS DROWNED.
Sixty-Fiye Lives Lost---The Ship
Struck an Iceberg and Sank.

Port Townsend, Wash, Aug. 10
The steamer Queen has just arrived
from the north, bringing news OF one
Of the most appalling marine disasters
on the Pacific cost.
The steamer Islander, sailing from
Skagway August "A. when nearing the
southwest end of Douglas island, at
a. m., August Is, and running at full
speed, struck floating iceberg and in
less than 20 minutes went to the bot
tom of the deep channel, carrying men
women and children to watery
graves.
The Islander had 10S passengers, and
all 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 general scramble for the
life boats ensued, many jumping over
board and attempting 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
the passengers arriving from the scene,
seemed alive with human beings.
Before all the passengers had left the
vessel she gave lunge and went down,
bow first.
It is feared that 81 lives were lost.
It will be some time before their
names can be definitely learned as the
purser lost his passenger list
United States Consul Smith of Vic
toria, who was passenger on the
Queen from Juneau to Victoria, CLEAN
ed the following story of the wreck
from amnog the 4G survivors who were
passengers on the Queen:
''The Islander left Skagwav for Vic
to.ia last Wednesday evening at 6 p.
m. with 125 passengers and crew of
81 men on board and 10 or u stow
aways. All went we'll, the steamer
making her usual record of 15 knots
an hour until at 3 o'clock Thursday
morning when juneau was passed and
the south end of Douglass island was
reached. Then suddenly the steamer
encountered an obstruction. said to
have been an iceberg, and stopped
with jar which aroused many of the
sleeping passengers.
Captain Foote was having break
fast and the pilot informed him of the
trouble. When the vessel struck,
water rushed in forward in great vol
umes and the pilot advised that the
vessel be run on the beach, not over
half mile distant, at once. To this
the captain objected, saying the beach
was too abrupt He thought there
was no immediate danger, but would
run few miles further down where
he knew there was good landing.
The captain assured the passengers
there was no immediate danger and
that they could 60 back to bed, and
sent the first officer down to examine.
That officer reported there was great
danger and urged that the vessel be
beached at once. The first officer
ordered that the boats be let down,
but this order was countermanded by
the captain, who, however finally real
lized the seriousness of the situation
anG allowed the first officer to get
down the boats.
Meanwhile the passengers, aroused
to their perfal, appeared on deck and
rush was made to the purser, who
hac been given much treasure for safe
keeping. Purser Bishop handed out
all except two bags of so. 900 each,
which we're not claimed and went down
with the ship. The bow of the
steamer steadily sunk and 20 minutes
later the propeller and rudder were
high in the air and useless, but the
captain remained on the bridge until
the last and family Jumped on a life
raft. When the steamer went under
an explosion occurred. -
1.-The capatin lost his hold on the
raft and went under.
Owing to the dense fog much diff
Guilty was experienced in ascertaining
the location of the shore. After time
water was heard trickling down the
rocks, and all the boats reached the
shore. Many persons who Jumped off
the steamer were rescued later, only
to die from exhaustion and the intense
colo. Several persons recovered con-
ciorsness only after four or
five hours work by their COM
rades.'' All the rescued speak in
high terms of the courage and assist
ance given by Chief Engineer Brownlee
and First Officer Neurotsos who saved
several lives. The intense colo of the
water caused severe cramps among the
many who were on life RATS and re-
suited in death from exposure. The
bodies of those dying in this manner
turred black.
NJ NJ. Brumbauer, of Portland,
Ore, had $4,000 in gold dust in his
satcael. but promptly abandoned it,
tumbled into the water and was
rescled.
D. H. Hart, of Klondike, had $40,
600 n gold dust, which he abandon
ed, when be jumped into the last boat
and reached shore safely.
Another whose name is not given.
is reported to have taken his port
manteau containing $4,000 in gold
dust, from the purser and jumped
from. the sinking steamer to a boat
which he failed to reach. and both the
man and his treasure sank.