The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-08-19

lsof1cers were getting out the last life raft
Captain Foote called to all hands to clear
the ship as she was about to go down.
This was the captains last order, as at
that moment the ship sunk and the cap
tain, leaping clear of the wreck, was
picked up by a lifeboat, which in some
manner was overturned. The night was
very misty and all hands were forced to
shift for themselves.
Consul Smiths Account.
United States Consul Smith of Victoria,
who was passenger on the Queen from
Juneau to Victoria, CLEANED the following
story of the wreck from the forty sur
vivors who were passengers on the Queen:
The Islander left Skaguay for Victoria
on Wednesday evening, the 14th, at
O'Clock, with 125 passengers and a crew Of
sixty-one men on board and ten or twelve
stowaways. All went we'll, the steamer
making her usual fifteen knots an hour
until o'clock Thursday morning when
Juneau was passed and the south end ofl
Douglas island was reached.
Then suddenly the steamer encountered
an obstruction said to have been an ice
berg and stopped with a jerk which
aroused many of the sleeping passengers.
Pilot LIE Blonde was in charge Of the
steamer at the time and went into the
dining room where Captain Foote was
I
| trouble. AS soon as the vessel struck,
water rushed in forward in great volume
and the pilot advised that the vessel be
| run on the beach, not over half a mile dis
tant, at once. To this the captain OBJ
jected saying the beach was too abrupt.
He thought there was no immediate dam
ger, but would run a few miles further
down where he knew there was a good
| landing
The captain assured several passengers
there was no immediate danger and that
they could go back to bed and sent the
first office down to examine. That off,
Ger reported there was great danger and
urged that the vessel be beached at once
me hrst officer ordered the boats let
Gown put this order was countermanded
byfthe captain who, however, finally real
lied the seriousness of the situation and
lowed tie first officer to get down the
! boats. Meanwhile the passengers.
iAroused to their peril, appeared on deck
and a rush was made to the purser who
had been given much treasure for safe
Keeping. Purser Bishop handed all out
except two bags of $4,000 each, which
were not claimed and went down with the
vessel The bow of the steamer steadily
sunk and twenty minutes later the pro-
pellor and rudder were high in the air
and useless.
Wife of a Governor Lost
among the passengers lost were Mrs.
SToVernor Ross of Dawson, her child and
ner niece, and DR.. John NJ Duncan OF
victoria The doctor was seen with
lie preserver about him, but no one saw
MIS-. ROSS, and it was thought that Dun
can lost his life in a futile attempt to
rescue her and family just as the steamer
sank. All the rescued speak in high terms
OF the courage and assistance given hv
11oo M.
Neurotzos, who saved many lives. The
lntense colo OF the water caused severe
cramps among many who were on life
rafts and resulted in death from the ex-
posure. The bodies Of those dying in this
manner turned black
M: N. Brumbauer of Portland, Ore. had
$4,000 in gold dust in his stche1 bnt
promptly abandoned it.
u. H. Hart of Klondike had $40 600 in
gold dust, which he abandoned when he
Jumped into the last boat and reached
shore safely
M; M. Manlin Of Winnipeg dropped his
satcnel, containing $4,000, and a friend
left 5000 behind.
Another Klondiker, whose name is not
gwen is reported as having taken his
vallse, containing $4,000 in gold dust
from the purser and jumped from the
SINKING steamer to a boat which he failed
70 reach. Both the man and his treasure
sauk. VI 2
AT Juneau Consul Smith saw DR.. Phil
lips OF Seattle, who escaped. but who Loot
MS wife and child. The doctor insisted
tnat no one called at his stateroom Il
warn MIN Of the disaster impending. DR.
Fnllllps remained at Juneau, endeayorine
to recover the body of his wife.
Under Full Speed.
Pilot LIE Blonde, who had charge of the
steamer, said:
The night was fine. AS we alwavs ex-
pect to meet ice, a sharp lookout was
Kept. About 2:48 the crash came. The
noat was under full speed and no ice was
IN sight and there was no fog. The fatal
Derg was, no doubt, even with the wafer
After she struck l stopped the engines.
Inen Captain Foote appeared with the
night Watchman, who reported the shin
leaking forward l told Captain Foote that
we would better hold for the beach hnt
the ship was making water so fast she
would not answer her helm. Then called
the mate and ordered the boats. This
was done and they were loaded with mas
sengers Many passengers Jumped over
board with life preservers on. I iumned
overheard and was in the water over two
hours before securing a piece of wreck
age"
The Islander was the largest passenger
vessel Of the Canadian Pacific Navigation
company. 1t was built at Glasgow and
cost over $20O,OOO. The vessel arrived at
victoria Dec 9, 1883, and was put on the
victoria vancouver route. Since then IL
mas Deen engaged in the Vancouver trade.
occasionally going to Alaska and the CO.
lumbia river.