Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-08-20

knots an hour until at s O'Clock Thurs
day morning when Juneau was passed
and the south end OF Douglass islaad
was reached. Then suddenly the
steamer encountered an obstruction,
said to have been an iceberg, and stop
ped with a jerk which aroused many
of the sleeping passengers.
Pilot Advised BenebiBg.
Captain Foote was having breakfast
and the pilot notified him OF the
trouble. When the vessel struck water
rushed in forward in great volumes and
the pilot advised that the vessel be run
on the beach, not over half mile dis
tant, at once. To this the captain Oh
jected, saying the beach was too abrupt.
He thought there was no immediate
danger, but would run few miles fur
ther down where he knew there was a
good landing.
The captain assured several passen-
gers there was no immediate danger
and that they could go back to bed, and
sent the first officer down to examine.
That officer reported that there was
great danger and urged that the vessel
be beaehed at once. The first officer CT
dered the boats let down, but this or
ueT WdS COuHltI Hlduutu ny tHt tdptotb
who, finally realized the seriousness OF
the situation and allowed the first off,
Ger to get down the boats. Meanwhile
the passengers, aroused to their peril,
appeared on deck.
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 20 minutes later the
propeller and rudder were high in the
air and useless.
The captain remained on the bridge
until the last, and finally jumped on
life raft. When the steamer went
under an explosion occurred. The
captain lost his hold on the raft and
went under.
Owing to n Dense Fog
much difficulty was experienced in as
pertaining the location of the shore.
After a time the water was heard trick
ling down the rocks and all the boats
reached the shore. Many presons who
jumped off the steamer were rescued
later, only to die from exhaustion and
the intense cold. Several persons re-
covered consciousness only after four
or five hours hard work by their com
rades.
Among the passengers lost we're Mrs.
Governor Ross, of Dawson, her child
and her niece, and DR.. John M. Duncan,
of Victoria. The doctor was seen with
a life preserver about him, but no one
saw Mrs. Ross, and it was thought that
Duncan lost his life in futile attempt
to rescue Mrs. Ross and family just as
the steamer sank.
All the rescued speak in high terms
of the courage and assistance given by
Chief Engineer BrOwnlee and First Of
ficer Neurotsos, who saved several lives.
The intense cold Of the water caused
severe cramps among many who were
on life RATS and resulted in death from
the exposure. The bodies of those dy-
ing in this manner turned black.
Some of the LOscrs.
M NJ Brumbauer of Portland, Ore,
had $4,000 in gold dust in his satchel
but promptly abandoned it tumbled into
the water and was rescued.
DIR. r. Hart, of Klondike, had $40,-
600 in gold dust which he abandoned
when he jumped into the last boat, and
reached shore safely.
M NJ Manlin, of Winnipeg, dropped
his satchel containing $4,000, and q
friend left $4,000 behind.
Another Klondiker whose name is
not given, is reported to have taken his
portmanteau, containing $4,000 in gold
dust, from the purser and jumped from
the sinking steamer to boat, which he
failed to reach. Both the man and his
treasure sank
At Juneau, Consul Smith saw DR..
Phillips, of Seattle, who escaped but
who lost his wife and child. The doc
tor insisted no one called at his state
room to warn him of the disaster i'm
pending. DR.. Phillips remained at
Juneau endeavoring to recover the
body of his wife.
The Pilots story.
Pilot Lablonde, who had charge OF
the steamer, said:
The night was fine. AS we always
expect to meet ice, sharp lookout
was kept About Pas a. m. the crash
came. The boat was under full speed
and no ice was in sight and there was
no fog. The fatal berg was, no doubt,
even with the water. After she struck
stopped the engines. Then Captain
Foote appeared with the night watch
man, who reported the ship leaking
forward. l told Captain Foote that we
would better hold for the beach, but
the ship was making water so fast she
would not answer her helm. Then l
called the mate and ordered the boats
This was done. Many passengers
jumped overheard, and was seen in the
water over two hours before securing
piece of wreckage'
The Islander
was the largest passenger vessel owned
by the Canadian Pacific Navigation
Company. 1t was built at Glasgow and
cost over 100000. The vessel arrived
at Victoria on December 8, 1888, and
was put on the Victoria-Vancouyer
route. Since then 1t has been engaged
in the Vancouver trade, occasionally
going to Alaska and the Columbia river.
The Islander was twin screw
steamer, 240 feet long, AZ feet beam AID
14.S foot hold. possessed great speed,
and had accom- modations for several
hundred passengers and large freight
capacity.