The Topeka state journal., 1901-08-19
SIS DROWNED
Steamer Islander Wrecked on a
Sunken Iceberg.
Sank in Fifteen Minutes After
She Struck.
OFF DOUGLAS ISLAND.
Had 725 Passengers and Much
Treasure Aboard.
A Number Died From Exposure
to the Cold.
HAPPENED AT NIGHT.
The Captain Went Down With
&I,a RTrnoI-
OFF DOUGLAS ISLAND
Had 725 Passengers and Much
Treasure Aboard.
A Number Died From Exposure
to the Cold.
HAPPENED AT NIGHT.
The Captain Went Down With
the Wreck.

San Francisco. Aug. ia special to
the Chronicle from Victoria. B. q,
says:
The steamer Islander. the flagship of
the Canadian Pacific Navigation fleet
and the largest and fastest passenger
steamer on the Vi1toria-Skagway
route. coIided with an iceberg on
Douglas island. Alaska, 1Fhile on her
way south with the largest number Of
passengers that she has carried since
she was replaced on the run few
months ago. and sank within fifteen
minutes after striking. Captain Foote
her IN master, and about s. persons IN
cIuding passengers and members of the
crew. were droW ned To add to the
horror of the terrible disaster, her boil
ers exploded as she went down. causing
the death of many of those who We're
struggling in the water. The steamer
left Skagway in the evening of
Wednesday last, and was proceeding
out Of Lynn canal when the collision
occurred. Most of the passengers and
members of the crew who were in bed
We're rudely awakened by the shock
The majority got out on deck in time
to be saved IN the boats which We're
QUICKLY AidHLEQ. 0uA q AcA g AA---DN-
went down in their staterooms. Some
Of the survivors arrived mere last even
ing by the steamer which passed over
the scene of the appalling disaster on
the following evening and picked them
up at juneau. 10 which city they had
been taken.
The news came as a terrible blow to
the citizens of Victoria many of the
lost being we'll known and having fam
his 1Trf
sudden, as the steamer had been eX-
pected. and many were awaiting her
arrival when the Queen cane in with
the news. 1t was impossible to obtain
a complete list of the dead. as Purser
Bishop remained at JuneautO attend to
the forwarding Of the passengers and
kept the ships papers with him. He
sent d letter to Mr. Vincent, secretary
of the company, but gave but a few
names of those who had been lost and
no details Of the wreck
The officers and passengers who came
down We're likewise unable to give any
but a very incomplete list All estimate
the loss of life at about 90 and give the
greatest praise to the officers for the
manner in which they acter under the
most trying circumstances The Ofh-
GERS, on the other hand state that had
the passengers not rushed the boats,
the loss Of life would have been very
small, If, in faG, any at all were lost.
The survivors were landed on Doug
lass island and the mate was sent to
Juneau for help, the steamers F'lossie
and Lucy responding and taking them
to Juneau. A small amount of the gold
on board was saved. The papers con-
tanning $4,000 were left in the pursers
safe. the balance in his possession be-
ing returned before the steamer sank
The city council of Juneau acted IN
harmony. with open hearts and level
heads. secured Deckers hall which was
hastily converted into lunch room and
resting place, where cold nerVe-shat-
tered unfortunates from the wreck
could warm up with hot coffee and
suitable foods. The words of COmmen-
datiOn and gratitude from the men and
women of the rescued party for the op-
ening OF Juneau homes, the words of
sympathy and the extended help in
substantial ways. proves that the peo-
for generosity In meeting an emergen-
cy of this kind.
STORY OF THE DISASTER.
Victoria, p. .. Aug .lg-United States
Consul Smith. of Victoria who was a
passenger on the Queen from Juneau to
Victoria. cleaned the following story of
the wreck of the steamer Islander
which struck an iceberg of Douglass
island last Thursday, from the surviv-
ors. 40 Of whom were passengers on the
Queen,
THE Islander. left Skagvay for Vic
at p- m with 725 passengers and q
crew OF 81 on board and 10 or u stow
aWays- All went we'll the steamer
making her usual record of Is knots an
hour until at a. m. on Thursday
morning when Juneau was passed ana
the south end of Douglass island was
reached Then suddenly the steamer
encountered an obstruction said tn
have been an iceberg and stopped with
jerk which aroused many OF the
sleeping passengers.
Pilot Leblonde was in charge of t,a
steamer at the time and Went inroa-
dlately to the dining room. where Can
tam toote was having breakfast and
notified him of the trouble. As soon
as the vessel struck water rushed ~,
forward IN great volumes and the nilot
advised that the vessel be run on fbe
beach, not over half mile distant AZ
once To this the captain objected saw
ing the beach was too abrllpt h
tnougnt there was no immediate danger
out would run a few miles further
down where he knew there was a snod
S landing 900u
ne captain assured several passen-
gers there was no immediate danger
ana that they could go back to ned
ana sent the first officer down to Az,
anime That officer reported there vvaS
great danger and urged that the vessel
pe Deached at once The first officer
ordered the boats let down. but this
order was countermanded by the can
tam Who however finally realized The
SERIOUSNESS Of the situation and allow