The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-08-23

cold Several persons recovered con-
seriousness only after four or five hours
hard work by their comrades"
All the rescued speak in high terms
OF the courage and assistance given by
Chief Engineer Brownlee n 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 these dying
in this manner turned black.
II. NJ. Brauer, OF Portland, Ore, had
S14, coo in gold dust in his satched, but
promptly abandoned it, tumbled into
h water and vas rescued.
d. II. Hart, of Klondike. had $40, 600
in gold dust which he abandoned when
he jumped into the last boat and reach
ed shore safely.
Another klondiker, whose name is
not given, IS reported to have taken
his p-ortmanteau, containing $40, 900 in
gold dust, from the purser and jump
ed from the sinking steamer to a boat
which he failed to reach. Both the man
and his treasure sank.
Pilot Lablond, who had charge of the
steamer, said: THE night was fine.
As We always expect to meet ice, a
sharp lookout was kept. About 2:46
o'clock 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. eve with water.
After she struck I stopped the engines.
Then Captain Foote appeared with the
night Waterman and reported the ship
leaking Onward 1 told Captain Foote
that we would better hold for the beach,
but the ship vas making water SO fast
that she would not answer her helm.
Then I called the mate and ordered the
boats. This was done and they were
loaded with passengers. Many passen-
gers jumped overheard with life pre-
servers on. I jumped overheard and
was in the water owe two hours before
securing p piece of wreckage."
The Islander was the largest passen-
ger vessel Of the Canadian Pacific Nav
igatiOn Company. 1t was built at Glas-
gov and cost over 100000 The vessel
arrived at Victoria on December 9, 1855,
and was put on the Victoria-Vancouver
route. Since then it has been engaged
in the Vancouver trade, occasionally
going to Alaska and the Columbia
river.
The Islander was a twin screw steam
er, 24G feet long. ~ feet beam and AS
hold; possessed great speed, had &C
commodations for several hundred
passengers and a large freight capacity.
Seattle, August ia special to The
Times from Victoria, B.. c., y
The steamer Queen left for Seattle, at
9 o'clock carrying a number of the sur
vivorS of the wreck. and the Farallon
is expected sncE. Purser Bishop is eX-
! pected on The Farallon with a list OF
dead. The death of Captain Foote was
very pathetic. He remained on the
bridge until h steame was founder
ing. When tie vessel commenced to
sink II 1t UJS seen that NJ ~eXpedient
could avail, the captain, it is said, jump
ed into the life raft, which was al
ready Overtaxed. Realizing that his
weight would work havoc there he ex-
claimed: II zee there are too many
here. 70 good bye, boys" and swan
away. He was shortly afterwards seen
to sink.
chief Engineer Brownlee had a
miraculous escape. He was asleep and
awakened by Third Engineer Allen
ringing MS bell He ran to the engine
room. There two firemen died like
heroes soon after he arrived. They
were ordered to close the top Wheel
and shut off the water which was rush
ing in. They tried to do so and were
drowned. Brownlee went with the
steamer and a standing on the upper
deck holding the top rail when the
steamer slid down by the head. He
rose from the whirlpool and grasped
some wreckage.
\ number CT the passengers of the
wrecked steamer Islander tell of their
thrilling experiences during the dis
aster.
NJ. Blumauer, OF Portland, who was
bringing out 4 satchel containg S14, 900
in KlOndike gold. rushed up to the up
pre- deck when the boat was settling
and Captain Foote told him there was
little danger. Soon there was a rush
for the boats and when he was boarding
the lifeboat he was afraid to throw his
satchel Of griG down from the deck
into the boat for fear hat the weight
I Of Thn cold y-n.1l1 C&oT-n hn1a thrn11oh
the lifeboat and thus cause the loss OF
the lives of those in the boats, as well
as losing his chance of safety. He con-
Guided to abandon his gold, and, drop
ping the satchel on the deck, he slid
down into the water and was hauled to
the boat, thankful to save his life.
One man, VIE had just come out
from the Kloudike and whose name
| could not be learned. is reported to have
AXE his poItmanteau from the care
of the purser and with the grip contain
ing lust amounting to $40, 900 in value,
grasped firmly in his hand, jumped
from the sinking steamer to a boat
close by and, failing to reach the boat,
went down with his treasure.
United States Consul A. j. Smith,
q passenger on the steamer Queen,
saw DR.. Phillips. of Seattle, at Juneau.
DIR. Phillips told him that he had lost
his wife and child. The doctor insisted
that no one called at his room, but he
felt the sudden stoppage and said that
his wife told him to get up n see
what the cause of the stoppage
He demurred at first, but hearing peo-
pie on deck he got up and told his wife
to dress. When they got from their
room the steamer was sinking and be-
fore they coriJ Jump from the deck,
his wife and child were caught in the
suction of the v~entilators and drowned.
Dr PhilJiDs was also drawn into a VEN
tilator, but was caught by the head at
the top and escaped being drawn down
to death. He went down with the
steamer and caught hold OF some
~wreckage, from which he was afterward
rescued. When resuscitated he called
for his wife and child n the man
brought the body OF his little girl to
him. He was left at Juneau, refusing
to leave until his wife's ould be
found.
y passenger who arrived by the
Queen says that on the morning Of the