Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-08-20
BIG STEAMER islander
COLL|DED WITH ICEBERG.
SANK WITHIN a FEW MINUTES,
CARRYING DOWN MANY
PEOPLE.
FROM sIXTY-FIvE TO EIGHTY
ARE THE ESTIMATES PLACED UP
ON THE Loss OF LIFE-MUCH
GOLD DUST SANK.

VICTORIA, 3. c., August 19.-The
steamer Islander, the flagship of the
Canadian Pacific navigation feet, and
the largest and fastest passenger steam
err on the Victoria-Skagway route, col
aided with an iceberg off Douglas ISL
and, Alaska, while on her way south
with the largest number OF passengers
that she has carried since she was re-
placed on the run few months ago
and sank within IS minutes after strik-
ang.
Captain Foote, her master, and about
So persons. including passengers and
members of the crew were drowned
TO add to the horror of the terrible dis
aster, her boilers exploded as she went
down, causing the death of many OIL
those who were struggling in the wat
er.
In Lynn Canal.
The steamer left Skagway in the
evening of Wednesday last and was
proceeding out of Lynn canal when the
collision occurred Most of the pass
engers and the members of the crew
who were In bed we're rudely awakened
by the shoe. The majority got out on
deck in time to be saved in the boats
which were quickly manned, but a
large number went down in their state
rooms. Some of the survivors arrived
mere last evening by the steamer which
uassed 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 terrible dow 10
lost being well known and having ram
HES IN this city, and was particularly
sudden, as the steamer had been eX-
peeted, and many were awaiting ner
arrival when the Queen came IN WIN
the news. 1t is impossible at present 10
obtain a complete list OF the dead, as
Purser Bishop remained at Juneau 10
attend to the forwarding OF the passen-
gers and kept the ships papers with
him. He sent a letter to Mr.. vincent,
secretary of the company, but gave bul
n few names or those who had been lost
and no details of the wreck Inc OF
fscers and passengers who came Gown
were likewise unable to give any Dut 1
very incomplete list.
All Estimate the Loss OF Lie
nj about 65 and give the greatest praise
to the officers for the manner IN "hicn
they acted under the most trying CIT
eumstances. The officers, on the otner
hand. state that had the passengers
nor rushed the boats the loss OF Ire
would have been very small. Inc sur
yiyors were landed on Douglas Island.
and tho mate was sent to Juneau for
aid The steamers FIossie and Lucy
RESPONDED and took them to Juneau a
small amount of the gold on board was
saved. The papers containing Slo,ooo
were left in the purser's safe, the pai-
ance in his possession being returned
before the steamer sank.
The city council of Juneau promptly
secured Decker's hall, which was mas
tilv converted into a lunch room and
resting place where the survivors could
warm IN with hot coffee and suitable
foods. All other assistance possible
was also extended to the survivors.
Word of the disaster reached Tread
well at s: 90 a. m. by party OF passen-
gers headed by the chief engineer, VINO
walked UP the beach a distance OF 20
miles to appeal to the city Tor help.
The TreadwelI steamers Lucy and Jen-
mixer and the Juneau steamer flossle
promptly responded.
Heartrcnding Stories.
The Flossie arrived in from the scene
NJ wreck at IL o'clock with her nag at
half mast and six dead bodies on board,
and the surviving passengers. The de-
scrintion of the disaster by the sur
viyors is heartrending They say that
me Islander struck an iceberg, and so
severe was the shock that every door
was damned fast in the staterooms and
the Inflated passengers, numbering 1877,
and the crew of Il, were forced to
break through the windows TO reach
the deck. Steward Simpson lost 10 IN
his department, and his description or
the wreck is clearly given.
He was awakened by the shock and
could not get out of his stateroom until
he broke out the window. He reached
tba hridge where the pilot. La Blonde,