The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-08-20
ISLANDER GOES
TO The BOTTOM
COlIided With an Iceberg OF
Douglas Island.
SlXTY.FIVE WERE DROWNED
Steamer Ssnk 10 Fifteen Minutes After the
Collision Boilers Exploded Causing
Death oi Many Details Of
the Disaster.
SlXTY-FIyE WERE DROWNED

SAN FRANCISCO. Aug lS.-A s7s
cial 20 the Chronicle from V.c;oy.
says:
The steamer Islander, ;he flagship o.
the c. p y, nee, and the larges, an,
fastest passenger steamer on the Vic
toria-SSlgyay route, collijei with a.
Iceberg on Douglas Island. Alaska
while on her way ou,h with the Arg :
number Of passengers that she ha
carried since she was replaced on n,
run few months ago and sank within
Is minutes after striking.
CaptAia Foo;e, le- master t1d abou,
six,y-five pass snssrs Including pasSen-
gers and members ot she crow wers
drowned. To adj to ;he horror n :hs
terrible disaster, her boilers exploded as
she wen, joyn. causing the death q
many Of those who were struggling in
the water.
The steamer left Sk.rvay IN .hs eve
oing % Wednesday las, and was pro-
eeeding GU. os Lynn canal when The
collision occurred Mos. u the passea-
gers and the members Of the crew who
were in bed were ruje.y awakened by
the shock The maj r.ty 20; gu, on
deck IN time % be saved IN the boats
which were quickly ulanred bu. a large
number went down in their s,atsro7ms.
Some Of the survivors arrived here
last evening by The steamer which pass
Cd over The scene n the appalling dis
aster on the following evening and pick
ed them up at juneau. to which cl.y
they had been taken.
The news came as a ,erribls blow 80
the citizens of Victoria, many os the
lost being well known and having fam
ilies in this city ana was particularly
sudden as ,he steamer had been expect
ed and many We're awaiting her arrival
when the Queen came in with The
news. I; was impossible las, night 10
obtain 4 complete lis, Of the deai as
Pursar Bishop ramaiaed at Juneau to at
teud to the forwarding Of the passengers
ard kept the ships papers with him.
He sent a letter 70 NJ. Vincent. secre-
tary Of the company but gave few
names OF those who had been los; and
no details of the wreck.
The officers and passengers who came
were likewise unable to give any but a
verv incomplete lis,. All estimate the
loss Of life al about sixry-five and give
the greatest praise to the officers for
the manner in which they acted under
the most trying circumstances The Of
ficers on the other hand, state that had
the passengers not rushed the boats, the
loss OF life would have been very
small, II in fact, any at all were los..
The survivors wers landed on Doug
las Island and the mate was sent 10
Juneau. A small amount Of the gold
on board was saved. The papers con-
tanning $4,000 was left IN the Purser's
safe, the balance in his possession being
recovered before the steamer sank.
The city council at Juneau acted in
harmony wiki open hearts and level
heads. secured Decker's hall which was
hastily converted into a lunch room and
resting place. where cold, Nerve -shatter-
ed unfor,unates from the wreck could
warm up with no; coffee AM suitable
food. The words Of commentator and
gratitude from the men and women Of
the rescued party for the opening Of
Juneau homes, the words of sympathy
sld he extended help in substantial
WAYS. proves that the people Of Juneau
hold good the reputation for generosity
in meeting an emergency Of this kind.