Waterbury Democrat., 1901-08-19

Victoria. Aug 19.-The steamer Islander, the flagship of the Canadian Pacific Navigation fleet and the larg- est and fastest passenger steamer on the Victoria-Skaway route, colllded with an iceberg off Douglass Island, Alaska. while on her way south wlth the largest number of passengers that she has carried since she was re- placed on the run a few months ago, and sank within fifteen minutes after striking. Captain Foote, her master, and about sixty-fiye persons, inelud- ing passengers and members of the crew were drowned. To add to the horror of the terrible disaster her boil CTS exploded as she went down, causing the death of many of those who were struggling in the water. The steamer left Skaway in the evening of Wednes- dax last and was proceededing out of Lynn canal when the collision oc- cured. Most of the passengers and the members of the crew who were in bed were rudely awakened by the shock The majority got out on deck in time to be saved in the boats which were quickly manned, but a large num- Der went down in their staterooms. Some of the survivors arrived here last i. evening by the steamer which passed over the scene of the disaster on the following evening and picked them up at Juneau, to which city they had been taken.
 The news came as a terrible blow to the citizens of Victoria. many Of the lost being welI-known and having fam flies in this city and was particularly sudden. as the steamer had been ex- pected and many were awaiting her arrival when the Queen came in with the news. It is impossible at present to obtain complete list of the dead as Purser Bishop remained at Juneau to attend to the forwarding of the pas sengers and kept the ships papers with him. He sent a letter to MT Vincent, secretary of the company, but gave only a few names of those who had been lost and no details of the wreck, The officers and passengers who came down were likewise unablesto give any but a very incomplete list. All esti- mate the loss of life at about sixty-hye and give the greatest praise to the offi- cers for the manner i'll which they act ed under the most trying circum- stances The officers. on the other hand state that had the passengers not rushed for the boats, the loss Of life would have been very small. The survivors were landed on Douglass Island, and the mate was sent to Juneau for help, the steamers Flossie and Lucy responding and taking them to Juneau. A small amount of gold -nd Tho 0n- taining S1O.OOO was left in the pur- ser's safe. the balance in his possession being returned before the steamer sank.
 The city council of Juneau prompt ly secured Decker's hall, which was hastily converted into q lunch room and resting place where the survivors could warm up with hot coffee and suitable foods All other assistance possible was also extended to the sur vivors-
 Among the passengers lost were:
 Mrs Ross, wife of the governor of the Yukon territory, her child and niece
 Dr John Duncan of this city.
 " c. Preston and bride, of Seattle
 E.. Mills, Victoria.
 Mrs J. c. Henderson. Victoria
 W Fl. Heating and his two sons. Los Angeles. Calif
 J. V. Doublass. Vancouver
 Mrs Phillips, Victoria
 Mrs Nicholson. wife of Captain Nicholson.
 Mrs W. Smith. Vancouver.
 Mrs | L. Wilcox, Seattle
 P Burke.
 H F. Burke.
 F. d. Doll and two children.
 H. Porter
 Neil Falk.
 The members of the crew lost are:
 Captain Foote.
 George Allen, third engineer.
 Horace Smith, second steward.
 s. J. Pitts. cook.
 Two Chinese.
 Buckhooder and Burke. oilers
 Two firemen
 4. Kendall. saloon waiter.
 Joe Bard. second pantryman.
 Two walters.
 c. Miller, barber.
 ". Law.
 M F. Jock.
 Porter and Moran. coal passers.
 F. G. Hinde-Bowker late manage of the British-American corporation O London, ~who. was a messenger on tn Islander. said:
 Ny first intimation of an acciden was the rushing of passengers on tn deck which woke me up was in ; cabin with Mir Afaghlen. I got up, wen out of the cabin and saw the steame sinking at the bow I woke my part ner up and we dressed. By the tim I got out of the cabin the water wa about the smoking room door I wen on the upper deek followed by my part ner ! saw the boats were gone. B, fhis time only fhe stearn was out Q fhe Hefer saw raft In the wate with eisht 0r ten people on t. sli