Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1901-08-20
APPALLING DISASTER
TO OCEAN STEAMER
islander Collides With Ice
berg and Quickly Sinks.
SIXTY = FIVE LIVES LOST

ers Exploded, killing Many of Those
Struggling In the Water-Accident
Occurred OF Douglass Island.
VICTORIA, B. G., Aug. 19.-The steam
er Islander. the flagship of the Canadian
Pacific navigation fleet, and the largest
and fastest passenger steamer on the
Victoria -Skagway route, collided with
an iceberg off Douglass island, Alaska
while on her way south with the largest
number of passengers that she has car
ried since she was replaced on the run g
few months ago, and sank within IL
minutes after striking.
Captain Foote, her master, and about
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 OF
those who were struggling III the water.
The steamer left Skagway in the
evening of Wednesday last, and was
proceeding out of Lynn canal when the
collision occurred. Some of the passen'
gers and the mem bers 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 large
number went down in the staterooms.
Some of the survivors arrived here
last evening by the steamer which passed
over the scene of the appalling disaster
on the following evening and picked
them up at Juneau, to which city they
had been taken.
Many of the Lost From Victoria.
The news came as terrible blow to
the citizens of Victoria, many of the lost
being we'll known and having families
in this city, and was particularly sud.
den, as the steamer had been expected
and many were awaiting her arrival
when the Queen came in with the news.
1t is impossible at present to obtain q
complete list of the dead. A letter was
sent to Mr.. Vincent, secretary of the
territorial government, giving a few de.
tails of the wreck. The officers and
passengers who came down were unable
to give any but very incomplete list.
All estimate the loss of life at about 65
and give the greatest praise to the off.
GERS for the manner in which they acted
under the most trying circumstances.
The officers, on the other hand, state
that had not the passengers became SO
panio.strieken and SO much confusion
reigned, the loss of life would have
been considerably less.
A small amount of the gold on board
was saved. Papers containing $4,000
were left In the purser's safe, the bal.
ance in his possession being returned
before the steamer sank.
The city council of Juneau promptly
secured Decker's hall, which was hastily
converted into lunChroom and resting
place, where the survivors could warm
up with hot coffee and suitable foods.
All other assistance possible was also
extended to the survivors.
United States Consul Smith of Victo.
ria. who was passenger on the Queen
from Juneau to Victoria, cleaned the
following story of the wreck of the
steamer Islander, which struck an ice.
berg off Douglass island last Thursday,
from the survivors, 40 of whom were
passengers on the Queen:
Story of Disaster.
The Islander left Skagway for Victo.
ria on Wednesday evening, Aug. ID, at
4 p M, with l25 passengers and crew
of 81 men on board, and 10 or 10 stow.
aways. Suddenly on Thursday morn.
Ing the steamer encountered an obstruc.
ton, said to have been an iceberg
RAs soon as the vessel struck water
rushed in forward in great volumes and
Pilot Lablonde advised that the vessel
be run on the beach not over half mile
distant.
The captain objected, saying the
beach was too abrupt. He thought
there was no immediate danger, but
would run few miles further down
where he knew there was good landing.
The captain assured several passen.
gers there was no immediate danger,
that they could go back to bed. The
first officer, however, reported there was
great danger, and urged that the vessel
be beached ut once. The first officer or.
dered the boats let down, but this order
was countermanded by the captain
who, however, finally realized the Sc.
r1ousness of the situation and allowed
the first officer TO get down the boats.
Meanwhile the passengers, aroused ia
their peril, appeared on deck, and
rush was made to the purser who had
been given treasure for safe keeping.
Purser Bishop handed all out except
two bags of $1,000 each, which were
not claimed and went down with the
vessel The Sow of the steamer steadily
sunk, and 20 minutes from the time ii
struck the front deck was under water
and the stem with propeller and Hudder
were high in the air and useless.
Stayed on Bridge Until the Last.
The captain remained on the bridge
until the last and finally jumped on q
life raft, where he stayed few min,
utes, when the steamer dove forward
entirely out Of sight AS it did so an
explosion occurred and the captain lost
his hold on the life raft and sank.
Among the passengers lost were Mrs.
Governor Ross Of Dawson and child and
niece of DR.. John M. Duncan of Vic.
toria. The doctor was seen with a life
preserver about him, but no one saw
Mrs. Ross, and it was thought Duncan
lost his life in futile attempt to rescue
Mrs Ross and family just as the steam.
er sank.
Chief Engineer BrownIee said he was
In bed when the accident occurred and
was awakened by his third assistant
He examined the engines, found moth.
Rng wrong there and then went forward
and saw there was serious danger and
got boat ready. He got the boat down
and passed passengers into it. AS the
steamer sank he seized hold of a railing
and went to the bottom. When he LET
go he came to the top and caught
cabin door. AS others seized it he lei
go, but caught other wreckage and
finally got on a raft, on which be
reached shore. All the rescued speak
in high terms of the courage and assist
Rnce given by Chief Engineer Brownlee