The age-herald., 1901-08-20
The Pilots Story.


 victoria, B. C., August 1s.-Pnot La Blanu. who had charge of the steamer Islander at the time she struck says:
 ,.The night was fire. and as we always xpect to get ice, sharp lookout was ke,a. About PAS a. m. the crash came. The boat was under full speed and no ice was in sight and there was no fog, but the wind was blowing and 1t was dark and cloudy. The fatal berg was no doubt even with the water. After she struck I stopped the engines, when Cap tain Foote appeared with the night watchman, who reported the ship leak ing forward I told Captain Foote that we wouM better head for the beach, but he demurred. and when he decided to do so, the ship was taking water so fast that she would no. answer her helm. Then I called the mate and ordered the boats ol,t. This was done and they were low cred with passengers. Many passengers jumped overheard with life preservers on. I iumped overheard and was in the water two hours and quarter before securing a piece of wreckage."
 The pilot also said that many or the men acted badly attempting to jump into the boats before they had been launched. Had if not been for this crowd and tho r,lsfinc he thinks, all would have been saved. with the possible exception of those who did not get out of their state rooms, among whom were Andrew Heating and his TWO sons Arthur and Julius. or Los Angeles.
 Crew Acted Bravely.
 The crew on the other hand behaved snlapditlly and looked to the safety or tha nassengers After the boats had been launol,ea the crew turned their attention to the rafts, but these were also rushed. and after they had been launched some of th.. crew had to swim for wreckage' as there were too many on the ratts. He believes the vessel sank ID twenty in, ee fathoms and that the boiler did not explode, but that the woodwork was cacried away by the rush of water and air He figures forty-two persons were drowned.
 M. Biurnaur of Portland, who was bringing out a satchel containing sl4,oos in Klondlkc gold, saved his life but lost his treasure.
 Sam Starten of Winnipeg dropped a satchel laden with s4000 gold and a friend lost his portmanteau with sSOOl in gold in it, and each escaped to tell the story: whil.. ono man, who had just come out from the K1ondlke (his name un- known) and with a grip containing uust amounting to $40,000 in value, is said to have jumped from the sinking steamer to boat close by and failing to reach the boat to have gone down together with his treasure to rise no more
 Lost His Wife and Child.
 United States Consul A. I. Smith, who was a passenger on the steamer Queen, saw Ior. Phillips of Seattle at Juneau. pr. Phillips told him tbat he had lost his wiia and child. Before they could jump from the deck, his wife and child were caught in .he suction of the ven tiators and were drowned. Dr. Phillips went down with the steamer and caught hold of some wreckago from which he was afterward rescued. When resusci- tated fe called for his wife and child and q man brought the body of his little girl to him. He was left at Juneau, re- fuslng 10 leave until his wife's body was found.
 Passengers and members Of the crew of the steamer Islander who have arrived here agree that the loss of nrs by Thurs days disaster in Linn canal win aironn. to sixty-fve. but they, admit that there were probably five or more stewaways on the steamer and with five childrcp known to have been aboard the steamer were either drowned or died of exposure So 1t is possible that the loss Of life will reach over seventy
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