Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1902-01-09

/ COLLISION AT SEA
SHIP WALLA WALLA SUNK BY
FRENCH BARK MAX.
Known Dead Number Nine, While
Thirty-three Are Still Reported
Missins-one Survivor a Physical
and Mental Wreck.
San Francisco, Jan. 6.--The French
bark Max, which collided with and
sunk the steamship Walla Walla early
Thursday morning, is being towed to
this city in a badly disabled condi-
ton. The steamer Welder reports that
she passed the Max yesterday in tow
4 of the steamer Acme and the revenue
4 cutter McCulloch, 1S miles northwest
of Point Reyes The Max's bowsprit
was carried away and her bow stove
in, both above and below the water
line. Her water tight compartments
alone were keeping her af1oat. Nine
ty-two survivors of the Walla Walla
arrived here from Eureka on the
steamer Pomenas, and there is still
some discrepancy in the list of dead
and missing. The number ranges
from 81 to AZ. BY striking out what
are possible duplicates the number of
lost stands at AZ, classed as follows:
i known dead, 9; missing passengers,
13; missing crew, 20.
4 One life raft is unaccounted for and
1t is feared that all the missing are
lost. Rev. Henry Erickson, who was
among the six survivors brought. to
this city, lies at ST. Mary's hospital, a
physical and almost mental wreck.
His wife and three children are
among the dead and missing.
Upon her arrival here the Max was
towed into quarantine
The officers of the Max claim that
all their lights were burning. They
saw the lights of the Walla Walla.
/ They assert that the Walla Walla
tried to cross their bow and that the col
lision occurred through no fault of the
Max AS a reason for not standing
by and rendering assistance they say
that it was impossible, owing to the
badly disabled condition of the Max.
They had all they could do to take
care of themselves. Ill luck has fol-
lowed the Max since she was built,
two years ago in France.
Captain Halls Story.
Captain A. l.. Hall, master of the
wrecked steamship, gives a graphic
account of the disaster. He says:
"About 4:10 a. m. was suddenly
awakened by an awful crash on the
port side, we'll forward. The housing,
especially in the vicinity of my cabin
was badly shattered, the main force
of the collision striking her just for
ward of my stateroom. My bunk was
struck and thrown across the room
onto my table, After the crash the
vessel, which I think was a French
bark, Judging from the language used
by her sailors, rebounded and groped
alongside. called to her to stand
by. She drifted away and was lost
to view. l could not tell how badly
she was injured, but do not imagine
us bow on. Those of the passengers
: who had not been awakened by the
crash were aroused at once. The ves-
sci began to fill Immediately and she
sank in 35 minutes. There was no
Il confusion on board. We had no knowl-
edge of the approach of the vessel
striking us, the weather being so
thick she was not seen until we had
struck. 1t was very dark at the time
and the uncertain light interfered to
a great extent with the rescue of the
passengers. l remained on board as
sisting them in every way possible
went down with the ship. After
had been down, don't
know how long, the social
hall deck broke off and l fioated
to the surface with it. Sighting life
boat began swimming and succeeded
in reaching it after hard struggle,
and was pulled on board by the three
occupants. We floated about nearly
all day and early in the evening were
picked UP few miles to the north of
the wreck by the steamer Dispatch.
From the information l have concern
ing the rescue of the passengers and
crew am not able to state how large
the death list will be, but in my opin-
ion it will not be less than 20 and pos
sibly may reach 40 or SO. A number
were injured by the falling timbers."
CHASTITY BOILER EXPLOSION.
Three Men Killed and Several Sc.
riously Injured.
Mason, Ca, Jan. 3.-A freight en-
gine. just out of the repair shop and