The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-03
F0UNDERED
A Steamer Bound for Puget
Sound Sunk in Col
lision.
Sixty Passengers Saved, but
Forty Are Perhaps
Lost.

Eureka, CAL, JAN, 3.-The Pacific Coast
Steamship Company's steamer Walla
Walla. Captain Hall, which left this city
disaster yesterday in collision with an
unknown iron sailing vessel and foun-
dered. News of the disaster was brought
to Trinidad, 80 miles north of this place,
by boat from the steamer, which when
it left the scene of the disaster contained
thirteen persons, but when it arrived at
Trinidad contained but seven. Later the
steamer Dispatch arrived with 60 of the
passengers and crew on board, including
Captain Hall.
The crash occurred early in the morn
Ing while most of the passengers were
asleep. Boats and life RATS were
launched Immediately and under the d.
rect1on of Captain Hall and his crew,
| most OF the passengers were placed safe
ly on RATS and in the boats, but 1t is be-
lieved that tie loss of life will be con-
siderable, probably forty. Tugs have
been sent from here to the scene Of the
! wreck. The Walla Walla carried thirty
/ six Hrst-class passengers, twenty-eight
second-class and crew Of sixty men.
The steamer Walla Walla was one of
the best known vessels on the coas st.
She was owned by the Pacific Coast
Steamship Company and has been plying
between Puget Sound and San Francisco
| for years. She was an iron screw steamer
and was built by j. Roach & Sons in 1881.
Her net tonnage was 2,16S and her rat
! ing was No. 1. Her length was 80 feet,
breadth 40 feet 6 inches. and depth % feet
inches. The following passengers were
booked:
I For Seattle-J. T. Field, ]. A. Gray, A. H.
Sell, Mrs. Timmons, A. J. Rotzchner and wife,
Mrs A. Meydenbauer, j. Robertshout A. NJ.
Rldenbauer, Charles Neff, C. F. Swan A. j.
Miller and wife, e. Haight Miss G. Cadien,
Miss R. E. Peters, D. Stern and wife, F. l..
Smith, w. P. Sanderson, M. c. Marsh, c.
Swanson, .. Larsen, H. Ericsson, wife and
| three children, j. B. Brown, D. Jones, F. Nc
Crimmons, James Cannon, F. Demar, G. Glea-
| son, G. F. Spencer, D. Boynen, L. M. Paperne,
G.. Helgefon, R. McWilliams, R. McCree c.
| H. Smith, L. D. Rube, G. D. Nicholson, A.
Hansen, G.. Lawson, H. Weaver.
| For Tacoma-John Gilbert, F. W. Stream,
wife and mother, Dr.. B. G. Allen and wife.
For Victoria-Mrs. Captain L. T. Johnson,
! 2. F. Adams. L. Hanselmen,. Mrs. Hastings,
w. Dupler, r. Nevins.
| For Vancouver. H. Brown and wife, Mrs
| R. s. Edgar, W. B. Moore.
For Alaska-C. R. West A. R. Mcclellan
The steamer Dispatch, which has ar
rived at Trinidad with sixty of the pas
| sengers and crew OF the Walla Walla, left
| San Francisco Dec. 81 for Puget Sound
points. She is commanded by Captain
Johnson.
Heartless1y Turned Away. ,--r
The collision occurred twenty two miles
south Of Mendocino buoy: The French
bark struck the Walla Walla in the bow
| The second officer was on the bridge
George REESE, of San Francisco, a pas
! senger, gave the following account:
| 1t was 4:10 when the French vessel hit the
Walla Walla in the bow. All were asleep
| The weather was clear; the sea was rolling
high. All were dumbfounded. The passen
| gers all rushed out of their staterooms anG
| the deck was crowded. Captain Hall wen
down into the steerage and found family o
seven fastened in a room. Two girls of l.
and IA years were fastened between tinbers
The girls were released and the family assist
! ed out of their berths. All prepared to leav'
the vessel. The captain said she would sink
The lifeboats and RATS were lowered. Life
preservers were put on and passengers low
cred to the boats. The vessel did mot sinl
until 4:45, giving the crew and passenger
thirty-fve minutes to leave the steamer
Sixty-three were lowered to the life-savin,
boats, then being filed
The excitement grew intense among the re
naming passengers. Women screamed AM
men and boys hurriedly jumped off tn
steamer. Several did not leave until sh
started to sink The officers were cool an
collected, doing everything possible to saw
the passengers. No one knows the cause o
the collision, but the second officer is miss
ing. After the French vessel penetrated tn
steamer she drew away, lending no assistanc
whatever.
Twenty seven of the passengers AM
crew of the Walla Walla are missing. Al
the rest are accounted for.