The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-03
FOUNDERED.
Pacific Coast Steamship Com
pany's Steamer WaIla Walla
Sunk in Collision With an Un-
known Sailing Vessel.
BOUND FOR THE SOUND
Forty-five Persons Reported to
Have Been Drowned.
Out of q Total of 165 Passen-
gers and Crew.
Fate Of the Others Has Not Yet
Been Ascertained.
FOrty-f1ve Persons Reported to
Have Been Drowned.
Fate of the Others Has Not Yet
Been Ascertained.
FRENCH SAILED AWAY
As is Their Usual Custom in
Such Cases.

Eureka, Cal, Jan. 3.-The Pacific
Coast Steamship company's steamer
Walla walia, Captain Hall. which left
this city January 1 bound for Puget
sound ports, met with disaster yester-
day m orning in a collision with an un-
known iron sailing vessel and founder
ed News of the disaster was brought
to Trinidad, about 80 miles north of
this place, by boat from the unfor-
tunate steamer, which when it left the
scene of the disaster contained 13 per-
sons, but when it arrived at Trinidad
contained but seven persons. Later the
steamer Dispatch arrived with go 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
direction of Captain Hall and his crew
most of the passengers were placed
safely on RATS and in the boats, but it
is believed that the loss of life will be
considerable. Tugs have been sent from
here to the scene of the wreck. The
Walla Walla carried Sc first class pas
sengers, % second class and crew of
sixty men. The steamer Wa1la Walla
was one of the best known vessels on
the coast. She was owned by the Pa
cific 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 ton
mage was 2.169 and her rating was No.
J. Her length was 80 feet. breadth 40
feet inches and depth % feet inches.
LIST OF PASSENGERS
The following passengers were booked
for Seattle: ]. L. Field. J. A Gray, A. H.
Sell, Mrs. TmmOns. A J. Botzsichner,
and wife, Mrs. A NIeydenbauer J. Rob
erts Hout. A. Maydenbauer. Chas Neff,
c. F. Swan, a. J. Miller and wife, F.
Haight. Miss G. Cadien, Miss R. E. Pet
ers, D. Stern and wife, F. L. Smith, w.
p. Sanderson, NJ. c. Marsh, c. Swanson,
d. Larsen, Fl. Erriccson, wife and three
children; ]. Brown. D. Jones' F. McCrim-
minis, James Cannon, F. Demar, C. G..
Leason, G. F. Spencer. D. Boynen, L. NJ.
PaPerne, G. Helgeson. R. McWnliams,
r. McCree, c. H. Smith. L. D. Rube, G.
Nicholson, A. Hansen, G. Lawson, H.
Weaver
For Tacoma: John Gilbert. F. W.
Stream, wife and mother; DR.. B. G. Al
len and wifs.
For Victoria: Mrs. Captain l. johnson,
p. F. Adams. l. Hanselman, Mrs Hast
ings. W. Duhler, R. Nevins.
For Vancouver: ]. H. Brown and wife,
Mrs r 5 Edgar, w B. Moore.
For Alaska: c. r. West. A Mcclellan.
SANK IN Is MINUTES.
San Francisco. Jan 3.-The steamer Dis
patch, which has arrived at Trinidad with
60 of the passengers and crew of the
wrecked steamer Walla Walla, left this
city on December 81 for Puget Sound
points. She was commanded by Captain
johnson.
Captain Hall of the WalIa Wana report
ed to the Pacific Coast Steamship com
pany this morning by telephone. He said
that the Wa1la Walla collided with an
unknown French bark at o'clock yester-
day morning during hazy weather The
French vessel had no lights displayed
The Walla Walla sank in 10 minutes Cap
tain Hall has ordered tug boats from
Eureka sent to search for three missing
life boats of the Walla Walla.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
Eureka, Cal. Jan. 3.-The steamer
Walla Walla, bound from San Fran
cisco for Victoria, B. c., was wrecked
Thursday morning at 4:10 by a French
four masted bark. The Walla Walla
had 165 passengers and crew and As are
reported drowned.
The collision occurred 20 miles sopth
of Mendocina Buoy. The French bark
struck the Walla Walla in the bow. At
the time of the collision the second Off
Ger was on the bridge. No definite in
formation can be learned as to t;,e
cause of the accident as all on board
were sleeping George Reise. of San
Francisco. a passenger gave the follow
ing account:
1T was 4:1e when the French vessel
hit the Walla WaIla in the bow. All
were asleep. The weather was clear
the sea was rolling high All were
dumbfounded. The passengers all
rushed out of their state rooms and the
deck was crowded. Capt Hail vver4
down into the steerage and found a
family OF seven fastened in a room
Two girls of II and II years were fas-
tened between timbers The girls wera
released and the family assisted ont of
their berths- All prepared to leave the
vessel The captain said she would
sink Life boats and RATS were lotS.tsIs-
ed; life preservers We're put on and IRE
passengers lowered to the boats rrbe
vessel did not sink until 4:45 giving
he crew and passengers S5 minutes to |