The Nome nugget., 1902-03-12

hours of and o'cock on Friday morn ils last there occurred d marine dis aster eleven miles off Cape Mendociuo, resulting in the steamer Wala Walla going to he b, ttom. and pe,hap, forty or more lives being lost.
 The steamer was in command of Captain Hall, and left San Francisco at II o'clock on Wednesday morning, bound for Victoria and Puget sound.
 Aboard were thirty lr,t-clas, and LhirtA five second-cla>, passengers. With the crew there were about l6U souls on board. On Thursday night the weather was favorable. though the sea was rolling high. About midnight the weather conditions changed and a lou began to rise. The second officer, Luke, Was in command, the shit being made at o'clobk. At about 4:l0 the passengers were suddenly awakened by terrific crash on the port side. The French fUur-masted bark Max cOILded with the Walla Walla, striking her Just lOl war u oI tlIC Ntl l'lti' ''N"NN' OSi-A' penetrating tourteen-foot hole lh hatch No. ,. The officers and passen- gers were soon on deck. Captaln Hall examined the damage done and iu- medlately ordered all the passengers awakened and liIeboata and r&fts low cred and all put aboard. Among the pa5sengers were several seamen, who heroicaliy assisted the crew in lower ing the people, at the same time using every means in their power to keep the passengers from becoming panic stricken. ....,.--. .... ,.....s... ...I Iesesa. Realizing that the ship was taking water fast, the captain had two boilers blown out to Tighten the vessel.
 Sixty-three passengers were soon | lowered. Some refused to be put in the lifeboats. Providence allowed the unfortunate souls thirty-iive minutes to make arrangements to leave the ship. | When the last ratt was lowered fifteen passengers were put on it and dl liLcd but d few feet when the steamers bow was submerged and the bow raised. apparently making a dive for the bot tom of the sea. Several people were alterward picked up by the many drift ing lifeboats and rattS. Captain Hall remained on the vessel, going down with her. He was picked up after be- ing in the water d short time. The upper deck broke off and tloatcd to the surface. The captain came up with 1t, and, sighting lie raft. commenced swimming and finally succeeded in reaching it alter d hard struggle.
 Captain swan. d pa sen9er and em- ploye of the N. A. I. & T. Co.,, went down with Hall and was near the stern hof the vessel. H swan around for several minutes before being rescued. His right leg was badly injuled. lie eXonerates Captain Hall from all blame, and comments highly on the heroic work he did to save lives Those who succeeded in getting on the life boats aud ratt- dritLcd at the mercy of | | ne sea uHlil dDDuL Q CLOCK tlt SdiIe morning, when the steamer Dispatch sighted the distress signals It was not long until they picked up the first survivors. She remained in the vicinity, cruising around all day and picking up rarlie, from floating rafts and lifeboats until she had siXty-three. Then the Dispatch sailed for Humboldt bay, late at night, arriving at Eureka Friday morning.
 Those believed to be dead are: Mrs. IF. Hetschmar, wife of Lieut. enant Hot schmar; Mrs. M. Reinold, stewardess; Mrs. II. Erickson and three children; Louis H. Drubv, of San Francisco; F.. l.. Nuttman, purser; William Berlel. fireman; John Wilson, quartermaster. There are still twenty-five unaccounted for. .....
 Eureka. Jan. SC. R. West and E.. Mcclellan, who were passengers on the | lY.,1 Iy,Jl A ,rl-