Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-03
COAST STEAMER SINKS
! y People Probably Lost Their
;s,ives By the Sinking OF the
s Walla Walla.
9
Collision With An Unknown YES.
sci Cause OF the Wreck
Sixty Saved.
Steamer Dispatch Picks Up Psst
Of the Crew and Some
Passengers.

Eureka, Cal Jan. 3.-The steamer
Waila Falla, which left San Francisco
Jan. for Puget Sound points, sank
early yesterday morning as the result
of collision with an unknown sailing
vessel. News of the disaster was
brought to Trinidad by boat from the
foundered vessel, and later the steam
er Dispatch arrived with six Of the
crew Of the wrecked vessel It is
thought forty lives were lost in the
wreck. The collision occurred at in
the morning when the passengers were
all asleep. Some of the people on board
escaped In small boats and on RATS and
were picked up later by the steamer
Dispatch. A boat with seven people ar
rived at Trinidad, twenty miles north
of here.
Particulars of the disaster are hard
to obtain at this time. The collision
occurred twenty-five miles south OF
Mendocino Bouy. A French bark
struck the Walla Walla in the bow.
At the time of the collision the second
officer was on the bridge. Nothing can
be learned as to the cause of the ac
cident. The crash occurred in the early
morning while most Of the passengers
were asleep. The boats and life rafss
were launched Immediately and under
direction OF Captain Hall and crew
most of the passengers were placed
safely on the RATS and in boats. but
1t is believed the loss of life will be
considerable. Tugs were sent from here
to the scene of the wreck. The Walla
Walla carried thirty six first class
passengers, twenty eight second class
and crew of sixty. The Walla Walla
was an iron screw steamer, one of th0
best known vessels on the coast. She
was owned by the Pacific Coast Steam-
ship Company and has been plying
between the Puget Sound and San
Francisco for years. George Reise, of
San Francisco, passenger gave thu
following account: 1T was 4:10 when
the French vessel hit the Walla Waila
in the bow. All were asleep, weather
clear and sea rolling high. Passengers
rushed OUT Of their state roe,ls a1ids
the decks were crowded. All prepayed
to leave the vessel. The captain said
she would sink. The life boats and
RATS were lowered, life preservers put
on and the passengers lowered to the
boats. The vessel did not sink until
4:45, giving the crew and passengers
thirty-five minutes to leave the steam
er. Sixty three were lowered in life
saving boats, all then being filed.
The excitement grew intense among
the remaining passengers: women
screamed and men and boys hurriedly
jumped off the steamer. Several did not
cave until she started to sink. The offi-ss
GERS were cool and collected, doingE
everything possible to save the pasae n
gers. No one knows the cause OF the
collision but the second officer, and he isss
missing. AS soon as the French vessel:
penetrated the steamers bow 1t was but
!. short time until she withdrew, leaving
the passengers at the mercy OF the high
seas and lending no assistance whatever.
I.ater-Twenty-s OF the passen-
gers and crew of the Walla Walla are I.
missing. All the rest are accounted fer.