The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-01-07
TIE CAPTAINS STATEMENT.
The Death List May Possibly Reach Forty OF
Fifty, BeSays.
By the Associated Press.)

Eureka, Cal, Jan. 3.-Capt. A. l.. Hall,
! master OF the wrecked steamship, gives
a graphic account of the disaster. he
says:
1--WE left San Francisco Wednesday,
being bound for Victoria and Puget
Sound, The weather thickened as the
night advanced, and Thursday morning
! a heavy fog, accompanied by a light
rain, set in. About 4:10 a. m. | was sud-
denly awakened by an awful crash on
the port side, we'll forward. Second Of
ficer Luke was on the watch at the time.
The housing, especially in the vicinity
of my cabin, was badly shattered, the
main force OF the collision striking her
just forward of my state room. My
bunk was struck and thrown across the.
room on my table.
After the crash the vessel, which l
think was a French bark. Judging from
the language used by her sailors, re-
Wounded and CROPPED alongside. I called
upon her to stand by. She drifted away
aud was lost to view. / could not tell
how badly she was injured. But l do
not imagine she was severely hurt, as
she struck us bow on, and though her
forward rigging might have been
broken, it is not likely her u suffered
materially.
Those of the passengers who had not
been awakened by the crash were
aroused at once. The vessel began to
fill Immediately and she sank in thirty
five minutes. There was no confusion
on board. The officers and crew kept
the passengers from becoming panic
stricken.
THE crew was Immediately ordered
to man the life boats and RATS and an
effort was made to save the baggage.
This was given up, however, the vessel
filing at such an alarming rate that no
thought was given but for the safety of
the passengers. / CAV orders to have
the port boilers blown out, it being
necessary to give the vessel a list to
keep the gaping hole in her side from
the water.
In a few moments all the life boats
and RATS were out with the exception
of two, which were smashed. One of
these boats contained nine or ten passen-
gers. All We're thrown into the water,
but managed TO board a life raft. which
had been launched a few minute pre-
viously. The second BOAT was smashed
by striking a heavy object in the water,
but all the passengers were rescued by
another life raft.
We had about sixty-fve first and
second class passengers on board and
one hundred and sixty souls all told. We
had no knowledge of the approach of
the vessel striking us, the weather be-
ing so thick she was not seen until we
had been struck. 1t was very dark at
the time and the uncertain light inter
Tered to a great extent with the rescue
OF the passengers. / remained on board
assisting them in every way possible.
L went down with the ship.
After ] had been down, l don't know
how long. the social hall deck broke off
and l ffoated to the surface with it.
Sighting a life raft / commenced swim
ming, and succeeded in eaching it af-
ter a hard struggle and was pulled on
board by the three occupants. We
foateC aoout nearly all day.
Prom the information l have con-
cefhlnS the rescue of the passengers and
crew. l am not able to state how large
the death list will be, but in any opinion
1t Will not be less than twenty and pos
slbly may reach forty or fifty. A num-
Der were injured by the falling timbers,
1t is almost certain a number of the
Storage passengers persisted in this
manner