The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1904-01-16
EVERY WOMAN AND CHILD ON
BOARD PERISH WITHIN THREE
MILES OF LAND.
HEROES RESCUED FROM nulk
SENT WEAKER PASSENGERS TO
= THEIR DEATH, THINKING TO
SAVE THEM.

tween Smith islanA n III
the Straits of San Juan de Fuca.
Every woman and child aboard the
Clallam persisted within three miles OF
short at a time when it appeared GER
tain the passengers of the Clallam had
been saved.
A desperate effort was made to save
the women and children in life boats.
They were placed in the first boat,
which Capt. Lawrence volunteered to
command. This boat was manned by
deck hands.
The frail craft went down within
sight of the Clallam. A second life
boat, filled with male passengers, and
in command of Second Officer Currin.
was probably lost a few minutes later.
Aboard the Clallam watchers saw
Waves Sweeping Passengers
from their hold on the seats of the
second boat and hurl them into the
water. Though this life boat righted,
a diligent search has failed to find
trace of it. More passengers and mem
bers of the crew were lost when q
third life boat was swamped in an at
tempt to launch it.
Three passengers who had fastened
life ~preservers about their bodies,
we're picked up by the steamer Bah
alta. They had died of exposure and
their bodies were brought to Seattle.
The Clallam was q stanch new pas
senger boat. She left Port Townsend
for Victoria Friday noon, facing . ter
ri6c southern. gale. ~
Within sight Of her destination q huge
sea overwhelmed her, smashing in the
dead lights, flooding the hold with
water, distinguishing the fres beneath
the boilers and placing the steamer 1t
The Mercy Of the Gale.
All this happened Friday afternoon.
The elimination Of the tragedy wss
postponed several hours.
The omcers and crew OF the hulk
worked In vain to rave the boat and
the eighty souls aboard. The Claliam
could not stand the onslaught Of the
seas that raced. mountain high. from
the ocean, and just before darkness be-
gan to fall, it was decided to make an
attempt to save the passengers in
boats.
After the three boats had swamped,
the crew and the few passengers who
had volunteered to remain aboard. de-
voted themselves to the task of try
ing to save the vessel. The pumps
were impotent and three gangs of bail
ers were set to work.
/, In spite Of their efforts the water
gained on them and they were about
to resign themselves to their fate
when the Richard Holyoke, n of six
tugs which had been sent to the rescue
from Port Townsend hove in sight.
A line was thrown aboard the tug,
and with the Clallam in tow. the tug
started for Port Townsend. The tug
made fair progress. and 1t
Seemed for a Time
that the Clallam. with the remainder
of the crew and passengers, would be
saved. But the hulk of the Clallam be-
gan to give way before the terrific az
saults of the waves. The tug Sea Lion
sighted the Holyoke and her tow
about midnight and stood by to assist.
Shortly after midnight the Clallam
went on beam. end and began to sink
rapidly. In less than an hour she set
tied and the two lines were cut. A few
moments later the Clallam lurched and
disappeared beneath the waves.
The crews Of the two tugs saved the
lives Of nearly all who remained
aboard the Clallam. A few we're
swept away and persisted.
The closing scene was eight miles
north Of Protection island. only .
short distance north Of Port Towns
end. The survivors Of the wreck were
brought to Seattle on the steamer
Dirigo.