The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-10
Women and Children Placed at Mer-
cy of the Hurricane.
FEAR-CRAZED MAN SWAMPS BOAT
Tugs Rescue Struggling People From the Pas
senger Packet Steamer Clallam.

| SEATTLE, Wash. Jan. 9-Fifty-five
| lives and fine new steamer were vic
/ Tins of the storm which swept over
! the Strait of Juan de Fuca with relent-
less fury yesterday ami last night. The
vessel which went down was the
| regular daily passenger packet Clallam.
The victims were principally women
and children. and they were lost largely
through the very spirit which actuates
every brave man-that of lending aid
first to the weak and helpless. The
| Clallam made moderately good progress
across the straits bound for Victoria.
until Trial Island. off the entrance to
/ Victoria Harbor. was abeam. Then a
terrific cross sea was, pummeliing the
vessel, retarding her progress. Little
further trouble was manifested until
word came up from oelow that the YES
sci was leaking Investigation developed
that the waves on the windward side
had stove in a deao light. through which
the water rushed liz volumes. resisting
all efforts toward stopping it.
Put Of in Boats.
Seeing the attempts futile the safety
of the passengers. particularly the
women and children aboard, was looked
after and all who desired were put from
and cfficered-
The heavily laden boats were either
capsized or swamped in the choppy sea
after they left the vessel, and the terri
| BILE fury of the storm is attested by the
fact that not a woman or child Of all
those aboard have lived to tell the tale
Tugs to Rescue.
In the meantime word had come from
Victoria of the vessels predicament.
and a fleet of tugs was dispatched to
give assistance. The Tssvhard Holmes, in
command OF Captain nall. was the first
to reach the CialIam. The vessel had by
this time careened partly over from the
inrush of water which had put the en-
gine fires out. The Holyoke reached
the Clallam about IL o'clock last night
/ and quickly sent a hawser aboard. with
which she started to tow the Clallam
to safety.
At a. m. the Clallam took a heavy
lurch and those remaining aboard were
compelled TO climb up the side to safety,
finally reaching the roof OF the pilot
! house.
The Holyoke's crew proved of the
| right mettle. for. without a moments
hesitation, the tugs boats were lowered
and the work Of rescue commenced.
About this jucture the tug Sea Lion.
Captain Manter. arrived and her men
gave valuable assistance.
Left Swi,ling Eddy.
Before all the struggling people had
| been taken off, the Ciallam commenced
to break UP and soon went down. leav-
ing a swirling eddy In her place in the
waves.
All possible assistance to the rescued
! passengers was given by the two ships
masters and their crews. and the tugs
hurried to Port Townsend, arriving
there at 10 o'clock The passengers sur
viving and the remainder Of the crew
then took passage on the Dirego for
Seattle
There is little hope for the safety for
the boats which left the vessel. They
may have succeeded in reaching San
Juan Island. The tugs HolyOke and
Sea Lion. acting on this clue have
gone to the island TO make search of
the shore line to pick up any bodies or
wreckage that can be found.
Quartermaster L. Meyer. who was
one of the survivors of the wreck, re-
lated his version Of the breaking up OF
the steamer as follows:
Since the sun went down we had
| been at work with all our might,
baling out the hold and throwing
freight and everything movable over
board for the purpose OF tightening the
vessel. The sea was rolling forty feet
high. The steamer listed badly TO port
and the waves broke in the saloon win
dows on that side Of the vessel.
Seas Were Terrific.
Men were set to work TO nail boards
! over them but almost as soon as they
were nailed on, the seas tore them OF,
/ throwing the men across the room. As
! the breakup approached. 1 was sent
| forward on the deck and was standing
against the port rail near the bow. \
great wave threw the vessel over far
ther than she had yet been thrown. and
/ the starboard anchor broke loose and
fell across the other anchor.
ut was then made up my mind that
any further effort to Sait the sea would
! be useless so l cEms-s! across the
deck 10 the starboard rail. which was
! black with people clinging desperately to
it, Watching my chance, made my way
I to the hurricane deck climbed the fire
I escape to the smokestack. and from
there jumped clear OF the steamer and
| managed TO make my way TO the life
/ raft, which was already auoat-
Picked Up by Tug.
I'm all there were some twelve people
saved on the life raft including Cap
tain Roberts. From the raft we We're
picked up by the tug Sea Lion"
A special from Victoria. 3. c., says:
when the steamer Clallam broke
down she was within half an hour or
less of her harbor. The hacks and hotel
buses were there awaiting her and