The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-10

then news came that she had been seen
TO stop. steaming of the point. with
Victoria in plain sight
she had broken down and became un-
manageable. None knew what had hap
pened. At $3.50 p. m. she was seen 10
slow around and drifted away toward
Discovery Island. broadside to the wind
She vas wallowing heavily from beam
to beam in big sea-
Telephone messages were sent to her
agent, who made great efforts to get a
tug TO assist aer Failing. owing TO the
absence of available tugs and the fact
that all steamers in port were unable
to get up steam in less than an hour. he
wired Port Townsend, and the Holyoke
and Sea Lion were dispatched. The
lroquois went from Sydney and search
ed for hours without seeing anything of
her. and in the darkness none knew
what had befaIlen the steamer. Then
came the news OF the disaster and Vic
tOria was sorrow-stricken Flags were
half-masted and crowds thronged news
paper and telephone Offices"
Cost Score of Lives.
One mans selhshness cost a score OF
lives. Such is the awful tribute that
must be charged up to ore fear-crazed
man in connection with the wreck OF the
Clallan and loss of the steamship In
this particular case the innocent lives
Of helpless women and children We're
sacrificed. Either tossed from wave to
wave or lying on the bottom of Puget
Sound are the bodies of twenty persons.
the mute result Of the cowardies of on
lone man.
The awful catastrophe took place
about o'clock Friday afternoon. At
that time the steamer was in a sinking
and well nigh helpless condition. Capt
Roberts was driven almost 10 his wits
end The lives of the passengers and
crew were held in the hollow Of his
hand He endeavored to launch a boat
from the windward side OF the ship. II
was swamped and sank Turning his
attention to the leeward side he sue
ceeded in floating a Hfeboat on the
waves. 1t was quickly filled with
women and children. Members Of the
crew took charge. and the boat was
rowed quickly away in the direction of
Port Townsend.
Another boat was lowered. This time
few OF the male passengers could
stand il no longer. They pushed the
women aside and quickly lowered them
serves INTO the DOdN- lncN rOWed away
from the ship. They had not gone far
before heavy sea rushed over the gun
wales and the boat never weathered the
gale.
Struck Woman in Face.
A third boat was put off. and this
time Captain Roberts succeeded in fill
ing her with the remaining women and
children. 1t proved to be a fatal move.
Just as the boat was leaving the
steamer a man leaped TO the rail of the
vessel and with the remark: BY God.
that boat don't leave without me-" he
leaped out through the air and fell
downward toward the boat Eye wit
nesses stated that his feet struck a wo-
man full in the face.
They say that even though the time
was feeting they saw clearly that the
woman's face was crushed beyond rec
ognition. The force Of the mans fail
careened the boat far to leeward. A
great wave bearing down upon its foam
Ing crest swept down upon it.
The air was full OF terrified cries Of
helpless women and children The boat
sank before anyone had time to think Of
assistance, and the man who caused II
all went down with her No one
seemed TO know who the man was. At
least none of the survivors who saw
the act would volunteer his name