The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-01-09
Crowd Rushed to Water Front
Yesterday to See the Lurline
Go Down.
WHISTLE CORD IN TROUBLE
Became Entansled With Guy wire
and Caused Prolonged Blast
Three Big Lumber carsees
Ready to Leave.

Several hundred people rushed iran
sically to the water front yesterday
to see the Lurline so down, There
was absolutely no question thai the
steamer was filling and the excited
landsmen who gathered on the docks
could plainly see her settling lower
and lower. They were sure many OF
her passengers would be drowned be-
fire assistance could reach her. al
thoarh some were sure the steamer
could be grounded before sinking.
As the Lurline came putting aions
in the teeth of the westerly gale the
crowd on the docks could see little
group of people gathered on the hur-
ricane deck OF the steamer Evidently
they had huddled there to remain as
long as possible out OF the Icy water,
Their fate was generally deplored--
quite az much so as the fate OF hap
less persons who might have appeared
On the roof Of some burning sky
scraper The crowd on the docks in
creased in size until perhaps as many
as 500 people were gathered there.
The excitement was caused by the
long continued whistling of the steam
er as she came down the river. When
opposite the Booth cannery her
whistle began 10 pour forth Its shrill
sound. and for the next 10 minutes
the whistling continued OF course
the whis,ling would not have been
done had not the steamer been in
trouble. An incident of this kind win
always bring a crowd to the water
front, and despite yesterdays storm
the crowd assembled. As the steamer
plowed her way against the gale her
whistle could be heard sounding its
warning note. Speculation was rife
as to what had happened the vessel
and It was soon agreed that she had
struck some sunken obstruction and
that a hole had been stove in her bot
tom. When the little crowd OF pas
sengers gathered on her upper deck
and stood there huddled together, this
belief was satisfactorily confirmed
and perhaps every man in the anxious
crowd on the wharves would have
been willing to stake his very exist
ence that the steamer had founder
mig when she swept on past her dock.
1t was at this stage Of the proceedings
that the onlookers noticed that she
was settling lower and lower. and the
belief was general that Captain Lar
kins and Pilot Olney were running
her below to beach her. The govern
ment tug Mendell was following ih her
wake, evidently for the purpose Of res
cuing her passengers, and a small
launch was bravlng the heavy waves
that broke on the broad bosom Of the
Columbia presumably for the same
purpose.
But the Lurline was not sinking, by
any means and went belo wher dock
just as she always does to make the
long sweep before turning While
coming down the river one of the
smokestack guy wires had parted and
in swinging In the breeze had become
entangled with the whistle cord
Efforts were made to secure the guy
but for a time resulted in failure, the
wind keeping 1t beyond the reach Of
those who went on the hurricane deck
to make the repair. The whistle was
kept open for 10 minutes or more and
during all of that time sounded its
blast, with the result that a large
crowd congregated. 1t was well worth
the hurried walk to the waterfront
to listen to the speculations INDUCED
In, and there was some disappointment
when the Lurline majestically made
her turn and slid gently up to her
landing.
Then, as the deck hands hastened
ashore to prepare matters for removal
of the freight, they sized up the crowd
and said:
Where is the rest Of the town.
1t had been a bad day for rubber
necks