Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1904-01-15
FIFTY PEOPLE DROWNED
Terrible Disaster Off Coast Of British
Columbia.
NOT A WOMAN OR CHILD SAVED.
Monster Wave SnasEes headlight and the
Ship Is Floodcd-All the Passengers
Who Took to the Boats 10 Hope OF Safety
Perished-Soon After Tugs From Port
Towsend Reach the Steamer II Gees Gown

Y Port Townsend, Wash. (SpeciaD.-
Fifty-two lives were lost in the sink
ing OF the fine new steamer Clallam IN
a storm that swept over the straits OF
Juan de Fuca with relentless fury. The
vessel was a regular daily passenger
packet. She made moderately good
progress across the straits, bound Tor
Victoria Island, until off the entrance
to the harbor was abeam./
Then a terrific cross-Sca was pcltng
the vessel, retarding her progress and
making lie uncomfortable Tor those
aboard. Little fear was manifested,
however, until word came up from be-
low that the vessel was leaking lnves-
tigation showed that the waves on the
windward side had stove IN dead
light. through which the water rushed
in volume, resisting all efforts to stop
it.
Seeing the efforts futile, the safety OF
the passengers, particularly the women
and children, was looked alter, and all
who desired were put off from the
steamer in the ships boats.
The heavily laden boats were thrown
about wildly in the choppy sea- and
one after another after succeeding III
getting away from the vessel, were
either capsized or swamped.
The terrible fury Of the storm is at
tested by the fact that not woman or
child OF all those aboard has lived to
tell the tale. An apparent discrepancy
in numbers from the list OF fatalities
following is accountable TO the fact
that only such children as pad halt
fare were enrolled in the passenger list
In the meantime word had come
from Victoria Of the vessels predlca-
ment and feet Of powerful tugs were
dispatched from here to render assist
ance. The Richard Holyokc, i'll COM
mand OF Capt. Robert Hall was the
first to reach the Clallam which had
bv this time carcened partly over from
the thrush OF water which had put the
engines out OF commission. The Holy
oke reached the Clallam about II
O'Clock and about a. m. succeeded III
getting hawser aboard with which
she started to tow the Clallam to
safety.
The Clallam took heavy lurch ant
those remaining aboard were compelled
to climb up the side to safety, finally
reaching the roof OF the pilot house,
Without moments hesitation TIL
tugs boats were lowered and the worl
nf rescue commenced. At this point tn
tug Sea Lion, Captain Hunter, arrived
and her men rendered valuable assist
ance. Before all the struggling peopl
had been taken off the Clallam com
nlenced to break up and soon aftcrwar'
went down. All possible assistance t
the rescued people was given by the tW'
shin masters ard their crews and IN
tugs hurried to Port Townsend n
passengers surviving and the rcmalnde
of the crew then took passage on I'll
Dirigo. bound for Seattle.
w. H. Grimes, Of Redmond, Was!
aboard the Clallam, bound for Victoria
gives this statement: -.
"The weather was pretty rough. sal
he. but We had no suspicion OF DANCE
until someone forward said something
about life prcservcrs. | went forward t
investigate and there learned that tn
Clallam was making water rapidly Tn
boats were promptly manned an
launched and the women and childre
and such passengers as desired TO leav
were placed in them, competent crews be
ing in charge The boats made off tror
the steamer safely. but one after an
other they capsized and we were he'pes
to render them any assistance