The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-01-12
SINKS DURING A GALE.
STEAMER CLAlLAM LOST IN THE
STRAITS OF JUAN DE FucA
IN SEVERE STORM.
'FIFTY.Two PERSONS PERISH
ALL LlFERoATs ARE cAPslzED on
ewAMPED AND THEIR occu-
PANTS DROWNED.
4 w *.-.. -.Il.. ..-e.l -T-.. .-.l..-

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Seattle, Wash, Jan. 11.-True to a
prediction made by superstitious sea
men when the vessel was launched
less than a year ago at Tacoma the
steamer Clallam has gone down in q
storm In the straits Of Juan de Fuca
and fifty-two lives were lost in the
disaster.
There were about eighty persons on
the ship.
The Clallanl was a staunch new pas.
senger boat on the Seattle and Vic.
toria run. She left Port Townsend fol-
Victoria. in the face Of a terrific south.
ern gale. Within sight of her destina.
ton a huge sea overwhelmed the
steamer, smashing in the lights, flood.
Ing the hold with water, extinguishing
the fires beneath the boilers and plac.
Ing the steamer at the mercy of a gale.
Little fear was manifested, however.
until word came up from below that
the vessel was leaking Investigation
showed that the waves on the wind.
ward side had stove in q headlight,
through which the water rushed in an
immense volume, resisting all efforts
to stop 1t.
Boats capsized or swamped.
Seeing the efforts futile the safety OF
the passengers, particularly the wo.
men and children, was looked after,
and all who desired were put of 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 in get.
ting away from the vessel, they were
either capsized or swamped.
Every. woman and child aboard the
Clallam persisted within three miles OF
shore. 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 lifeboats.
They were placed in the first boat,
which Captain Lawrence volunteered
to command. The frail craft went
down within sight of the Clallam. A
second lifeboat, filled with male pas.
senyers and in command of Second
Officer Currin, was probably lost a few
minutes later. Aboard the Clallam
watchers saw waves sweep passengers
from their hold on the seats of the
second boat and hurl them into the
water. Though this lifeboat righted
q diligent search has failed to find
trace of it. More passengers and
members of the crew were lost when
a third lifeboat was sunk in an at.
tempt to launch it. Three passengers,
who had fastened life preservers about
their bodies, were picked up by the
steamer Bahiat. They had died Of ex.
posure and their bodies were brought
to Seattle.
Tug Comes to the Rescue.
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 trying
to save the vessel. The pumps were
impotent and three gangs of bailers
were set to work. In spite of their eft.
forts the water gained on them and
they We're about to resign themselves
to their fate when the Richard Holy.
oke. one of six tugs which had been
sent to the rescue from Port Town
send, hove in sight. A line was thrown
aboard the tug and with the Clallam
In tow the tug started for Port Town
send.
The tug made fair progress and it
seemed for q time that the Clallam.
with the remainder of the crew and
passengers, would be saved. But the
hulk of the Clallam began to give way
before the terrific assaults of the
waves. The tug Sea Lion sighted the
Holyoke and her tow and stood by.
After midnight the Clallam went on
her beam end and began to sink rap
idly. In less than an hour she settled
and the tow lines were cut. A few
minutes 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, who were
swept away, persisted. The closing
scene was eight miles north Of Protec-
ton island. only a short distance north
of Port Townsend. The survivors of
the wreck were brought to Seattle on
the steamer Dirigo.
More Bodies Recovered.
Sundays developments in the
steamer Clallam disaster were the re-
covery Of the bodies of eight more
victims OF the wreck and the appear
0ACS LII 1llc VI w. n. GIlul0S, OUN Oh
the passengers who was reported
drowned. Thirteen bodies, all told,
have been taken from the waters Of
the straits of Juan de Fuca. Those re-
covered Sunday include Miss Louise
Harris of Spokane, Mrs. Thomas Sui.
Inns OF Mount Sicker, Miss Vallaley of
Victoria, Miss Ethel de Prose Of Ia
coma. Alexander Harvey, q deckhand
tho G1o110~ n~l khvnn ,~i5~~%}A@a
women. These are all at Victoria.
Grimes, the unexpected survivor, was
among the last to leave the Clallam.
He and five or six others, after being
washed into the sea, managed to climb
upon the pilothouse, which had been
swept from the deck. They were res
cued by the tug Holyoke and taken to
Port Townsend.
When the Clallam wau launched Of