The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1904-01-15
boat Goes down
IN PUGET SOUND
New Coast Steamer Clallam Found.
ers Near Port Towns md and
Fifty-Two Lives Are Lost.
All the Women and Children ON Board
Were Drowned Despite Heroic En-
forts to Save Them-Nearly All who
Remained ON the Ill-Fated Craft
Were Rescued.

passenger steamer S1dIAdu VI luc u6o|
Sound Navigation company's fleet sank
in the Straits Of Juan de Fuca Saturday.
Not woman or child in the passenger
list of Sc escaped, and ten members Of
the crew persisted in attempting to save
the people in their care. The drown
ing of the women and children resulted,
singularly, from the self-sacrificing ef-
forts of the men to give them the first
chance for life. When the Clallam was
seen to be in great danger two boats were
lowered containing all the woman and
children, and just enough members of
the crew to man the oars.
LlfebOats Capsixe.
The first boat was capsized within
sight of the sinking ship. The other one
disappeared in the darkness after num-
Der of people were swept overheard by
the waves. A third lifeboat, containing
only men, was launched, but capsized
alongside the steamer.
Thirty-one passengers and members OF
the crew were rescued by two tugs after
an heroic effort to tow the sinking steam
er into port. In spite OF, the tremendous
seas the tugs were taken alongside the
steamer and held there until everyone
was taken off, They were brought here
on the steamer Dirigo.
Steamer Was New.
The Clallan was new passenger boat
on the Seattle Victoria run. She left
Port Townsend for Victoria Friday noon,
facing a terrific southern gale. Within
sight of her destination huge sea over
whelmed the steamer, smashing in her
headlights, flooding her hole with water,
extinguishing the fires beneath her boil
ers and placing her at the mercy of a
bowling gale. Bravely the officers and
crew of the helpless craft worked to save
the boat and the people aboard her, but
in vain. The Clallam could not stand
the terrific onslaught of the large seas
that raced in from the ocean, and just
before dark it was decided to make an at
tempt to save at least the passengers by
the lifeboats.
All Lost Mt Once.
Two boats were launched. The first
contained only women and children and
three deck hands and Capt. Lawrence, q
Yukon pilot of Victoria, as crew. The
boat was overwhelmed 900 feet from the
Clallam, and the shrieks of its occupants
were head aboard the steamer. No aid
could be given.
The second boat rowed away into the
daEkness. From the Clallam men were
seen as the waves tore them from the
boat into the sea. Though the lifeboat
was righted later, diligent search failed
to find it, and it is certain that all were
drowned.
The third boat, containing only men,
was swamped in launching.
Bodies Recovered.
The tug Albion, on her way from
Victoria to Vancouver, Sunday morn
ing picked up life boat No. of the lost
steamer Clallam. 1t contained the
body of one woman, and another was
floating but short distance away.
They were identified as those Of Miss
Louise Harris, the daughter of w. J.
Harris, the Spokane mining million
aire, and Mrs. Thomas Sullins, of Seat
tie. The bodies of both Miss Harris
and Mrs. Sullins had life preservers
buckled around their bodies.