The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-10
EVERY WOMAN AND CHILD ABOARD PERISHED
Heroic Efforts Were Made TO Save Their
Lives, But the Life Boats Went Down.
The Steamer Stove Dead Light-Then She Began to Fill
Boats Were Sunk as They Put 0ff-ThOSe Aboard Them
Sank in Sight of Those on the Steamer-TugS
Went to the Steamers Assistance.

senger packet. She made moderately
good progress across the straits, bound
for Victoria. until Trial Island, off
the entrance to the harbor, was abeam.
Then a terrific cross sea was pelting
the vessel, retarding her progress and
making life uncomfortable for those
aboard.
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 a dead light,
through which the water rushed in
volumes, resisting all efforts to stop it.
Efforts to save the vessel being flu
tile, the safety of the passengers, par
ticularly the women and children, was
looked after, and all who desired were
put off from the steamer in the ships
beats. The heavily laden boats were
thrown abut wildly in the choppy sea,
and one after another, after succeed
ing in getting away from the vessel
they were either capsized or swamped
An apparent discrepancy in numbers
from the list of fatalities is accounta-
bic by the fact that only such chill
dren as paid half fare were enrolled
in the passenger list.
Tugs to Her Assistance.
In the meantime word has come
from Victoria OF the vessels predica-
ment, and fleet of powerful tugs was
dispatched from. here to render assis-
lance. The Richard Holyoke, in COM
mAnd of Capt. Robert Hall, was the
first to reach the Clallam, which had
by this time careened partly over from
the thrush of water. which had put
the engines out of commission.
The Holyoke reached the Clallam at
IL o'clock last night and about o'clock
this morning, succeeded in getting a
hawser aboard, with which she started
to tow the Clallam to safety. The Clal-
lam took a heavy lurch, and those re-
naming aboard were compelled to
climb up the side to safety, finally
reaching the roof of the pilot house.
Without moments hesitation, the
tugs boats were lowered and work of
rescue commenced. At this point the
tug Sea Lion, Capt. Hunter arrived.
and her men rendered valuable assist
ance.
Before all the struggling people had
been taken off, the ClalIam commenced
to break up and soon afterwards went
down.
All possible assistance to the rescued
people was given by the two ship
masters, and their crews, and the tugs
hurried to Port Townsend. The pas
sengerS surviving and the remainder
of the crew then took passage on
the Dirigo, bound for Seattle.
story of N Passenger.
w. H. Grimes of Redmond, Wash,
aboard the Challam, bound for Vic
toria, gives the following statement:
The weather was pretty rough" he
said, but we had no suspicion Of dan
ger until some one forward said some
thing about life preservers. 1 went for
ward to investigate, and there learned
that the Clallam was making water
rapidly. The boats were promptly
manned and launched, and the women
and children and such passengers as
desired 10 leave were placed in them,
competent crews being in charge.
The boats made off from the steam
er safely, but one after another they
capsized, and we were helpless to rem
DER the occupants any assistance. They
simply drowned before our eyes.
I'm the meantime crew and passen-
gers were busy bailing and trying to
sIop tne teak, out Wlthount success.
The bailing was kept up, however. and
soon we were overjoyed to learn that
a big tug had hold of us. The tow boat
started and the Clallam made pretty
good progress until it became apparent
that she was careening under us. Then
all hands went on deck and as the ILL
fated packet listed, we gradually
crawled upon her exposed side, from
where the brave fellows from the Ho-
Woke rescued rnnsi of IL