The San Francisco call., 1904-10-08
Nine0la Wrecked ON the Coast Of Siberia
Bio Fregher Strikes an lDChdred Rock in Northern Sea-

Inc Dig steel steamer Mineola, which
came to the coast eleven years ago and
has passed in and out of this port many
times, lies fathoms deep under the Pa
cihc off the shore of Kamschatka. 1t
was an uncharted rock, that viewless
ana unknown peril of the sea which
some stanch ship often finds and marks
the place of discovery with her own re-
mains, that sent the Mineola to de-
struction. A cablegram from Hako-
date yesterday announces that the
steamer, while returning to San Fran
cisco from Northern Siberian ports.
struck rock near Tigel Bar Septem-
Der and sank. The strong engines
drove the vessel with great force on the
rock, and she began to fill immediate
ly. Captain Kirkwood ordered all hands
into the boats, and soon after they left
the steamer she rolled over, slid off the
rock and disappeared forever
The boats headed for Kamschatka
and were shortly afterward picked up
by the British slOop-of-war Algerine
which was fortunately cruising in those
waters and which landed all the sur
Vivors at Hakodate
The Mineola was owned by the Pa
cine Improvement Company George
Crocker president, of this city, and was
chartered by Roth, Blum & Co. to car
~ general merchandise to Siberia and
return with furs. She sailed from this
port June q, and was on her way home
when the accident happened. Roth,
Blum & Co., upon whom the loss of the
cargo will fall, say they have no idea
how much freight was in the vessel.
She had on board an $4,000 cargo when
she sailed from San Francisco. and she
had two more Siberian ports to visit
before starting homeward.
The steamer was commanded by Cap
tain Alexander Kirkwood, a master
mariner we'll known in the Pacific He
is skillful and experienced, and not the
slightest doubt is expressed among
shipping men that the accident was un-
avoidable. The officers Of the Pacific
Improvement Company said last even
ing that the firm has the utmost con-
fidence in Captain Kirkwood's seaman
ship.
The vessel was built in England in
1855 and came to this coast in 1888 She
was 275 feet long, % feet beam and 10
feet in depth. She had been provided
recently with new boilers and exten-
sive repairs had made her almost a
new vessel She was valued at about
100000 and was insured. Her speed
was twelve knots.
The following are her officers: Cap
tain. Alexander Kirkwood; first officer.
j. 3. Rohan; second officer A. d. Cole:
third officer. A. McAlman; chief en-
gineer, J. NJ. Spencer; first assistant.
c. Kineman; second assistant, E.
Swanson; third assistant, ]. Elvin;
carpenter, Gus Lii. The crew numbers
fifty-eight all told
Mrs. Kirkwood, who went to British
Columbia after the Mineola sailed for
Asia, returned a few days ago and has
since been watching the Golden Gate
from her residence in the Western Ad-
ditiOn to see her husbands ship steam
into the harbor, as the vessel is due
The first news she received was of the
wreck, with the saving of all hands.
1t is believed that Captain Kirkwood,
as he knew his ship and cargo were a
lawful prize for any japanese cruiser
that might be in that locality, was
keeping close in shore to dodge possible
pursuers and thus got into dangerous
waters. This was the first large vessel
to carry cargo from this port to ST.
IBERIA, and the result is discouraging.