Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-29
NINE DEAD BODIES.
Victims of the Wreck of the Steamer
Mataafa

Mataafa
DULUTH, Mimi. November 29.-Nine
dead bodies, including the entire engineer
ing crew of the boat is the result of the
wreck of the steamer Mataafa, at the
mouth of the Duluth ship canal yesterday
afternoon. The lfe-savlng crew made des-
perate but futile efforts to get line to the
boat In the presence of thousands of spec
tators the line was fired over the ship from
the cannCn three times.
Once it caught. and those on the forward
end of the boat where it landed began to
haul II in, but the rocks on the bottom of
the canal cut the rope in two. At mid
night the officials of the company owning
the boat advised the Hfe-saving crew to
give up until daylight, saying that the men
OF the forward part were safe enough
until morning. On the stern end of the
Mataafa not sign of life had been de-
tected since shortly after dark.
Work of Life Savers.
When the storm died out somewhat this
morning the Hfe-saving crew was able to
hit the boat, and the work of bringing
the crew ashore began al once. In the for
WARD end of the boat all were safe, but in
the stern IT was found that all had sue
cumbed to the cold and were drowned. In
the first boatload seven men were brought
The saved are: Capt r. P Humble
Wallace Brown. first mate; Herbert Emigh
second mate; James Hatch, wheelman;
George Mcclure. wheelman; Axel Carlson,
fireman; Charles Byrne. fireman; Ernest
Dietz. watchman; Lee Yates, seaman;
Fred Saunders. porter; Grantley West
watchman; Edward Coulter. fireman; Har-
~ Larson, seaman; Louis Yakes, seaman;
seaman. name unknown.
From these it Is learned that not sign
had been heard by those forward from the
rear end since early in the evening, and the
death of all there was certain.
Names of the Lost
The names of the lost men are as follows:
William Most chief engineer. Cleveland: :
Second Engineer Claude Farringer Cleve-
land; James Early, Buffalo; w. Gilchrist
oiler, Winton. Ont; Carl Carlson oiler
Chicago; Henry Wright. steward Cleve-
land. Walter Bush, second cook, Amherst
burg; fireman and deck hand, who shipped
at Conneaut, names not known.
The night on the Mataafa was a fearful
one to the living men, to say nothing of
the terrible torture that must have fallen
TO the lot of those who died. Tucked In
warm beds in hotels. members of the crew
lell of what they underwent Charles
Byrne, Henry Saunders and Herbert
Emigh made the trip in the afternoon from
the rear of the boat forward across the
slippery deck. over which great waves roll
ed and tried to break their hold
-Four tried it. a fireman. name unknown.
being another. but he failed and retraced
his steps, now being numbered among the
lost. This fireman was three times washed
over the side. but held his grip on the rope
railing and climbed back. only TO be defeat
ed in the end.
The three that made the trip and that
owe their lives TO their courage would rush
forward after each wave and then throw
themselves on the deck and hang on as
another roller came. AS they reached the
forward part of the boat their comrades
there dragged them up on the deck.
The poor fellows on the stern end of the
boat had little protection. In the lee OF the
engine house they could find shelter, for
OF the rail. They finally climbed up under
the shelter of the big smokestack. but wet
as they were and with the biting cold
they could not long stand the exposure and
Were last seen slipping down the ventilators
apparently to find protection. but in all
probability going TO death by drowning.
The fifteen men forward first took shell
ter in the wheelmans cabin, but the water
soon drove them out and then they went
TO the captains cabin. The waves drove
In the windows and doors and all night
long they, half frozen, danced about the
little cabin, trying TO keep warm Their
passed, but the fight against the cold was
a hitter