The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-25
FAINT HOPES FOR
MORE SURVIVORS
Continued From First Page.
practically unconscious from the e1-

practically unconscious from the ex-
posure.
The raft was sighted about IL 0 clock,
supposed to be nothing but a log At
last by the aid Of powerful glass its
true nature was determined.
"A terrible sea was running. One
minute the raft was poised on top Of a
wave and the next it would be lost
from view in the gully formed by the
mountainous breakers. The eighteen
men on their frail support battled
bravely with pair Of oars to reach
tho City of Topeka, which, owing to
Fthe dangerous coast, could not run in
t any closer toS them. ia
T Within half a mile from the raft q
boat was lowered from the Topeka in
charge Of Second Mate Burke, who
with much difficulty succeeded in MAX
ing fast line to the raft. The spec
tators on the Topeka watched the strug-
CLING of the gallant seamen breathlessly.
At last they succeeded in bringing the
raft to the side Of the steamer.
Old Mans Brave Fight.
| The sight Of the poor creatures on
the raft brought tears to the eyes of
the sailors on the vessel. In the stern
| Of the raft sat an old man. His snow
white hair and pallid features were
creased and torn by the flying spray,
but the instinct of life was strong In
him and he held on bravely to his
place. Three others were lying sense
less in the rear, washed by every swell,
retained solely by the bodies Of the
other men who were closely, packed.
Time and time again great seas swept
fonlookers, who feared to see them swept
away. The work of rescuing them was
dangerous. The men were too exhaust.
ed to even tie rope about themselves.
When the raft was sighted, cry
went up from the steamers deck. Or
ders were shouted and men on the raft
screamed and called fruitlessly for aid
For minute it looked as tho the
| old man with gray hair was gone, when
the raft gave sudden lurch, but the
prompt work Of Mate Burke and his
men in the boat finally got him on deck.
Swept into the Sea.
This man no sooner was safe when
and was only rescued by quick work on
the part Of The boats crew. The next
man who was swept from the raft man.
aged to grasp a line and cling to il
until he was hoisted half way up the
ships side, when his strength gave out
and he fell back. He was picked up
by the boat #.. H.
The raft put out from the wreck yes
terday morning on sighting the steamer
Queen and attempted to reach her, but
before they could get within sighting
distance the vessel put about ant
headed to the strait. When the To
peka hove in sight the raft was once
more manned and again put forth.
| no nf "a
left the ship there were about ninety
people on board, most of them clingin{
to the rigging. Men, women and chill
dren were being swept by every sea.
AS soon as the men got aboard, DR.
B. F. Whiting, assisted by two nurses
and members. Of the crew, hastily ad
min1istered stimulants and put them t.
Sought Another Raft.
| After picking up the raft the steamer
went in search Of another raft, which
the rescued men said had left the shil
Earlier in theaday. The vessel ran fully
the raft, but no sign Of it was to b
seen. 1t is the general impression. tina
| the raft foundered All the other boat
were smashed to splinters when the.
attempted to lower them. Two OF tn
5ceboats were capslzeda shortly no ,ea att az
launching. One eScdpeu Ine pIo"noA
and put to sea with about eight or MIN
people aboard. -
The following is the story Of G. Wi
let's, one of the passengers and one O.
the men rescued from the raft:
"The ship struck at 1907 on tn
morning Of Tuesday, Jan: %. L wa
on deck at the time smoking a ciga
and was looking at my watch when tn
first crash came. In an instant all wa
& ! ho o. n
the frightened men and women, tn
wall of little children and the hoars
orders of the officers of the ship. Th
vessel reeled like a drunken man, sill
4 over the reef and struck again.
/ "The command to back her off wa
given and she went astern at full speed
J but it was too late. The water wa
, pouring in like millrace and with
sound which drowned, all else. Tn
? wind swung the vessels stern to tn
: beach and her head to the waves. Sh
. was then swept back to the shore, an
: struck once again in such positio
that she remained partially above tn
: water and on an even, keel. e., "a,
a. Went to Their Deaths.
; " Every wave now washed clear owe
J her and many people who hastily rushe
- on deck went to their deaths withol
. time to murmur a prayer.
"The order was given to get out tx
: boats. Two of them on the weathe
: side were launched and were smashe
a like eggshells as soon as they struc
!. / the water. Then came the attempt
:, get out the lee boats. Purser O Fare
:, took charge.
y "Four women and a number Of me
: went into the boat. Il do not kno
how many but she was practically flu
Just as they were lowering the 9th
the davits broke and the stern Of tt
boat fell to the water while the DO
\ hung in the air. Every one was pr
( cipitated into the sea and swept aws
in an instant. For a second or two
; caught a glimpse Of an agonized fac
I then another and yet another, as tn,
t were washed by me. 1t was awful.
u The waves dashing over the sh
II started breaking her up. They swe
: the deck loose and every swell lifted
It We chung to the rigging and deckhous
i Then an attempt was made to get a III
e ashore. A fireman named Cigales agre
> to swim ashore. He was in the wat
n fully half an hour but was unable
d make the beach.
"The ship struck in bad spot. s.
is directly at the foot of precipito
81 bluff that comes sheer to the water
ST! edUa ..Efas - &s sT NJ $3.50 Ne