Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-01-25
Men Were Almost Dead From Ex- posure-G Great Seas Swept Over Them as Life Boat
 Drew Near.

lTOm eApOSuTe. lue FtSSucu diS.
 T. Doherty, fireman.
 G. D. Harden, passenger.
 NJ. Tarpey, quar'termaster.
 F. O'Brien, waiter.
 W. Raymond, messman.
 W. D. Johnson, coal passer.
 J. C. Egales. fireman.
 c. Fleeme, baker.
 Frank Lehn, first freight clerk.
 Joseph McCaffery, passenger.
 J. Welch, waiter.
 \. Hawkins, passenger
 F. Peterson. second officer.
 J. Poddent, waiter.
 John Johnson, third cook.
 c. L. Allison, passenger from St Paul.
 John Cigodas, fireman.
 Thomas Garrick, first assistant en- gineer.
 c. Willis, passenger.
 F. Primer, fireman.
 The condition of the survivors was pitiable. They were half frozen and practically unconscious from the ex- posture. The raft was sighted about F o'clock, but owing to the thick weather it was supposed to be nothing but a log. At last, by the aid of a powerful glass, its true nature was determined.
 A terrible sea was running. One minute the raft would be poised on top of wave and the next it would be lost from view in the gully formed by the mountainous breakers.
 On their frail support the men bat AT v,ntT .Nf reach the City of Topeka, which. ow- ing to the dangerous coast. could not run in any closer. Within half a mile from the raft boat was lowered from the Topeka in charge of Second Mate Burke, who with much difficulty sue ceeded in making fast a line to the raft.
 The spectators on the Topeka watched the struggling of the gallant seamen breathlessly. One minute they were high in the air and the next lost to sight. At last they succeeded in bringing the raft to the side of the steamer. The sight of the poor crea- lures on the raft brought tears to the eyes of the sailors on the vessel In the stern of the raft sat an old man with snow white hair and pallid fea- lures. who held on bravely to his place. Three others were lying in a senseless heap in the rear. washed by every swell and retained solely by the bodies of the other men who were closely packed.
 Time and time again great seas swept over them. sending shudder through the onlookers, who feared to see them swept away. The work of rescuing them was dangerous. The men were too exhausted to even tie rope about themselves.
 For a minute it looked as though the old man with gray hair was gone when the raft gave sudden lurch, but the prompt work of Mate Burke and his men finally got him on deck. This man was no sooner safe when another fainting form was swept away and was only rescued by quick work on the part of the boats crew. The next man to he swept from the raft managed to grasp a line and cling to it 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.
 The raft put out from the wreck yesterday morning on sighting the steamer Queen and attempted to reach her. but before they could get within sighting distance the vessel put about and headed to the strait.
 When the Topeka hove in sight the raft was once more manned and again put forth. The survivors told terrible tales of the wreck of the vessel. When they left the ship there were about ninety people on board. most of them clinging to the rigging Men. women and children were being swept by every sea.
 As soon as the men got aboard the Topeka. Dr E. F. Whiting. assisted by two nurses and members of the crew hastily administered stimulants and put them 10 bed-
 After picking up the raft the steam CT went in search of another raft. which the rescued men said had left the ship earlier in the day. The vessel ran fully twenty miles the other si'Ie looking for the raft hut no sign of it was to be seen. It is the general im- pression that this raft fOundered.
 Survivors say that most of the boats were smashel tn Splinters when they were lowered Two of the ice boats were capsized shortly after they were launched. One escaped the breakers and put to sea with about eight or nine persons aboard
 The following is the story of q. ! wIIets. one of the passengers and one l of the men rescued from the raft:
 The ship struck at 12D1 on the morning If Tuesday. Jsnusry 2. IT was on deck at the time smoking cigar and was looking at my watch 1 whea the crash came In an instant 1 all vas excitemanf- The command q, l back of was given and she went I .stern at full speei but it was too l late. The water was pouring in like . a mfTI-race- The wind swung the Te-- 4 sers stern to the b-ach and her bead ro the waves This szvsd many Hwe- l ss she vss then swept iark to tke shore and sfruck ooce scsiH in ssrh q position that she remained partially | sbore the water and o8 an even Keel
 -EFerJ uave now vashed ele1r cver her and many peuPis vbo hast-