The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-09-05
good swell would hit the ship, another

dynamite, What Woulu happen. Our
ship put into nearby harbor and an
chored for the night, and early Thurs
day morning they returned to the
scene of the wreck. At his time our
clothes had been dried and my trousers
were brought TO me, enabling me to 90
down to the dining room where our
dried clothes had been piled, and we soon
had our own assorted out.
During breakfast door was opened
leading to the freight room, and notic-
ing several boxes was again Informed
they contained dynamite. We remained
in the near vicinity of the wreck all day,
was on deck most of the time, but did
not succeed in rescuing anyone, but
took ABOARD the seven men who had sue
ceeded in landing in the last boat.
Along towards evening our ship start.
ed for Seattle, which was reached before
daylight Friday morning Carriages
were in waiting for us and we were all
taken to hotels and given every com.
fort possible. After breakfast an agent
of the steamship company visited us
and Brought me hat as mine was lost
when | went into the sea boarding the
raft, and took us to clothing and shoe
store and told us to get what we need.
ed for our comfort. On Saturday. the
9th, | was informed by telephone that
the body of my companion had been
found, and gave me a description of his
effects, which tailed with what I knew
was his. On Wednesday the steamship
company Informed me that they would
have to bury the bodies where found.
near the scene of the wreck. l most
emphatically protested and insisted
that the remains be brought to Seattle.
and next morning l had legal service
served on the steamship company to
that effect. The remains were delivered
at Seattle Saturday morning, February
Sd, where l had ar undertaken prepare
and place in a metallic lined casket, and
ON Monday evening I accompanied them
to st. Paul, arriving home Thursday at
4:30 p. M, glad to meet my family and
friends
There have been many different stor.
les told about the cause of the wreck
and OF the efforts made of our rescue bv
the steamship company.
First of all I will say that there was
no storm or gale at any time Our cap
tain had over-run his course about fifty
miles. and no doubt did not know what
waters he was in, and it was his duty
to make to. sea until he could get his
bearings. The first ship, which was the
Queen" that hove in sight, and was
ordered there by the steamship com.
pany to assist and rescue us showed
gross cowardice in not coming in close
and they could have lowered boat.
and with experienced seamen could have.
with perfect safety got in close enough.
in my opinion, to have rescued every one
remaining on the wreck.
Besides the news of the wreck was
telgraphed the world over bv Tuesday
noon, and there seems no good reason
why boats of light draft, which are al
ways harbored in nearby ports. could
not have been Immediately ordered out
TO help us, and they could have reached
the scene Tuesday afternoon. It IA n
well known fact that crafts of this kind
are better adapted to render assistance
than the large ship that was sent, and
which did not reach the scene until
thirty hours after we struck the rock.
A whaling craft and small tug that
did not reach the scene of the wreck
until after it had disappeared steamed
in within 100 feet of the wreck. No
reason why this could not have been
done at any time after the ship struck.
In my eight years experience sailing
the Great Lakes and in the U. s. NAVY.
have frequently named boat in sea
much worse than any we had during
those anxious thirty-six hours.
The Vancouver Coast, in the vicinity
OF the entrance to the Puget Sound, has
always been regarded as very dangerous,
and 1t is the duty of the interested gov.
crnments to greatly improve the means
OF safely navigating those waters, and
life saving crews within reasonable
reach.
While in Seattle I was asked il
intended to return to Frisco, and told
him l did not think they had ship
IN harbor big enough to carry me back.
Mr.. Hills steamship Minnesota" was
then lying alongside the dock.