Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-14
WRECK OF STEAMSHIP "DAKOTA"
AS GIVEN BY JAPANESE PAPER

he was relieved by the captain, who came
the bridge. After strolling about the
lower deck to see that the derricks were
being made ready to handle the cargo on
Monday morning he went to his cabin and,
lighting a cigar, began to read book.
At 5:O4 he was startled by the ship grind
ing on rock, and he rushed on deck.
porting to the captain on the bridge. With
in two minutes after striking the rock the
pressure of the air and the thrush of the
water were SO strong that the canvas COW
ers of the air vents from the tanks were
blown off and columns of water shot into
the air. Later on the matches blew off and
foated the cargo, an immense quantity OF
cotton, -four, mail. baggage and wreckage
of all descriptions covering the about
the ship. The different holds We're imme-
diately sounded, and No. 2 hold was found
to contain eighteen feet of water in two
minutes after she struck, and the engine
room filled to the top of the cylinder heads,
driving out the whole engineers staff
" nen the ship struck, it was with a loud,
grating sound, after which she seemed to
settle down with trembling motion, her
bow sinking below the water
X
After the ship had settled soundings
were taken, when there were found seven
teen fathems at the bow, thirteen from the
bridge and three fathOms at the stern.
The captain Immediately sounded the call
to launch the boats, and it is said that, out
side of all hands working little faster,
there was no more excitement than at the
regular boat drill. Within ten minutes
after she had struck fourteen lifeboats
We're lowered on a line with the deck rail,
five other boats and a dingy remaining on
deck. Steps were Immediately taken to get
a supply of provisions, but 1t was found
that the store and refrigerating rooms were
under water. and all the food that could
be taken ashore was the biscuits kept in
the lifeboats. The ship was at such an
angle that it was not at all unlikely she
might slide off into deep water and thus
cndanger the lives of those on board, SO
the captain ordered all hands to embark
By this time there were fully a hundred
sanpans alongside, several of the passen-
gers getting on board, the others following
in the ships boats, and all safely landed
on the Shirahama shore.
How the ship got into such dangerous
position not even Mr. Amman can under
stand; as fact he states it Is as much a
mystery to him as any one on board, but
rent toward the shore. 1t is stated that
If she had been fifty feet further out she
would have missed the ledge. Mr. Amman
says he did not ask the captain nor did he
hear him give any reason for the accident,
but from two passengers we learn that they
overheard Capt. Francke say at one time
it was due to the inset of the current and
at another time that he had missed his
estimation of the distance Like other
ships the Dakota had previously given
the reef a wide berth, passing from four
to five miles off, so it seems doubly strange
she was hugging the shore so closely. 1t
was an unusually bright and sunshiny day,
and the natives shore could be plainly
seen motioning them of, but the passengers
took their gestures as salutation and sew
eral of the ladies responded by waving their
handkerchiefs. Realizing the danger, the
head man Of Shirahama village ordered
out all the fishing boats and went with
them II the rescue, thus accounting for
their icing on the scene so soon after the
ship struck
The captain, officers and crew remained
on board until the passengers were landed,
but the sea coming up, orders were given