The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1908-05-06
SIEtNfR kFl!0S Co.'S
BONN WIZ! loss OF
LIFE THAT'S AWFUL
Is Washed AZ VIII BY the Rush u
the Ocean-Nlen stand No
Chance For Life.

we olflcefs and the crew of the
steam schooner Minnie +. Keton,
lamber-laden from Aberdeen Wash,
to San Francisco, were killed or
drowned as the result Of a gale Fri
day night The scho2rer was lying
al anchor half wrecked about mile
off the shore between Yaquina Heads
and the cape in foul weather. Capt.
James Mckenna and / Of the crew
were saved. The dead and missing
undoubtedly dead arc Oilcr Walter
Peterson, Fireman Barney McVey,
Steward Svend Peterson. cabin boys,
r. W. Little and George Johnson;
crew, 4. Elosossen, 4. Koske. G.. Fl.
Jensen. o. Roskurs and F. Johnson,
Chief Engineer c. r. Lund The in
jured are Andrew ]. Nelson. Those
saved We're Capt. James McKenna.
First Mate NJ. Martin, Second Mate
John Mortensen, First Assistant En-
gineer James Carney, Oiler Walter
Hoffman. Firemen John Howold and
c. d. Hansen, sailors. g. Anderson,
W. Kaskensen and Andrew J. Mel
son.
Friday the Kelton ran into
strong head wind which increased
as the day preceded undl midnieht
il was blowing a gale The vessel
continually shipped large volumes Of
water and labored heavily in the sea.
The rough weather continued until
the vessel reached point eight
miles southwest Of Yaquina, when
the deck load shifted and started the
bulkhead Of the freroom. and the
vessel began filing from the bunk
ers and engine room to the hold
The pumps proved unayailine
against the thrush of water. Capt
McKenna, realizing the seriousness
Of his position. headed for the CO.
lumbia river. but his fires were soon
ex,ineuished The Kelton filed rap
at the mercy of the wind and waves
When north of Yaquina head the
captain. seeing the hopelessness of
his condition. ordered the craft aban-
doned and directed that the life boat,
which was large enough to hold the
entire crew. be lowered. While en-
,,, ~. no s.. 7,
vessel suddenly shipped tremen-
dous sea which swept overheard the
deck load Of lumber, and with il
the after deck house. both boats and
J. Of the men. The life boat was
pitched on TO the floating lumber
hanging one end off at a sharp angle
in clamoring into the boat the men
capsized her They succeeded in
rightine her again. and about seven
sailors climbed in, leaving -four 9TH
ers on the wreckage
The captain ordered the boat to
pick these men mp. but for some rea-
son tie order was not obeyed. With
in few minutes the hfeboat and
wreckage with the unfortunate on
board drift ed away from the Kelton.
BY this time the steamer had drifted
close TO the shore, and Capt. McKen-
ma let 90 the anchors in hopes they
would hold him off the shore Shortly
afterwards squall shut ont from
view the lifeboat and the men on
the wreckage. They were not seen
again until three Of their bodies were
picked mp on the beach sunday
Meantime the men remaining on
the Kelton look refuge in the rig
cling. but fearing they would be
swept overheard. they crawled along
the cargo booms. aud in this precari-
Gus manner succeeded in gaining
the foreeastle. where they remained
until rescued Sunday afternoon.
They had nei her water nor proyis-
ions and suffered greatly from
hunger, thirst and exposure. During
all this time signals Of distress had
been flying but failed to attract the
attention either Of the life saving sta
ton or passing vessels.
The first intelligence of the wreck
was brought to Yaquina bay life saw
ing station about noon Sunday by
Pat Chatierton. farmer living near
the scene of the wreck.
Chief Engineer Lund was last
seen in his cabin a moment before
1t was washed overheard. He is be-
lieved TO have been killed.