The San Francisco call., 1908-09-24
CAPTAINS OF TUGS
TO BE PROSECUTED
Skipper of Star of Bengal
Blames Towboats for Loss
of ll0 Lives
Survivors Tell Narrowing Story
OF the Scenes at Wreck
of Vessel

bered among the victims OF the
American bark Star Of Bengal, which
went down 10 destruction at Helm
point Coronation island, last Sunday
morning.
Not, by drowning did all the unfor-
tunates meet their death. Many OF
them were crushed. bruised and mu-
Ulated by the wreck. Huge spars
crushed the spark Of life out of many
brave men who were desperately
struggling with the waves in an ef-
Tort TO reach shore. Others were
caught IN the tangled masses of rope
and steel cord. while great cases of
canned salmon held down others, pre-
venting them from reaching the shore
in safety
While the tugs lay a short distance
away, apparently needless of the big
ships hazardous position and the crit
icsl situation of the precious lives
aboard, Captain n. Wagner was max
ing desperate efforts to induce the
tugs 10 at least take OF the men,
\ DISTRESS SIGNALS BURNED
, FranticaIIy, according TO his own
story, he burned the blue lights of
distress, but no help came. The ship
lay anchored in sufficient water 10
have held her safe. But as the gale
increased and the foam capped waves
Increased in size and force, those on
the doomed vessel could quickly see
that there was no hope The only
P chance was 10 get ashore and in so do
ing over five score men went down to
unknown graves in the watery depths
their epitaphs the serious charge
made by Captain Wagner that every
victim of the disaster is a victim of
rank cowardice Of the masters OF the
tugboats Hattie Gage and kayaks
BODIES ARE BURIED
The survivors succeeded in burying
the bodies Of Is white men. Brief and
homely was this ceremony, but that
preyfng CANNES and voracious wild ami
mails might not desecrate the dead, the
bodies were weighted down in the
sandy beach with cans of salmon.
When Captain Wagner left in the
boat p bodies were on the beach,
bruised. mutilated. torn almost to
pieces by the waves, rocks and wreck
age.
Ship Carpenter David Wilson, one of
the survivors. said:
When the captain called for volun-
teers put axes, shovels and tools in
the boat also a rife. After reaching
shore the surf gave US hard strug-
gle 1t pulled the boats painter from
four men and surged back and forth
until I thought We would never get il
on the beach. Finally we made it fast
10 a rock. ] rugged the breeches buoy
TO a tree on top Of the bluff. But We
could do nothing. The poor fellows
keould not swim well in the wreckage.
D Our next thought was TO start a
ffre, for we were nearly all dead with
cold and exposure By good fortune
one man had matches in q tight to-
bacco box With salmon boxes and
other wreckage We finally started
fire by saturating the wood with kero-
sehe. 1t was an awful experience, es-
pecially 10 see those poor men trying
10 reach shore only to be drowned be-
fore our eyes or have their lives
crushed out by mountains of wreck
age"
Captain Wagner makes q stronger as
sertion. He insists that the captains
of the tugboats shall be punished il ii
is in his power to bring them TO ac
count for their alleged neglect and
cowardice. The master of the wrecked
vessel, who was SO i'll from exposure
upon his arrival last night that he
could scarcely make himself heard, was
much improved this morning and was
still set in his purpose TO have the mas
ters OF the tugs brought to justice.
For hours the Star Of Bengal rode at
anchor" he said, during which time
every man aboard might have been
saved. We were lying in seven fathoms
with comparatively no wind. We an
chOred st 4 o'clock Sunday morning. but
the ship did not commence TO drag
anchors until S:45 o'clock the same
morning. At any time between day
light and S o'clock the tugs could have
come alongside and rescued all
Those two captains are criminally
oowardly and will have to answer to
the authorities and to God for 10
human lives
Today's sdvices confirm last nights
report that 1lO lost their lives in the
awful disaster. which rivals that in
which the steamer Nalencia~figured off
Vancouver island nearly three years
ago Fifteen whites were drowned or
killed Forty-ave minutes after the
Star Of Bengal struck she broke into
three pieces. only the mizzen topmast
being visible above the surface
To four brave volunteers majority
q the survivors owe their lives. Cap
a tain Wagner states that when the ship
Struck at 9:45 a. m he called for VOL
unteers to man boat and go ashore.
-Four gallant fellows offered their
services and. after q desperate strug-
gle. they finally reached the beach.
There they rugged UP a breeches buoy,
but because the ship. like gigantic
animal in its last struggles for life,
rolled and pitched so fearfully, the line
was practically useless. However, the
men ashore did heroic service in assist
ing others out Of the water and pull
ing their mates from the wreckage in
which so many were crushed 10 death
TERRIBLE SCENES ON BEACH
Scenes that sickened the hearts Of
the stoutest were witnessed in the
surf. With desperation born OF fear
with strength given only 10 those that
defy death, the abandoned men at
tempted TO reach the shore. But the
great majority lost in the unequal race
against the grim reaper Some were
hurled against the forbidding rocks
Others fought. only to be crushed un-
der avalanches Of salmon cases or
other debris from the fast breaking
ship.
One man who attempted TO get ashore
by the breeches buoy met heartrend-
ing death. He was holding fast TO the
line, which slackened as the ship rolled
toward the shore. Then the great YES
sci righted itself and with an awful
lurch rolled of shore. The force caused
the line to grow taut with q jerk The
sman held with grim desperation. but
he could not retain his hold. He was
thrown so feet above the wire and
when he fell he struck on the poopdeck
rail-. His head was split, the brains
splattered over the deck and in an in
/ slant a mighty wave swept away all
trace OF the unfortunate.
Those who reached the shore turned