Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-05-05
SHIP WRECKED
ELEVEN DROWN
Storm Fills Lumber Vessel With
Water on Oregon Coast

of the officers and crew of the steam
schooner Minnie r. Kelton, lumber
laden, from Aberdeen, Wash, to San
Francisco, were killed or drowned as
the result of gale Friday night.
The schooner Is lying at anchor,
between Yaquina heads and Cape
FOulweather. Captain James Me-
Kenna and 10 of his crew were saved.
The dead and missing (undoubted-
ly dead) are: oiler Walter Peterson,
Fireman Barney NJ. Vey, Steward
Svend Peterson, cabin boys Ar. w.
Little and George Johnson; crew, A.
Elosossen, A. Koske, G. II, Jensen,
o. Roskurst and +. johnson, Chief
Engineer C. II. Lund.
Injured: Andrew ]. Nielsen
Saved: Captain James McKenna,
First Mate NJ. Martin, Second Mate
John Mortonsen, First Assistant En-
gineer James Carney, oiler Walter
Hoffman, Firemen John Howold and
G. ID. Hansen, Sailors A. Anderson,
w. Kaskensen and Andrew J. Neil
sen.
Strong Wind.
Friday the Kelton ran into
strong head wind, which increased as
the day proceeded until by midnight
It was blowing a hard gale. The yes
sci continually shipped large volumes
OF water and labored heavily in the
seas. The rough weather continued
until the vessel reached point eight
miles southwest OF Yaquina, when
the deckload shifted and started the
bulkhead OF the fireroom and the yes
sci began filling from the bunkers
and engineroom to the hold,
The pumps proved unavailing
against the thrush Of water, Captain
McKenna, realizing the seriousness of
his position, headed for the Columbia
river, but his fires were soon extin-
guished. The Kelton filled rapidly
and was soon wallowing around at
the mercy Of the wind and waves.
Orders Craft Abandoned.
When she had drifted north of
Yaquina head the captain, seeing the
hopelessness OF his condition, ordered
the craft abandoned and directed that
the lifeboat, which was large enough
to hold the entire crew, be lowered
While engaged In clearing the life
boat the vessel suddenly shipped a
tremendous sea, which swept over
board the deckload of lumber and
with II the afterdeckhouse, both boats
and ii of the men.
The lifeboat was pitched onto the
floating lumber, hanging one end of
at sharpt angle. In clambering tC
It the men capslzed her, They sue.
ceeded In rlghtlng her again and
climbed in. leaving four others on the
wreck. The captain ordered the boal
TO pick these men up, but for sons
reason the order was not obeyed.
Drift Away From Ship.
Within few minutes the llfeboat
and the wreekage. with the unfortu
mates on board, drifted away from
the Kelton, BY this time the steamer
had drifted close to shore and Captain
McKenna let so the anchors In hopes
they would hold him offshore, Short
~ afterward a squat shut out iron
view the llfeboat and the men on tn,
wreckage. They were not seen agaiI
until three OF their bodies wer,
picked up ON the beach Sunday,
Meantime the men remaining OF
the Kelton took refuge in the rigging
but fearing that they would be sweep
overheard. they orawled along tn,
cargo booms and In this precarioui
manner succeeded In gaining tn,
forecastle, where they remained until
rescued Sunday afternoon, They hat
neither water nor provisions and suf
fered greatly from hunger. thirst ant
exposure.