The Ketchikan miner., 1908-09-26
BENGALL WRECK
Star of Bengall Wrecked off Cor. onatiOn Island and III Go
 Down to Watery Grave

tlnal reports rom the Star Of Ben- gall wreck state that III were lost and seven Japanese, one Filipino, two Chinese and seventeen whites we're all that were saved. In an interview with the first mate, Victor Christianso n this morning, he said: After we were cut loose, we went ashore on the southeast point of Coronation Island. We hung over five hours on our. an- chor be ore she went ashore and lasted 1 forty-fve minutes before she went to pieces after she struck the first time. The. boat struck stern on and broke in three pieces. The Chinamen were not battened down, but life preservers were placed on each one. The boats could not be used so line was run ashore by the heroic efforts of the crew, and an attempt was made to land the people ashore by running chair but the ship went to pieces before it could be used. Many were killed by being struck by the salmon boxes. broken timbers and debris.o
 Very bitter feeling is felt by all against the captains of the tugs, but they claim that it was impossible for them to do more than they did. An investigation which will come later will bring out the truth of the matter. Captain N Wagner of the wrecked boat makes the following report of he calamity:
 "The ship dropped anchor at 3 :5O a. m., being unable to use sail, and the tug boats powerless to pull her out of danger. Four blue lights were burn ed, lighting up the whole scene, but no response came from the tugs. Then the fore and aft sails were secured and immediately all hands were en- gagged in getting boats slung in davits preparatory to leaving the vessel. The tug cut loose the tow lines about ten minutes after the ship cast anchor.
 The anchor was dropped in seventeen 1 fathoms of water, and when the ship
 strengthened out her chain. there was 1 quarter less than ten fathoms under l the stern. In getting forward life boats of the gallow, the painter part ed and the first boat went adrift. The second one met with the same fate, by the tackle parting. l order ed early breakfast at 100 a. m. The wind and sea cons tantly increasing. At 100 a. ID. the anchor started to drag slowly, holding at intervals be- tween gusts of wind. 1 then ordered all hands into life preservers.. The mate and men adjusted the life pre- servers on the Chinsmen. We then made an attempt to float line ashore with long spar but the line became entangled in the kelp and we found it useless. The beach being so rocky 1 it. looked like certain death to ask men to man boat and run a lire ashore. Seeing that the vessel was doomed, now that the wind was blow
 ing bowling g gale, at 8 :45 a. m. I called for volunteers to take line ashore. Four men responded and a boat was lowered into the water, and after few minutes it reached the beach, being swamped and stove in, yet the men managed to retain hold of the main line, but lost the small line used to haul the chair back and forth. A rousing cheer rent the air from all on the poop when the line was landed on the beach, showing the spirit of those on board. It YVES ex- actly 9 o'clock when the line reached shore Much time was lost owing to the line becoming entangled among the rocks and kelp. It was finally made fast to tree and hove tight. Meantime the vessel was slowly drag | ging toward her doom. After being put through block at the mast head the line was hove taught and run ming block and char was attached. 1 Because of the loss of the hauling line it became necessary to send a man down the line to carry the hawling l line ashore. Martin volunteered to make the attempt. When he reached the middle of the line sitting in the chair swing, the ship dragged her an- chor again and struck the rocks, mak- ing the line slack and with every bump and roll of the vessel he was jerked up and down until out of sheer exhaustion the poor fellow was jerked from the chair and fell on his back on the rocky shore, and the breakers washed him ashore more dead than alive. It was at 9 :32 q. m. the vessel struck. All hands were on the stern of the ship and one sea washed over board all at once. We were all near | ly dead when we reached shore and had 1t not been for the four men who went ashore with the line, none of us would have been left to tell tie tale, as all had to be dragged up on the beach to safety. No relief came to us l for thirty hours after we struck.o
 -------~--------~-
 Seattle Sept. Y. A. M. Baber of this city, who is associated with the Northwest Siberia Company which Is opening up mines opposite the Dio- | ,n.6o Tsiurd. nn tho .intic