The Irish standard., 1908-09-26
ITO sailors DIE
IN sinking SHIP
STAR OF BENGAL FOUNDERS OFF
CORONATION ISLAND ON
COAST OF ALASKA.
SURVIVORS UNDERGO
FEARFUL HARDSHIPS
rwenty-seven Men Are Saved from
Icy Death-Two Of the Mariners
Build Fire on Beach to Prevent
Freezing.

Wrangle, Alaska, Sept. 24.-One
hundred and ten out of total of 1877
persons aboard the cannery ship Star
of Bengal were drowned when the
vessel was torn from the hold of pro.
tecting tugs and dashed ashore at
Helm point, at the southeast end of
Coronation island. The news was
brought by the tug Hattie Gage, Capt
Farrer, which carried the survivors,
81 in all. The survivors before leaving
Coronation island buried the bodies of
Is white men on the beach.
Those buried were: Charles Bucha,
an, Carl Bore. Joseph Griffin, Andrew
Hanson. Frank Healy, Norman Haw
ins, G. Hendrickson, Benjamin John
son. Sigurd Nelson, Erick Person, Will
liam Perischke, Peter Peterson, John
Peterson, Olaf Peterson, Einon Sven
son.
The cable ship Burnside, which left
for the scene Of the wreck as soon as
the news was received, returned with
the news that the Star Of Bengal was
a total loss, only the ends of the masts
showing above the water.
The ship was being towed to sea
from the Wrangel cannery by the tugs
Hattie Gage and Kayak.
Capt. Wagner was unconscious for
an hour after rescued. He charges
the captains of the tugs Kayak and Hat
tie Gage, who cut loose from him,
with rank cowardice.
Tugs Unable to Save Ship.
Capt. Farrar of the Hattie Gage
gives the following account of the
disaster:
Gas we came within reach Of the
gale we could see we we're making
leeway and drifting toward Coronation
island. The Kayak was light and could
do nothing. The Hattie Gage could
not handle the ship alone. At four
o'clock the Star of Bengal drifted into
narrow blight and we could see land
on both sides abreast. We sounded
and found eight fathoms. We could
see the vessel dimly by the phosphorous
dark rocks that were all around. We
cut the tow line and steamed out into
open water, but could not see anything
in the driving rain except one blue
light burning on the ship. The storm
increased and the tugs steamed to
Shipley bay, rs miles away
Two Reach Shore In Boat.
Survivors Muir and Olson said the ship
sank about nine o'clock after break
ing into three pieces. The surf was
full of salmon cases and gasoline
drums
Muir says he and Olson got boat
off and went ashore through the
wreckage. They helped several ashore
and pulled Capt Wagner out Of the
.wreokage. He could not speak. The
breeches buoy was rigged to tree.
but the ship was swaying so that the
line was alternately loose and tight.
making it impossible to use. The
ships books and papers were found on
the beach. One man had matches and
fire was built with kerosene from
the wreck. The fire saved the lives
of the survivors, as 1t kept them from
freezing.
cruiser Yankee Aground.
Washington, Sept. 24.-The navy de.
partment Wednesday received a dis.
patch announcing that the cruiser
Yankee had run aground off Martha's
Vineyard. near the mouth of Buzzards'
bay. Orders we're issued by the de.
partment Immediately to dispatch tugs
to assist the Yankee.
CARS CRASH IN FOG; so INJURED.
Heavy Casualtiea In head.Qn Trollex