Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-29
OFFICERS
AND CREW
EULOGIZED
Passengers of Wrecked
Vessel Laud Sailors
CLAIM OHI0'S MEN ACTED IN
BRAVE MANNER
THREE EMPLOYEES OF SHIP SAC.
RIFlcED LIVES
Captain of lIl-Fated Steamer Remained
at His Post and His Presence of
Mind Prevented Complete
Disorder
THREE EMPLOYEES OF SHIP SAC.
RIFlcED LIVES
tBy Associated Press.I


Y stories told by the survivors of
" the Ohio disaster, who arrived
here today on the steamer Rupert City,
are full of praise for the officers and
crew of the Ohio.
The three members of the Ohio'S
crew who perished-Purser Frederick j.
Stephens, Wireless Operator George c.
Eccles and Quartermaster Albert NJ.
Anderson-gave their lives to save
those of the passengers.
The soldier who was drowned, said
to be Doc Hayes. bound for Fort Lis
cum from Columbus, Ohio, was wedged
in his stateroom by the twisting of the
ship.
The steerage passenger lost was
drowned while swimming to a life boat.
The Ohio's own crew took the pas
sengers to the shore of Carter bay and
then rowed to Swanson bay, where
the halibut fishing steamer Kingfisher
was at anchor. The Kingfisher has
tened to Carter bay, took the shivering
passengers and crew on board, fed and
conveyed them TO Swanson bay.
Operator Eccles' calls of distress did
not reach any steamer, for none was
within range, but they were heard at
Ketchikan and the operator gave the
news to the Humboldt and Rupert
City. which went later to Swanson bay
for the refugees. Those who wished
to go on north were carried to Juneau
on the Humboldt and the others were
landed at Vancouver by the Rupert
City today
Tells of Disaster
NJ. j. Heney, the Copper River rail-
road contractor. who arrived on the
Rupert City, said:
TT was terrible night, pitch dark,
with heavy rain and high seas. The
Ohio struck with a shock that almost
threw us out of our berths. | dressed
as best | could and could hear the
shouts of the officers calling to arouse
everybody, and keep order.
"It was exactly 1:10 o'clock Thurs
day morning 1t seems to me that the
ship struck the pointed rock on her
side. The force shook the ship till she
groaned. The captain showed remark
able presence of mind. AS soon as the
ship struck he ordered full speed
ahead, and pointed toward the nearest
shore, which was Carter's bay. This
took the ship sliding off the rock, and
the fact that she slid off was what
saved us.
Arriving in the bay, the boats were
put off, containing women and children
first. Every man of the crew. from
the captain down, and every passen-
ger, including the women, behaved
with magnificent bravery. One woman
even was joking to keep up the spirits
of some of the others who began to
cry.
"Eccles. the wireless operator, stuck
bravely to his post till the last minute,
when the ship was sinking beneath his
feet. did not see him jump, but in
dications are that he did, for we have
his body aboard. A long, deep cash
shows on the mans forehead which
leads to the belief that in jumping or
coming to the surface he struck some
thing, rendering him unconscious. His
was the only one Of the five bodies
which was recovered.
Bravery is Remarkable
"The bravery of everybody con-
cerned was very commendable. Ihe
wireless man stuck to his post until the
last; the quartermaster went back to
assist the soldier who was calling out
that he could not force open the state
room door, and the crew behaved mag
nificently, leading the women and chill
dren without a particle of disorder. al
ways obeying the hoarse voice of the
captain which commanded the men and
led them in perfect order about their
work.
Garter bay had no landing place,
and we were all In the boats when the
Kingfisher picked us up and took us to
Swanson bay. Even when about a
score were in the water there seemed
little disorder as boats rowed around
picking up the people"
c. N. Pring of Prince Rupert said:
81 was not fortunate enough to get
in one of the boats when they were
lowered. l felt the sh . begin to trem-
BILE under pHy feet til n l knew she was
going under, and jy fhped.'
oeves of Me ,ced, Cal, said
IT was the roo Amate of the soldier
who lost his lif 4 When l heard the
call for everyb, ,,dy to get up the SOL
dier and | yoke simultaneously. |
did not wait 20 put on my clothes, but
went out right away. The soldier
waited to dress. The ship had listed
when she struck on another rock after
reaching Carter bay and after / got out
of the cabin the door was wedged and
locked the soldier in.
Tried to Aid Companion
"I was talking to him and trying to
assist Quartermaster Anderson to do
something. 1 passed Anderson on my
way back from the companionway.
He was carrying a lantern and trying
to aid the soldier. | was going to call
more aid, as we were not strong enough
to break in the door.
The ship suddenly began to settle
and I raced for the upper deck.
"Just as the ship was sinking I
leaped off and saw Anderson with his
CONTINUED on PnGe Ten)