The Springfield herald., 1909-09-03
BRAVE OPERATOR
SAVES 200 LIVES
STEAMER OHIO STRIKES ROCK IN
PACIFIC OCEAN AND SINKS
TO THE BOTTOM.
.FIvECO DOWN With SHIP
WIRELESS MESSAGE BRINGS RES
cuING BOATS OR ALL WOULD
HAVE BEEN LOST.

| Seattle, WaSn.-lWO nuHuieu pas
sengers, rescued from the ill-fated
steamer Ohio are rejoicing over
their escape from seemingly certain
death. Five men are dead at the bot
tom of the sea off Steep Point on the
coast of British Columbia. One Of the
five is George w. Eccles, wireless
telegraph operator who, on a last trip
which he had undertaken after re-
signing his place saved the lives of the
passengers on his ship at the cost of
his own.
His calls for help brought the
steamers .kingfisher. Humboldt and
Rupert City to the rock off Steep
Point in Hishkish Narrows, British
Columbia, and all but himself, the
purser, quartermaster. soldier and
one steerage passenger were saved.
The Ohio went down within thirty
minutes after it struck. The dead are:
Purser Frederick j. Stephen, Seat
tie.
Wireless Operator George E. Eccles,
Seattle, formerly o, Winnipeg.
The quartermaster. a soldier and
steerage passenger, names not known.
Operator Booth of the station at
Ketchikan, Alaska. heard the whole
story of the wreck from the hero up
to the time of his death. He says:
About l a. m. l was sitting with
my receivers clamped to my ears, hav-
ing Just finished working with Oper-
ator Eccles on board the Ohio. when
| was startled by hearing him call &c.
| Q. d." &c. Q. d." l Immediately an
swered and he sent the following mes
sage: "Ohio struck rock rock
steamer sinking-send aid immediate
ly or everybody will be lost
1.-The steamers Humboldt and Ru-
pert of the Mckenzie Brothers Steam
ship Company happened to be near
and they both called the Ohio, asking
for her latitude. Eccles gave it i'm
medIately and the Rupert flashed back
that they would change their course
and stand by the Ohio as soon as pos
sible.
Meanwhile Eccles sent another
message. saying: Ohio sinking fast
cannot hold out Passengers being
taken off in small boats. Captain and
crew will stick to the last
THE Humboldt and Rupert both re-
piled that they were headed for the
Ohio and would pick the passengers
up. Then came the final message
from the stricken vessel. 1t was never
finished: Passengers all off and
| r{f in, 70 a
tain and crew going off in last boat;
waiting for me now-good-by.'
81 was unable to get him again and
knew he had gone down with his
ship"
Pilot Snow was on the bridge when
the ship struck. The boats were low
cred at once and the women and chill
dren taken off first. The soldier and
tho steerage passenger were killed by
the upsetting of boat during the res.
cue of the passengers. The Humboldt
took twenty survivors to Ketchikan.
Alaska.
Operator Eccles who was big man.
worked valiantly in rescue work and
is reported to have been drowned
while so engaged. Purser Stephens
also is said to have given his life that
the passengers and other members OF
the crew might be saved.
The Ohio left Seattle August goth
for Port Graham and Valdez, Alaska.
and including crew and passengers
had 210 persons on board.
According to wireless message re-
ceived here, Operator Ecc'es and the
purser went below to search for the
Quartermaster and a steerage passen.
ger. Unable to find them he returned
to his station and began sending
message. Just before the vessel made
the plunge that carried it to the bot
tom, the operator was seen to leap
from the wireless station. He fell on
his head and his apparently lifeless
body rolled into the water and was
carried down by the whirlpool made
by the sinking steamer.
Eccles had. not expected to make the
trip with the Ohio. The day before
the steamer sailed he handed in his
resignation, having secured position
at Susitna, Alaska.
AS the company was short of men
he consented to make one more trip
before giving up his post