The Holbrook news., 1909-06-04
SURVIVORS TELL
 THRILLING TALE
WRECKED VESSEL COLUMBIA GROUNDS
 ON BARREN ALASKAN SHORE
Passing Steamer Saves Over Two Hundred Lives Large Party Suffers Hardships Traveling
 Over Ice and Snow to Lighthouse

SEATTLE, June "A cable from Seward. Alaska, says that the mail steamer Dora has arrived there with the 194 survivors of the ship Columbia wrecked near Unimak Pass. The sur vivors tell a tale of suffering and hero ism seldom exceeded.
 The DcTa is a small vessel, with ac- commodations for eighty-six passen- gers, and sine fairly bulged with her toad of 2J0 human beings. They were piled in everywhere, sleeping in life boats, in the hold, in chain locker and cabin. Thus had they come 1000 miles from the scene of the loss of the Columbia.
 Following the grounding of the yes sel in a blinding snow storm eight miles east of Unimak Pass, the night of April 30. the experiences of the pas sengers and crew of the Columbia were narrowing in the extreme.
 There was no wind at the time, but terrific surf was raging from storm of the previous night. On the vessel were fifty-three Italians, ninety-six Japanese and forty-five Americans and Scandinavians. All, including the Jap anese, were passive and obedient in the face of danger save the Italians. MuO pdAllC IdNGu CO-
 Officers Draw Weapons
 A boat was lowered, and the Italians, including their bosses, poured in. The boats, but were restrained at the point of guns.
 At daylight the feasibility of a surf landing was established and boats were given to the Italians, who, per mitted to depart, rowed eight miles to Scotch Cape lighthouse. Returning two days later for provisions, they were again compelled with revolvers to take only food and to refrain from footing.
 Two former life-saving service men, Christ Christpophenson and Ernest insisted they be allowed to proceed for shore alone in a. diminu- tive skiff They succeeded in estab- fishing a life line to the shore.
 Disembarking by means of the large fish boats, following the life line occu- pied twenty-four hours. Dr. Thrasher, the ships physician, worked ccntinu- ously reviving the men capsized in the icy waters. of whom there were sev- eral Many were nearly drowned and it was in the resuscitation of these that the Japanese showed fine spirit. All the boats were smashed but one.
 Survivors Reach Hut
 On the shore was but one hut 5X7 feet Tents made from tarpaulin af- forded the only shelter. and fires were built from gathered driftwood. Provi- l sions were taken ashore over the breech line the second day. Only one woman, the Australian wife of Mate Cameron, was with the party.
 To Scotch Cape lighthouse, over eight miles of rocky ravine, through | deep snowdrift and dashing torrent, | lay the path to safety. Over this the people took their way, while the remaining boat was em- | ployed in carrying provisions. New i lardships confronted the party, many | of whom were already on the verge of ! utter exhaustion. The girl collapsed | under the unaccustomed privation. | Only her low slippers had been saved, 1, and they were filled with ice and snow. | To save her feet the slippers were re | moved and her stockings cut from the l freezing limbs. Two of the men fur | lished socks from their own feet and | one gave his shoes to the suffering | who was carried in blankets | Dy men who were themselves hardly | able to crawl. When they arrived at he lighthouse the sufferers were kind | V treated by the lighthouse men.