Evening star., 1909-08-28
"C.Q. D. NOT FOR HIM
Brave Wireless Operator
Saves 1923, He Perishes.
LEAPS FROM SHIP TOO LATE
Steamer Ohio, for Alaska, Goes to
the Bottom.
HIS LAST WORDS. GOODBYE"
It Was His Farewell to Life-Five
Other Men Were Also
Drowned
LEAPS FROM SHIP TOO LATE
HIS LAST WORDS, GOODBYE"

SEATTLE, August os.-The wireless
telegraph call, &C. Q. D." c'Hurry help
to US or we perish'), sounded early yes
terday morning from the Alaska Steam
ship Company's steamer Ohio. Proceed
ing from this city to Valdez, Alaska the
Ohio struck the rocks off Steep point.
Alaska. 800 miles from here, and soon
foundered. Six men were drowned.
All Of her 12s passengers except two
were saved by the heroism df her wire
less telegraph operator, George E. Eccles
Of Winnipeg; of her captain. John john
son, and of all her crew. Eccles stuck
to his key. flashing the call for help to
his fellows on shore at Ketchikan,
Alaska. Ecces last words were:
Captain and crew going off in the last
boat; waiting for me. Goodbye
1t was his goodbye to life. The Ohio
was propped on the reef for thirty min
utes-long enough to get the passengers
off. Scarcely were they in the boats
when she slid into deep water and sank.
Eccles was lost with her. So were her
purser, F. J. Stevens of Seattle; the
quartermaster, a steerage passenger and
a soldier, whose names are not known,
and Snow, the steamers pilot.
No, more tragic tale was ever told than
that which Wireless Operator Booth, at
Ketchikan. dispatched to his employers
of the United Wireless Company in New
York last evening.
"Help" Cry Heard.
Said Booth in his report:
About 1 am. 1 was sitting with my
receivers clapped to my ears. having just
finished working with Operator Eccles on
board the Ohio, when I was startled by
hearing him call C. Q. D., C. Q. D.. I
Immediately answered. and he sent the
following message: Ohio struck a rock:
steamer sinking; send aid Immediately or
everybody will be lost
THE steamships Humboldt and Rupert
of the Mckenzie Brothers Steamship
Company happened to be near at the
time, and they both called the Ohio. ask
ing 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 possible.
I'm the meantime Eccles sent another
not hold out. Passengers being taken off
in small boats. Captain and crew will
stick to. the last
Knew He Had Gone Down.
THE Humboldt and Rupert both re-
piled that they were headed for the Ohio
and would pick the passengers up. Then
vessel. 1t was never finished.
passengers all off and adrift in small
boats it said. Captain and crew going
off in the last boat; waiting for me now
goodbye
Il was unable to get him again." con-
cluded Booth. land I knew he had gone
down with his ship"
According to a wireless message re-
ceived last night Eccles and the purser
of the wrecked steamer went below TO
search for the quartermaster and a steer
age passenger. Unable to find them he
returned to his station and began sending
a message.
Just before the vessel made the plunge
that carried her to the bottom the OPP
orator was seen to leap from the wire
less station. He fell on his head, and his
apparently, lifeless body rolled into the
water and was carried down by the
whirlpool of the sinking steamer
Eccles had not expected to make the
trip with the Ohio. The day before the
steamer sailed ne handed in his resigna-
ton. having secured position at Susitna.
AS the company was short of men. he
consented to make one more trip before
giving up his position.
Among The passengers on the Ohio were
NJ j. Heney, the Alaska railroad con-
tractor. who is on the Humboldt, and
Clarence Cunningham. the Alaska coal
mines valued at an enormous sum. and
whose title is being investigated by Presi-
dent Taft.
The twenty rescued passengers on the
Humboldt were landed al ketchikan at b
o'clock tonight: the Rupert Is taking most
of the others rescued to Vancouver.
Other Ships Assist.
Answering the &C Z D. other ships
assisted in the rescue. Some of the pas
sengers were taken aboard the fishing
boat kingfsher to Ewanson bay. The
Dolphin, another Alaskan Steamship
Company boat, which left Seattle We'd
nesday night. and due at ketchikan to-
night, was ordered by wireless to stand
Dy In Swanson bay and give assistance.
The rocks on which the Ohio struck
sheve off steeply into very deep water.
Capt. Johnson was regarded as one of
the most skillful navgators on the
Pacific coast. The steamer was valued
at 100000 and was insured for $4,000;
the cargo is a total loss save for what
ever insurance may be on it. The Ohio.
of 4 400 tons, was well known is eastern
waters and used to cross the Atlantic.
She and her sister ships, the Pennsyl-
vania Indiana and Illinois. were sold
by the International Navigation Company
to the Alaskan steamship line.
Washington Man Rescued.
Gen. s. 8. Burdett OF this city. senior
member Of the law firm Of Burdett.
Thompson & Law, was among the pas
sengers on board the Ohio. Word has
been received at his Office in the Ouray
building that Gen. Burdett was taken OF
the sinking boat In safety.
The general is the local attorney for
the Alaska Steamboat Company, to
which the Ohio belonged. His home is in
Glencarlyn, Va.