Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-05-25
SURVIVORS TELL
THRILLING TALE
OF SHIPWRECK
VESSEL COLUMBIA GROUNDS
ON ALASKAN SHORE
PASSING STEAMER SAVES OVER
TWO HUNDRED LIVES
Large Party Suffers Hardship While
Travelling over Ice and Snow
to the Scotch Cape
Lighthouse
rBy Associated Press.l

SEATTLE, May 20.-A cable from
Seward Alaska, says that the man
steamer Dora has arrived there WIN
the 1914 survivors of the ship columbia
wrecked near Unimak Pass. me sur
vivors tell a tale of suffering ana nero
ism seldom exceeded.
The Dora is a small vessel, with ac-
commodations for eighty-siX. passen-
gers, and she fairly bulged with her
load of 240 human beings. Ihey were
piled in everywhere, sleeping IN Ire
boats in the hold, in chain locker ana
cabin Thus had they come lOoO miles
from the scene of the loss OF the
Columbia.
Following the grounding of the yes
sci in a binding snow storm eight miles
east of JJnimak Pass, the night of April
30 the experiences of the passengers
and crew of the Columbia were mar
rowing in the extreme.
There was no wind at the time, but a
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. AL including the Jap
anese, were passive and obedient in
the face of danger save the Italians,
who in panic raved and prayed.
Officers, Draw Weapons
A boat WAS iOWeTput anu TIC lleiiiclii75
including their bosses, poured in. The
italians attempted to seize two more
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, permitted 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 looting.
Two former life saving service men,
Christ ChristophenSon and Ernest An
derson, insisted they be allowed to pro-
coed for shore alone in diminutlVe
skiff. They succeeded in establishing
a life line to the shore.
Discriminating by means of the large
fish boats, following the life line occu-
pied twenty-four hours. DR.. Thrasher,
the ships physician, worked contlnu-
ously reviVing the men capslzed IN the
icy waters, of whom there were several.
Many were nearly drowned, and II 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 AFFORDED the
only shelter and fires were built from
taken ashore over the breech line the
second day Only one woman, the Aus
traIian 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
shipwreclzed people took their way
while the remaining boat was en-
ployed in carrying provisions. New
hardships confronted the party many
of whom were already on the verge or
utter exhaustion. The girl collapsed
under the unaccustomed priVatlon.
only her low slippers had been saved,
and they were filled with ice and snow.
To save her feet the slippers were re-
moved and her stockings cut from the
freezing limbs. Two of the men tur-
nished socks from their own feet and
one gave his shoes to the suffering
woman, who was carried in blankets
by men who were themselves haroly
able to crawl When they arrived at
the lighthouse the sufferers were kindly
treated by the lighthouse men.