Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1909-06-05
COLUMBIA WRECKED
ALL LIVES SAVED FROM The
ALASKA BOUND STEAMER.
Mail Steamer Dora Took Survivors of
Columbia After Narrowing Battle
With Waves, 1000 Miles to Seward
Passengers Tell Many Stories of Suf-
fering and Privation.

A cable dispatch from Seward, Alas
ka, says that the mail steamer Dora has
arrived there with the 1874 survivors of
the wrecked ship Columbia near Uni
max pass. The survivors tell tale of
suffering and heroism seldom exceeded.
The Dora is small vessel, with. ac-
commodations for sc passengers, and
she fairly bulged with her load of 240
human beings. They were piled in
everywhere, sleeping in lifeboats, in the
hold, in chain lockers, cabin-all over.
Thus had they come 1000 miles from
the scene of the loss of the Columbia.
Following the grounding of the YES
sci in a binding snowstorm, eight miles
east Of Unimak pass, on the night of
April 80, the experiences of the passen-
gers and crew Of the Columbia were
narrowing in the extreme.
There was no wind, but a terrific
surf was raging from a storm of the
previous night. On the vessel were SO
Italians, IS japanese and As Americans
and Scandinavians.
All, including the japanese, were
passive and Obedient in the face of dan
ger, save the Italians, who in panic
raved and prayed. A boat was lowered
and the Italians, including their bosses,
poured in. The Italians attempted to
seize two more boats, but were re-
strained at the point Of guns.
At daylight the feasibility Of a surf
landing was established and boats were
given TO the Italians, who, permitted 10
depart, rowed eight miles TO Scotch
Cape Lighthouse. Returning, two days
later, for provisions, they were again
compelled with reyolvers TO take only
food and 10 refrain from footing.
Two former life-saving service men,
Christ Christopherson and Ernest An
derson, insisted they be allowed 10 pro-
coed for shore alone in a diminutiye
skif. They succeeded in establishing
a lifeline 10 the shore.
DISCRIMINATING by means Of the large
fshboats, following the lifeline, oceu-
pied "a hours. d. Thrasher, the ship e
doctor, worked continuously reviving
the men capsized in the icy waters, Of
whom there were several. Many were
nearly drowned, and II Was in the re-
suscitafiOn of these that the japanese
showed lne spirit AL the boate were
smashed but one.
on the shore Naf Que old hut. 5x7.
This. with tents. made from tarpauiin,
afforded The only shelter and fref were
built from gathered drlftHood Pro-
visions Nero taken ashore oyer thc
breech line tho second day
Only ono woman, tAe Australian wife
~ Nate Cameron. Naf With fAe party.
suner Fearfui Fuyatiop.
From scoieh Cape lghtAoaae, over
eight miIes NJ rocky iafInf through
deep anondrifff aud dafAlng foifen Day
flo patl a. fafeiy ofn 900 fAo fhIl
preeted ioot fheif nHy. nAiif ile "a.
mainlng boat 800 employed al cHuying
provision hen hafaaNlpf confronted
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1891.