The Ordway new era., 1909-09-03
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, Wash.-Two huhdTeu pas
sengers, rescued from the ili-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
i've is George W. Eccles. wireless
telegraph operator who. on 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
purssr. quartermaster. a soldier and
one steerage passenger were saved,
The Ohio went down within thirty
minutes after IL struck. The dead are !:
Purser Frederick J. Stephen, Seat
tie.
Wireless Operator George f. Eccles,
Seattle. formerly o. Winnipeg.
The quartermaster. u 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 a IN. was sitting with
my receivers clamped to my ears, hav.
ing Just finished working with Oper'
ator Ecclcs on board the Ohio. when
was startled by hearing him call &C.
Q. D." &c. Q. D." | Immediately an
swered and he sent the following mes
sage: ohio struck a rock rock
steamer sinking-send aid immediate
ly or everybody will be lost.
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 1t 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 fas,
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. II was never
finished: Passengers all off and
adrift In small boats II said: Cap.
tain and crew going off in last boat /:
waiting for me now-good-by.'
Il 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. rhe soldier and
the steerage passenger were killed by
the upsetting OF n boat during the res.
cue OF the passengers. The Humboldt
took twenty survivors to Ketchikan
Alaska
Operator Eccles. who was a 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
Tor Port Graham and Valdez, Alaska
and including crew and passengers
had 210 persons on board,
According to a wireless message re.
ceived here. Operator Ecc,es and the
purser went below to search for the
auartermaster and steerage passen.
ger. Unable to find them he returned
to his station and began sending q
message. Just before the vessel made
the plunge that carried 1t to the bot
tom. the operator was seen to lean
from the wireless station. He fell ON
MS head and his apparently lifeless
BODY rolled Into the water and was
carried down by the whirlpool made
by the sinking steamer.
Eccies mad not expected to make the
trip with the Ohio. The day before
the steamer sailed he handed in his
resignation. having secured a position
at Susitna, Alaska.
AS the company was short of man
ne consented to make one more tr,u
before giving up his post.
Il
one Thousand Acres Of Strawberries
steamboat Springs. Colo. = The
strawberry crop this year has been
ABOUT the average. although much
greater In acreage. It is stated nv
Remington that his cron will No. .,...