The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1909-05-28
COLUMBIA
WRECKED
ALL LIVES SAVED FROM
ALASKA STEAMER.
SURVIVORS TELL OF SUFFERING
AND HERoIsM SELDOM Elk.
CEEDED ANYWHERE.

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 a tale of
suffering and heroism seldom exceeded.
The Dora is a small vessel, with &C.
commodations for sc passengers, and
she fairly bulged with her load of $40
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 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 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 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 Christopherson and Ernest An
derson, insisted they be allowed to pro-
coed for shore alone in a diminutive
skiff. They succeeded in establishing
lifeline to the shore.
DISSEMINATING by means of the large
fishboats, following the lifeline, occu-
pied "a hours. D. Thrasher, the ships
doctor, worked continuously reviving
the men capsized in the icy waters, of
whom there were several. Many were
nearly drowned, and it was in the re-
suscitation Of these that the Japanese
showed fine spirit. All the boats were
smashed but one.
On the shore was one old hut, SKI.
This, with tents, made from tarpaulin,
afforded the only shelter, and fires were
built from gathered driftwood. Pro-
visions were taken ashore over the
breech line the second day.
Only one woman, the Australian wife
OF Mate Cameron, was with the party.
Suffer Fearful Privation.
From Scotch Cape lighthouse, over
eight miles Of rocky ravine, through |
deep snowdrifts and dashing torren, lay
the path to safety. Over this the ship
wrecked took their way, while the re-
naming boat was employed in carrying
provisions. New hardships confronted |
the party, many of whom were already
on the verge of utter exhaustion. The |
girl collapsed under the unaccustomed
privations. Only her low slippers had
been saved, and they were filed with |
ice and snow. To save her feet, the |
cut from the freezing limbs. Two of the
men furnished socks from their own
feet and one gave his shoes to the suf- |
fering woman, who was carried in blan- |
kets by men who were themselves |
hardly able to crawl.
Arrived at the lighthouse, the suf-
ferers were kindly treated by the light
house men.
On the morning of May a storm
caused the final abandonment of the |
wrecked Columbia. The same ship |
burned to the waters edge.
The main steamer Dora appeared on
the morning Of May II. Owing to bad
weather the taking of the survivors
aboard occupied day. The Columbia
survivors are now quartered in Seward,
awaiting the sailing of the steamer
Northwestern for the south.