The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-12-12
Olympia, an Alaska Vessel,
Strikes Reefs During Ter
rife Storm.
WIRELESS WEAK, BRINGS
OTHER CRAFT TO RESCUE
One Hundred and Six Persons
on Board Believed to Be
in Dire Peril.

'CORDOVA, Alaska, Dec, 1.-THE
Alaska Steamship company's steamer
Olympia. with 1o6 persons aboard, is
ashore ON Sea Island. Prince William
sound
A furious storm Is raging.
There are nfty-two passengers aboard
the Olympia. most of whom boarded the
vessel here last night. The crew consists
OF flfty-four persons.
Cant. J. Daniels is in command Of the
Olympia The Olympia sailed from Cor
dova nj o'clock last night, having ar
rived from Seattle earlier In the day.
Although the night was clear and
full moon shed a bright light, navigation
was made dangerous by 6fty-mile gale
which was blowing from the north.
Between II and l o'clock sunday
navy wireless station picked up the dis
tress signal OF the Olympia. He an
swered at once
Operator Hayes on the Olympia then
sent an urgent appeal for help. saying
that the Olympia had struck on Bligh
island and was IN an exposed position.
Heavy seas were breaking over her, max
Ing the position OF those on board all
the more perflous.
Wireless Is Weak.
The message from the Olympia was
charge OF the naval wireless station ex-
press the opinion that the grounding OF
the vessel had in some way caused
short circuit. which interfered with the
sending of the wireless messages from
the steamer.
For several hours this morning the
naval operator was unable to get any
response to his calls TO the Olympia and
down with all on board, The operator
continued his efforts and at 10 o'clock
was rewarded by again receiving faint
call from Operator Hayes on the help
less vessel.
Hayes said that the storm was con-
tlnuing with unabated fury. The Olym-
pia was being tossed about by the
against the rocks that held her pris-
oner. This constant pounding OF the
steamer made 1T almost impossible TO
operate the wireiess.
Operator Hayes said that the passen-
gers and crew are still hopeful that help
will come before the ship goes TO pieces.
Huge waves continue TO break over her
and the situation OF the passengers is
extremely serious,
Several vessels are the way to the
assistance Of the Olympia. Many Of these
are small craft.
Machinery Probably Broken
The launch Corsair left Katalla early
this morning. Word was also sent to
Seward 10 the westward. to dispatch the
sistance. The Dora was due at Seward
early today and should already be OH
the way 10 Bigh Island,
Owing TO the difficulty with which
wireless communication with the Olympia
was maintained, Operator Hayes was un-
able to give details concerning the
grounding of the vessel. 1t is beicv
however that her machinery must have
broken down. leaving her at the mercy
of the storm Operator Hayes said that
the lireboets were all ready for launch
ing. but The fury OF the storm made this
too dangerous an undertaking except as
q last resort
Included in the passengers of the
Olympia when she sailed from here last
night were United States District Judge
T., l.. Cushman and wife, Secretary I.
Hamburger, wife and two children, Dis
trict Attorney George Il. Walker, AS
slstant district attorneys Guy Brubacker
and J. l. Green StenoErapher Don
Stewart. Clerk OF Court l.. NJ. Lakfn,
Deputy Clerk Thomas S. Scott, Stenog-
rapher j. Hamilton, Deputy Marshals
Bouse and Brown. all members OF Judge
Cushman's court