The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1910-01-20


Larshfeld, Ore, Jan. 13.-Plying be-
tween Coos Bay and San Francisco,
with coal and oil, the Czarina, shortly
after leaving Marshfeld yesterday aft
ernoon, went ashore on the north spit
of Coos Bay bar, about mile north of
the jetty.
The steamer started to sea shortly
after noon, just as the tide began to
epD- The sea was rough outside, but
the bar was apparently smooth, the
lumber steamer Redondo having just
crossed out ahead of the Czarina.
Midway out tremendous sea struck
the Czarina, and, according to eye wit
nesses, swept away the bridge. Cap
tain Dugan 10 thought to have been
carried overheard with the bridge and
possibly others. Apparently the south
west storm that had been approaching
the coast had just struck her and the
Czarlna shipped 20 or 80 heavy seas in
rapid succession, but kept ahead.
Just as she passed beyond the end of
North Jetty, she appeared to stop and
was swung around toward the north
spit and soon was in the breakers. The
crew made valiant struggle, and sue
ceeded in working out to the last row
OIL breakers, where they either cast
anchor or she struck and went aground.
When darkness came, only part of
one mast appeared standing, and half
a dozen men Ginning to it, appeared to
be all left aboard.
The Czarina's lifeboats were swept
away by the first seas that struck her
and the men aboard had no means of
trying for the shore except to swim
ana the sea around the vessel was too
rough for even the most daring to try.
from all that can be gathered, the men
at the lne-saving station think the first
seas that struck the vessel shifted her
cargo and probably damaged the steer
ing gear, eliminating all chances of
getting to sea after she was swung
aiouno by the waves and washed
ashore.
Out of reach of the life-saving crew
ana ciinging desperately to the ice
covered and scant rigging of the part
ing null OF the steamer Czarina, three
men were visible with the aid of
glasses as darkness settled tonight over
the scene OF the wreck.
IN an, 81 lives are believed to have
oeen taken as toll by the turbulent sea.
wnien ragged OF Coos Bay late this aft
ae tohASut
For an hour or more as the heavy
seas broke over the vessel men were
seen to drop exhausted from the r;oo;nr
into the angry water.
shortly after 8 O'Clock one man
marry kentzell, second assistant engi'
neer, drifted near enough in the mrf
TO be picked up by the life-saving boat.
he was unconscious when found and
too weak to speak. '1
Among the anxious throne which
,ines the shore near the jetty is G. j
Minis, whose son, Harold. was AMONG
those aboard the Inflated steamer as
she left out the harbor this afternoon
Iltitul was the plight of the father as
.ne nte-savers time and again shot a
iine to the sinking vessel only to have
u fall short. Late TONIGHT all bona
That young Mills and Captain Dugsn
Will be seen again was abandoned
Shortly after dark a man dr;ftad
near the shore, but before he could he
reached he threw up his arms and dis
appeared. A life preserver, which had
been used by one of the victims
hoated on to the sand.
scores of people are wading into the
surf in the hope that survivors NAV vet
come inshore. Captain Boyce. of the
NE saving crew, has not abandoned eff
Iorts to reach the wreck, and the bar
tug Astoria is making an effort to reach
the scene, but against the heavy break
ers is helpless.