Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-12
ASSOCIATED Press1


CORDOVA, Alaska, Dec. 1.-THE
Alaska Steamship company's steamer
Olympia, with 106 persons aboard, is
ashore on Bligh island, Prince William
sound. A furious storm is raging. No
word has been received from the wire
less operator on the Olympia since this
morning, when an urgent appeal for
help was sent, and grave fears are en-
tertained for the safety of those on
the wrecked vessel.
There are fifty-two passengers aboard
the Olympia, most of whom boarded
the vessel here last night. Among
those who sailed from here for Valdez
and Seward are United States District
Judge e. e. Cushman and wife and
members of the Third district court,
who are on their way to Valdez, where
court convenes tomorrow
The crew of the Olympia consists of
fifty-four officers and men, Capt. j.
Daniels being in command.
The Olympia sailed from Cordova at
6 o'clock last night, having arrived
from Seattle earlier in the day AL
though the night was clear and a full
moon shed a bright light, navigation
was made dangerous by a 50-mileS gale
blowing from the north.
Between 12 and 1 o'clock this morn
ing the operator on duty at the navy
wireless station picked up the distress
signal of the Olympia He answered
at once. Operator Hayes, on the
Olympia, then sent an urgent appeal
for help, saying the Olympia had struck
on Bligh island and was in an exposed
position. Heavy seas were breaking
over her, making the position of those
on board all the more perilous.
GRINDING AGAINST ROCKS
For several hours the naval operator
was unable to get any response to his
calls to the Olympia, and it was feared
the vessel had gone down with all on
board. The operator continued his eff
forts, and at 10 o'clock was rewarded
by again receiving a faint call from
Operator Hayes on the helpless ship.
Hayes said the storm was continuing
with unabated fury. The Olympia was
being tossed about by the pounding
waves, grinding her sides against the
rocks This constant pounding made it
almost impossible to operate the wire
less.
Operator Hayes said the passengers
and crew are still hopeful 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.
OWlHS 10 Tile CiOSlIlS VI Tic
cable offices at night assistance could
not be summoned from Valdez, only
twenty miles distant from the scene
of the wreck No tugs were in the
harbor here and it was necessary to
telephone to Katalla, fifty miles east
of here, to get a boat that could go to
the assistance of the Olympia's people.
The launch Corsair left Katalla early
this morning. Word was also sent to
Seward to the westward, to dispatch
the mail steamer Dora to the Olympia's s
assistance. The Dora was due at
Seward early today and should already
be on the way to Bligh island.
UNABLE TO GIVE DETAILS
The rock on which the Olympia
struck is one of the numerous reefs
that sourround Bigh island and make
It the most dangerous spot in Prince
William sound. 1t is at the entrance
to Ellamar bay and is but twenty miles
from Valdez. the port which the Olym-
pia was seeking to make.
owing to the difficulty with which
wireless communication with the Olym-
pla was maintained, Operator Hayes
was unable TO give any details concern
ing the grounding of the vessel. 1t IS
believed, however that her machinery
must have broken down. leaving her
at the mercy of the storm.
Operator Hayes said the boats were
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