The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-04
Us Us Us 1VUEVVHWGs
Steamer Kentucky En- Route
From New York to Pacific.
Sends Out an Appeal for Help
by Wireless.
VESSEL is SINKING
At a Point 24O Miles Southeast
of Cape Hatteras.
She Carries a Crew of Seventy
Five Men.

luChy, OIL the Alaska racine SlSdHlSIllp
company. is sinking while struggling
through heavy seas, 240 miles south
east of Cape Hatteras today, her cap
tain and the rs men of her crew mean
While struggling to keep the vesse!
af1oat until aid can reach her.
News of the Kentuclxy's desperate
plight was received here in dispatch
from the United Wireless Telegraph
company station at Cape Hatteras.
The first distress call from the Ken
tucky was received by the Mallory line
steamer, Alamo. which Immediately
proceeded to the rescue. heading for
latitude 32.1S, longitude 76.43, where
the Kentucky reported her position.
The message was the new international
distress IS. o. s." signal the most
urgent call that can be sent for aid
to a disabled craft.
The Kentucky was recently bought
by the Alaska Pacific Steamship COM
pany from the Eastern Steamship com
pany for the passenger trade between
San Francisco. Seattle and Alaskan
ports. She was fitted out here for her
trip to the Pacific and just before her
sailing a wireless apparatus was in
stalled.
The Kentucky is somewhat over 200
feet in length. in commanded by Capt
Moore and for her trip around the Horn.
shipped a crew of rs men. She sailed
from New York to Seattle on January
23. Six hours after she passed Sandy
Hook and wireless dispatch was re-
ceived from her saying she was leak
ing badly.
Nearly Turned Turtle.
Before she reached Newport News,
where she put in for repairs, she near
ly turned turtle during heavy storm
Repairs were effected at the Virginia
seaport and she sailed on February z,
in continuation of her long voyage.
Since her 6anaTtlITR from NeWDOrL
News the Kentucky found herself buff
feting seas. which battered her sides
and opened her seams. The weather
off Hatteras has been very heavy re-
the steamer might not successfully
make the trip. T. A. McLarpey. ac-
cording to wireless reports. the oper-
ator who manipulated the key on the
Kentucky between here and Newport
News, declined to continue with the
steamer further, his place being taken
by w. c. Maginnis, who sent out the
distress call today.
On board the ship when she left
here was the superintendent engineer
of the Alaska Pacific company, e. Pa
laskette of Seattle, who superintended
the refitting- of the steamer at this
port The Kentucky was built in 1897
at Bath, Me, and christened the Lin
coin. She ran between Boston. Bath
and Booth bay for the Kennebec
steamship COMPANY, "IACAA SOAO III
to the F1agler interests for service in
Florida. The steamers name was
changed to the Martinique and after
some service between the ports OF
Miami Nassau and Key West, the Mar
Unique was sold to the Eastern Steam
ship company for service between New
York and Boston. She was then re-
christened the Kentucky.
The Alamo Answers the Call.
Charleston. S. c., Feb. 4.-The wire
less station here today intercepted a
message from the steamship Kentucky
of the A1aska-Pacif1c line on its maid
en- voyage from New York to Pacific
ports, saying that it is sinking in lati-
tude 32.18, longitude 76.43. The NAL
lory liner Alamo proceeded with all
haste to it's assistance.
Help Is Sent.
Washington, Feb. 4.-Within five
minutes after the first word of the
Kentucky's peril was received in
Washington, the machinery of the rev.
enue cutter service and the navy de-
partment was set in motion to send aid
to her. Orders were Immediately dis
patched wireless to the battleship
Louisiana, cruising off the coast on a
24-hour speed trial, to proceed to the
Kentucky.
The revenue cutter service rushed
wireless orders to the cutter Yama-
craw which was within so miles of
the imperiled ship on hunt for a
derelict and also ordered out the
Seminole at Charleston.
The United States revenue cutter
Yamacraw is in the vicinity of the
Kentucky and may have picked up
her IS. o. S" According to the
Kentucky's reckoning she is about 120
miles east by south of Charleston.
The revenue cutter service inform
ed of the sinking condition of the
Kentucky by the Associated Press, i'm
mediately gave orders to the wire
less stations at Savannah and Charles
ton to pick up the Yamacraw and Or
der her to the vessels assistance. The
Yamacraw left Savannah yesterday
afternoon to hunt for a derelict re-
ported in just about the latitude and
longitude at which the Kentucky is
sinking.
Officers of the revenue cutter ser
vice have figured out the position of
the Kentucky as being 210 miles
from Charleston and they estimate
the position of the revenue cutter
Yamacraw as being within so miles
of the sinking steamer.
The Yamacraw. if she has not al
ready learned through her wireless
apparatus of the Kentuckys plight,
will receive notification Immediately
through the coast wireless stations.
She should cover the so miles under
forced draught within 8 or hours.
In addition to ordering the Yama-
craw to proceed forthwith to the
Kentucky's assistance, Captain Ross,
/ commandant of the service has in
structed Captain Crist of the revenue
| cutter Seminole, in port at Charleston,
also to steam at full speed to the
point where the Kentucky reported
| she was sinking. The Seminole can
cover the 210 miles in about Is hours
and be on the scene by daylight to-
morrow.
Many Vessels Caught 1t.
| Savannah, Ga, Feb 4.-Nearly a
| dozen vessels at sea caught the Ken
itucky,s call for aid.