Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-01-20

Marshfeld, 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
ebb. 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 a tremendous sea struck
the Czarina, and, according to eye wit
nesses, swept away the bridge. Cap
tain Dugan is 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
Czarina 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
of breakers, where they either cast
anchor or she struck and went aground.
When darkness came, only a part of
one mast appeared standing, and half
a dozen men clining to it, appeared to
be all left aboard.
The Czarina IS 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
and 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 life-savihg 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
around by the waves and washed
ashore.
Out of reach Of the life-saving crew
and elinging desperately to the ice
covered and scant rigging of the part
ing hull of the steamer Czarina, three
men were visible with the aid Of
glasses as darkness settled tonight over
the scene of the wreck.
In all, 81 lives are believed to have
been taken as toll by the turbulent sea,
which ragged off Coos Bay late this aft
ernoon and tonight.
For an hour or more as the heavy
seas broke over the vessel men were
seen to drop exhausted from the rigging
into the angry water.
Shortly after 9 clock one man,
Harry Kentzell second assistant engi-
neer, drifted near enough in the surf
to be picked up by the life-saving boat.
He was unconscious when found, and
too weak to speak.
Among the anxious throng which
lines the shore near the jetty is G. j.
Mills, whose son, Harold, was among
those aboard the ill-fated steamer as
she left out the harbor this afternoon.
Pitiful was the plight of the father as
the life-savers time and again shot a
line to the sinking vessel only to have
it fall short. Late tonight all hope
that young Mills and Captain Dugan
will be seen again was abandoned.
Shortly after dark a man drifted
near the shore, but before he could be
reached he threw up his arms and dis
appeared. A life preserver, which had
been used by one of the victims,
foated on to the sand.
Scores of people are wading into the
surf in the hope that survivors may yet
come inshore. Captain Boyce, of the
life-saving crew, has not abandoned ef-
forts 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.