Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1910-02-11
STEAMER HITS REEF
PASSENGERS SUFFER FOUR
WEEKS ON SHORE.
Prepared for Long Wait Before Rescue
Is Expected-set Up Camp in Snow
Six of Crew Are Missing Steamer
Left Valdez, Alaska, for Kodiak,
January 2.
January 2.

Seattle, Feb. GA cable dispatch to
the Associated Press from Valdez says:
The Alaska Steamship company's wood
en- steamship Farallon, which left Val
dez, Alaska, for Kodiak January 2,
while trying to land passenger at
Hanna, struck Black reef in Hanna
bay, at the houth of Cook inlet January
5, during thick snowstorm, but
smooth sea enabled all the passengers
and crew, SO people, to reach the land
safely.
Clothing, bedding and supplies were
taken ashore and with plenty of fire.
wood the shipwrecked party went into
camp on the beach to wait for rescue
boat, which arrived February 8, being
the Steamer Victoria, that took the
castaways on board, carried them to
Valdez and afterward sailed for Sc
attic with them
Six of the Farallon s crew are miss
ing. Becoming impatient at the non
arrival of steamer, on January G
Second Mate Gus Swanson and FIVE
sailors left the camp in a small boat
for Kodiak, on Kodiak island, hoping
that they might there get into com
munication with the world and cause
a steamer to be sent to Hanna.
The Victoria spent as much time as
possible searching for the boat and its
little crew, but was obliged to con
tinue to this city because of the con
dition of the rescued.
Castaways Suffer.
Despite the fact that they were
fairly well supplied with clothing and
easily obtained wood for fuel, the cast
aways suffered greatly from the Sc
we're cold. None, however, is seriously
the worse for the experience.
Captain McGilvray of the steamer
Portland, which arrived from Alaska
several days ago, said, after learning
of the wreck of the Farallon, that early
on the morning of January 20, Just
after the Portland left SeldOvia on the
southeast shore of Cook inlet, he saw
a signal light at sea and headed the
Portland in the direction of the flash.
However, it was not repeated and in
the darkness the Portland could see no
vessel in distress. Captain McGilvray
on his arrival here made no report of
chasing this phantom light, thinking his
vague story would only increase the
anxiety of the people already distracted
over the missing Farallon. Now Cap
tain McGilvray thinks the signal flame
may have been made by the small boat
which put out from Hanna to seek
assistance.
-Four Weeks on Ice.
J. Thawaites, mail clerk on the Far
allon, gave vivid description of the
four weeks encampment on the ice.
He said:
"We had one passenger to land at
Hanna bay, where we arrived early
on the morning of January s. In
binding snowstorm the steamer crept
along, Pilot Crooks, who knew the
coast well, realizing the peril of the
attempt to enter the bay in the storm.
With all his caution he missed the en-
trance and the ship struck a reef a
mile off shore and mile north of the
entrance of the bay. The Farallon
hit the reef at high water and when
the tide receded it was caught amid
ships on the rocks and her engine and
machinery displaced so that they rolled
violently as the ship pounded.
"At noon the Farallon was on her
beam ends and we were expecting her
to break in two or turn turtle into
deep water any minute.
"All hands were ordered to the six
boats, and down the icy sides of the
ship we lowered ourselves to the small
boats in the water. They were tossed
about like chips, and cakes of ice bat
tered them. The men let themselves
down to the boats on rope. Blankets
and food were also lowered to the
boats. When all the men were in the
boats they pushed off for the shore,
which could be seen dimly through the
veil of snow.
GIVE could hear the roar of surf on
the shore, and the reports, as of can
non, when ice cakes were hurled
against the rocks. 1t seemed for
time that we should be unable to land
because of the surf. The boats were
also in grave danger of the floating
ice. AT last we discovered small cove
of shelter, and we landed safely.
Modern Robinson Crusoes.
"The sailors put the passengers and
supplies ashore, and then turned back
to the Farallon, from which they took
sails, tarpaulins, baggage, mails, pro-
visions and mattresses. To get all
this stuff required two trips. In the
meantime the party ashore was busy
setting up camp, for all knew that
the stay while waiting for rescue would
probably be long.
"Upon two feet of snow that covered
the rocks of the shore tarpaulins were
spread for floor. Boxes and barrels
of supplies formed walls, and dashed
oars made gables for the tent. Sails
were spread over the frame, but lacked
two feet of reaching the ground on
one side of the shelter, leaving an open
inn Il