The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-12
Feared She May Sink With
 IDS Persons on Board
SENDS CALLS FOR HELP
Wireless Instruments Are Working With Difficulty and the Worst Is Eeared-Many Prominent
 People Aboard Vessel

cordova. Alaska, December. 1.-The Alaska Steamship company's steamer Olympia, with 106 persons aboard, is ashore on Bligh Island. Prince William sound serious storm is raging. Nc word has been received from the wire. less operator on the Olympia since a m, and grave fears are entertained foi the safety of those on the wrecked vessel
 There are B passengers on the Olym- pia, most of whom went aboard the ves- sel here last night. Among those whc sailed from here for Valdez and Seward are United States District Judge k. F. Cushman and wife. and members of the Third district court. on their way to Val dez. where court convenes tomorrow.
 The Olympias crew consists of 54 off cers and men. Capt. ]. Daniels being in command. She sailed from Cordova at o'clock last night having arrived from Seattle earlier in the day.
 Although the night was clear and a full moon shed a bright light, navigation was made dangerous by 5o-mile gale from the north.
 Between F and o'clock this morning the operator on duty at the navy wire less station picked up the distress signal of the Olympia. He answered at once.
 Operator Hayes on the Olympia 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 po- sition of those on board perilous.
 The message from the Olympia was re- ceived with difficulty.
 Men in charge of the naval wireless sta- ton express the opinion that the ground Ing of the vesesl had in some way caused short circuit which interfered with sending messages from the steamer.
 In the face of this difficulty, however. communication was maintained with the disabled ship until 4 o'clock this morn ing but since that time no call from the ship has been picked up It is hoped tie silence Of the wireless means nothing more serious than the giving out of bat teries cr the breaking os dynarnos, but on account of the furious storm rag Ing the most conservative are compelled to admit that the interruption of wire less communication may mean the ves- sel has succumbed.
 Because of the closing of military cable offices at night. assistance could not be summoned from Valdez. two miles dis tant No tugs were in the harbor here, and it was necessary to telephone to Kat alla, 50 miles east of here. to get boat that could go to the Olympia
 The launch Corsair left Katalla early
 
 ard 10 dispatch the mail steamer Do- rante to the Olylnpia's aid The Do- rante was due at Seward early today and should already be on the way to Bligh island.
 Because of the difficulty with which communication was maintained with the Olympia, Operator Hayes was unable to give any details concerning the ground ing of the vessel.
 .va1 !, 1xaA I. chinery must have broken down, leav- ing her at the mercy of the storm. Op- orator Hayes said the boats were ready for launching but that the fury of the storm made this too dangerous an under taking except as last resort. It is ex- pected the people will stay by the ship until help arrives unless they are forced to take to the boats because of the sink ing of the ship.
 Included in the olympia's passengers when she sailed from here last night were Secretary Hamburger of the federal court wife and two children; Dist rict Attorney George R. Walker, Assistant District Attorneys Guy Bruback and J. L. Green and stenographers; Don Stew art clerk of the court: l.. M. Lakin, deputy clerk; Thomas c. Scott Stenog- rapher J. Hamilton. Deputy Marshals J. P. D. Bouse and Brown. all members of Judge Cushmans court
 Preparing 10 Take to Boats
 Seattle, Wash, December 1.-The Alas kan Steamship company's steamer Olym- pia was wrecked on Bligh Island reef, 50 miles from Cordova, Alaska, early this The only information received the wreck was brief mes sage from the company's agent at Valdez. Alaska saying that the vessel had gone on the reef A message sent at 10 o'clock this morning said
 'All hands on deck"
 This is taken as indicating that the pas sengers and crew were preparing to take to the boats.
 The Olympia sailed from Seattle De- cember with 26 passengers and several hundred tons of freight. The passengers who went north on the Olympia first sailed on the steamship Northwestern, which grounded in False bay. San Juan island on the morning of December 2, a few hours after sailing from Seattle for the north. The Northwestern passen- gers were brought back to Seattle and resumed their journey on the Olympia. which was hurriedly put into commission
 The Olympia had called at Cordova AS only few passengers were bound for cities west of there 1t is probable that not more than a dozen passengers were aboard the vessel when she struck.
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