The Alaska citizen., 1911-02-20
V|CTOR|A'S ROUGH
 TRIP
VESSEL IS WRECKED TWICE ON VOYAGE FROM SEATTLE
 TO COROOVA.

CORDOFA. Feb. S. Al ,.15 o'clock last night. in a heavy snow storm. the steamer Victoria struck the rock one mile inside of Cape Hinchinbrock. but fortunately the vessel was soon liberated from her perilous position and was able to come to Cordova under her own steam. arriving here at II o'clock this morning.
 Just before the accident the ship was moving under q slow bell and was about 10 stop to make sound ings. Catching glimpse of land ahead Captain Davis ordered full steam astern, with the result that when the vessel struck she had practically no headway. Immediately after hitting the rock it was thought that she would clear. but there was not sufficient movement astern to completely stop the ship.
 After the jar. with full steam astern, the Victoria slid eff the rock easily and for h minutes thereafter there was no sign of water in the hold. Then the water commenced to pour in rapidly and there was soon four feet of water in the hold When brought to this port the yes scl had 16 feet of water in No. 2 hold. which is full of coal
 The Bertha, which was south bound, happened to be about three miles away at the time of the ac cident, and was communicated with, while the Victoria proceeded to Port Etches and anchored The Bertha promptly responded to the distress signal and stood by. As the water still kept pouring into the ship Captain Davis decided to transfer the passengers, mail and baggage and they were brought here by the Bertha, which arrived at o'clock this morning The passengers were cared for at the different hotels by the Alaska Steamship company and arrangements entered into with the Bertha to take the passengers anu mail fer Valdez to their destinariun. She sailed from here at 3 o'clock this afternoon.
 While the Victoria was al anchor complete examination was made, and while the extent of the damage could not he ascertained. il is be- lieycd that some of her plates have been buckled. IL was decided to bring the boat to Cordova and up on her arrival here the ship pump, with the assistance of a siphon bOT rOWed from the Bertha, was able to make standoff with the water. Pumps borrowed from the Katalla company were put aboard and be- fore long the vessel was pumped dry It is the intention to build q copper dam. and fill it with cement SO that the Victoria can proceed to attlc in a few days. where she will go on drydock and be repaired.
 II was necessary to jettisOn deck load Cf lumber consigned 10 the Cliff Mining company, and the balance of the cargo, which was saved. is subject to general aver age charge, but it is not known at this time how much it will be. The freight for Valdez and Seward will be unloaded here and goes forward on the Alameda. which leaves Seat tle tonight. There is 800 tons of Katalla Company coal in No. ? hatch, and on account of it being Water-sOaked. brab-buckets arc being used to handle it.
 Both the Victoria and the Bertha. which were on either side of the Hinchinbrook lighthouse, report that no signals could be seen, and that it was impossible to see the light for sometime after the Victoria struck. on account of the storm. Passengers also say that the fog horn could not be heard until after the Victoria had blown several times.
 The navy wireless station al Whitshed picked up a message from the victoria few minutes after she struck and the night operators re mained in duty all night. rendering what service they could. Arrange ments were also made with the cable office at Cordova. Valdez and Seattle to remain open as long as necessary. and those in charge de serve credit for the manner in which they facilitated the handling of the accident as directed by the officials of the steamship company.
 It was fortunate circumstance that the Bertha happened to be near at hand when the Victoria struck She was late in sal.lng for Seattle, otherwise there would have been no assistance to the distressed ship This again emphasizes the necessity of the government stationing rev enue cutter in Southeastern Alas ka, a petition for which has been sent to Washington by all of the local chambers of commerce.