The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-01-09
TELLS HOW SEAMEN
Of R0SECRANS DIED
Quartermaster. Who Drifted
Ashore, Relates Scene
on Inflated Ship.

Astoria. Ore. Jan. a.--How the
seamen Of the oil tank steamer Rose
Grams met death after the vessel
crashed ashore A, the mouth of the
by Fred Peters. the quar,ermaste-
who drif,ed ashore on a plank at
Tioga. According to Peters. Captain
johnson Of the Rosecrans remained
at his post to the last. directing and
cheering his crew, although he was
suffering from a broker leg.
There We're eight men on duty at
the time of The disaster and twenty
eight men We're in their berths.
In the storm n rain the man at
the wheel. according to Peters. mis-
took the North Head light for the
lightship which is anchored off the
Columbia. and steered the vessel upon
Forced to Wait.
The backbone Of the Rosecrans
was broken and there was nothing to
launch the lifehoats We're futile. The
wind and waves broke them from
their lashings before any of the crew
could mar them. The men waited
calmly for the death that appeared
inevitable. Captain johnson stood a,
his post directing the crew. although
his leg had been broken by a falling
spar"
Peters had just talked with Captain
johnson when a big wave washed
eel the ship. carrying him over
board. He grasped a floating plank
and rode it for five hours before
drifting to shore.
Peter Kruis. the injured lifesaver,
told a thrilling story of the attempt
TO rescue the crew Of he Rosecrans.
After trying for hours to penetrate
the wall of mnuptaip.hiph cor hars
that separated them from the wreck
ed vessel. the Fort Candy crew turned
back exhausted.
1T was then about noon.' said
kruis. Not a mar of us could eat.
The thought of those poor fellows
hanging onto that rigging was too
much for us. We went in a bunch
ing again. He was anxious as. we were
to star.
On the second attempt. it was ven
combers. and the seven lifesavery
begged in vain Of the captain of the
tug Tatoosh to tow them through.
Captain Riner got down on his
Reed to take our line" said Kruis.
but Reed said it was certain death
and ne would not sacrifice his men,"
Then Captain Riner's men went ahead
alone.
Were Beaten Back.
When we reached the line of surf
about a mile from the Rosecrans,"
said Kruis. Il went into the air-tight
compartment to attend the engine.
With full speed we charged the line,
but were beaten back. Three times
we tried this n on the third attempt
a big sea picked us up and turned
US end over end. With a lou report
the door Of the compartment flew
open n Out I went, my lungs full Of
engine gas and my leg out Of COM
mission from a jam against the engine
when the boat lunged.
II WAS caught in the swirl Of a big
comber and sucked down among the
rocks n wa exhausted when I was
pulled into the boat. Three others
went over when ] did, but were picked
up.
"Our boat had landed with such
force that she al split almost from
stem TO stern and be~co to fill rapidly.
1t was hen that the Point Adams
crew came to our assistance and
towed us two miles to the tug Fear
less. which took Us to the Point Adams
station.
I'VE had just got aboard the Fear
less when our boat broke her hawser
and ven to the bottom"