The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1913-08-28

| our OmClalS at juneau were Ill
structed, as soon as we received the
news to do everything possible for the
care of the passengers and bodies anc
to arrange for the passengers return
in comfort to Seattle. The mate and
three seamen are standing by the
wreck and we are having the vicinity
carefully patrolled with launches
with the hope of recovering additional
bodies. The launches will remain in
the vicinity for several days.
Capt. Noble, port superintendent
will proceed to the wreck from Seattle
direct, with diver and every effort
will be made to recover any bodies
that may be in the vessels or in the
vicinity of it.
"Mr. Harry Brandt, general agent of
our passenger department, will pro.
I coed to Port Townsend to meet the
survivors returning on the Northwest
ern and ascertain their needs, which
will be provided for in so far as pos
sible upon their arrival here"
Shipping men feel the State of
California disaster will 60 down in his
tory as one of the inexplicable TRACE
dies of the sea against which the arti.
fetal guards and precautions of man
are futile. Reports from the scene
indicate an uncharted rock was struck
and that the vessel sank within three
minutes after.
Where the State of California struck
the waters of Gambler Bay extend
scarcely a half block to either shore.
Continuously during the canning sea-
son vessels of the Pacific Coast Steam.
ship Company fleet have piled into
this bay, swinging across Frederick
Sound from Cape Fanshaw to land
cannery supplies and perhaps en-
ployes, and veering on their southwark
journeys from Stevens Passage for
shipments of canned salmon from the
Gambler Bay cannery, operated by the
Admiralty Trading Company.
The chart shows that United
States coast and geodetic survey
steamship has gone over every square
foot of this bay. At twenty foot in.
tervals soundings are indicated with
deep water on all sides, and no foot
sign of the rock struck by the ill
,fated vessel. Between these twenty foot
soundings this rock must arise, sharp
pinnacle of mountain beneath the
sea. Such rocks could be located
only by dragging the waters, an al
most impossible task over such
large area.
How the State of California could
sink within three minutes, after first
striking is puzzle. In the history of
the Pacific Coast shipping no parallel
can be found where a vessel of such
size has sunk in a time so brief. In
three minutes life preserver scarcely
could be adjusted, a lifeboat launched
or a dazed passenger tumble from a
berth and reach deck.
The heavy cargo carried by the
State of California and the coal in her
bunkers, under ordinary circum-
stances would delay the progress of
the waters through hole in the YES.
sells hull, allowing plenty of time for
all passengers and hands to be freed
Of the wreck. The theory is advanced
in explanation that the California
must have struck directly on her
forefoot and with the terrific impact of
full speed, opened up forward. allow.
ing the water to come from above as
we'll as below. In this case the freight
would not have served to check the
thrush, but rather would have hurried
the sinking.
No blame is attached to Capt T. H.
Cam, from reports received from the
| wreck. Capt. Cam is veteran of
more than twenty years. service with
the Pacific Coast Steamship Company,
and is one Of the oldest mariners of
Alaskan waters. He is a resident of
Seattle and known the length Of the
! coast.
The United States Bureau Of animal
husbandry is making a strenuous ef-
fort to stamp out disease among the
horses on the Standing Rock Indian
! reservation, and has had many ami
mails belonging to the Indians, killed.