The daily progressive-miner., 1918-11-06
INSPECTOR DIBREL.L MAKES CLEAR THE DETAILS OF
 SOPHIA DISASTER
All Efforts to Help Prove Futile in Face of Elements Which cause Worst Wreck and More Loss
 Of Lives i'm History of North

Captain w. C. Dibreil, Lighthouse Inspector who was on board the
 tender Cedar while she was standing
 by t.e wreck of the Princess Sophia
 in Lynn Canal, and later assisted in
 the search for bodies, returned from
 Juneau Friday evening on the North
 western, having left the Cedar to CO.,
 rtinue her work in the vicinity Of the
 Lynn Canai....... .----- --.--..
 Capt. DibreIi states that the Cedar was working her way to Juneau and was in the vicinity of Taku Harbor, Stepheas Passa5 c.When the first news was received of the strandng Of the Sophia on Vanderbilt reef. It. was then 2:15 Thursday afternoon,elev hours after the Sophia had struck It was decided to emit the call at Ju- neau.sna the to steam full speed in the direction of the wreck .,...- .-..
 The chief engineer was instructed to make ail pcseble- speed and the ceaa~ arrived al Vanderbilt Reef at 3 o'clock in the evening. On arriving st the scene,it was quite dark and biu sen vas running and breaking on the s:ef with gale blowing. A wireless message from Capt. Locke to the Cedar stated that nothing could be done at that time and they would have tc wait tIi ,norninn.---Th Cedar then left the wreck for Benjamin Is land. four miles for shelter during the night, from which place tke.. bright lights os the Sophia could be plainly seen, sanding high up on the reef and wedged soIdiy between a. saddle. of rocks. Friday morning strong wind was blowing and the seas were break ing on the reef with a tremendous force. The Captain of the King 6 Wing. already cn the scene, came aboard rne Cedar and consulted with the officers of the Cedar and agreed that it would be suicide to take off the passengers then. In the after noon, it began to snow, coming down like a veritab!e banketre ndering any help impossible. The. Cedar. then steamed back for Benjamin Island
 The officers on the Cedar had not had any sleep for nearly 36 hours and de cided 10 take this opportunity. The ship had not been away from the wreck more than an hour when the first !. o. s. call was heard At 5 o'clock the Cedar began to steam back to the wreck, keeping up con1munica- ton with the wireless operator for nearly iaif hour. -..-. - .-.--- - -.----
 "rven vhen .he last call was heard ct 5:2o saying that the ship was foun- derins' said Capt. Dibrel, i've felt no anxiety for We believed that the ship was simply settling on the reef or that her stern was being veerec around by the heavy wind. Wher the messaaes ceased coming. we sup posed that the wireless was out of or der. since the operator had been using his storage batteries On our arriva
 howeve-, it was dark with heavy sleet faliinq and no sign of either ureek ar reef could be found Havinc decided that we could render no assis tance under the conditions, the Cedai returned to anchor at Renian1in Is land" Cant. Dihre'l added.-------- --,-- .Wreck in Deeo Water -- Exoiaininq the position of the wrecs on the chart. Capt pibrelI. pointed out the position of the reef in regart