The Alaska daily empire., 1918-10-28
ESTEBETH SEES BOAT LOWERED
 FROM SOPHIA
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then let go of the buoy and pulled up within 20 fathoms of the Sophia, hut the boat was called back and those in it again got aboard the So phia.
 "Capt. Locke said that they were resting securely on a shelf and said that he wished us to stand by until the wind went down and then come alongside and take the passengers off. He asked me if l thought the wind was going down. I couldn't make him hear but I signed by shak ing my head that it wasn't.
 Remained Close
 "We remained close to the wreck until 5:45 Thursday night. The tide dropped and we went under anchor at Nab Island, twenty minutes run in plain sight of the Sophia. The Peterson and the Amy were still near her. About eight o'clock at night the lights showed four boats standing by Friday morning the Cedar and the King X Winge were hove to near the wreck, and the Sit ka was passing near us headed for her. The ElsinOre and the Excur sion had come in and anchored near IS Thursday night.
 Steam Was Up
 "The Sophia was visible from where we were all day Friday and had her steam up and fire in her boilers. Friday night about seven o'clock a raging blizzard came up with snow and heavy North wind. It continued all night.
 we dragged anchor several times and finally had to move up into Bridget Cove out of sight of the wreck. When the snow let up Sat urday morning we landed on Nab Island and walked to the outside beach
 Only Masts Showed
 There was nothing visible but the mast of the Sophia. We went out to the scene of the wreck and found that she had shifted clear over the rock and swung nearly completely around resting level fore and aft with l slight list to port.
 Bow Was Dented
 "She had been resting on the rocks headed about East by North with a slight list to port, her hull open and dented at the bow, the rocks bear forward to about half way on the starboard bow at low ide At high tirde, water reached he water line aft and lacked be .ween two and three feet forward of reaching the water line.
 Her present position is headed North by South by West about abreast Of the buoy between the buoy md the rock Twenty-Five or thirty 'eet of her mast is showing. She evidently tore clear over the rock
 Water Was Rough
 "Then, this was Saturday, we .ruised the East shore of Ralstone Lincoln and Shelter Islands. Nc wreckage or boats were in sight We went into Tee Harbor with the Adolphus. It was too rough to make any landings.
 From the Adolphus we received reports of seven bodies and three boats which were stranded on the Northwest side of Shelter Island. We lay in Tee Harbor Saturday night
 Sunday morning we cruised uI the East shore of Shelter Island went down through Lincoln Pass from the North and sighted two life boats, bottom up, just through the pass.
 Sight Armed Men
 "We reported to the Cedar at cruised Barlow Cove, on the North ern end of Admiralty Island. There was no wreckage in sight and it was too rough to make a landing
 We sighted two armed men, ap parently in soldiers uniforms, on the beach. We could not get into com with them.
 we came back around Barlow Island and spoke to the Sitka. They twenty bodies aboard and said that the King & Wings had 23 They were all picked up near Young's Point.
 We came over by Portland Isl. and but could not land. Next we went over to Colt Island. landed and picked up three bodies on the West shore. They were two men and woman.
 "We came down between Horse and Colt Island and Admiralty Isl and, sighted no boats or rafts Ii was getting dark and we headed foi town. There was much oil and age-chairs, buckets and so on-as long as we could see.
 Could Have Saved Passengers
 'T wish to state that at any time Thursday we could have taken ali of the passengers and crew off the Princess Sophia. It was not too rough for a 14-foot skiff to go to the windward of the Sophia. Boats and life rafts could easily have come down with the wind