The Alaska daily empire., 1920-07-21

and no word came from Captain Locke, the Peterson again resumed it's cruise in the vicinity of the reef. About noon, said Captain Stidham, the lifeboat was again hoisted out of the water but not returned to the davits. While it was in the water the men in it had no trouble holding it off from the ships side with their hands. At this time there was light wind blowing, with a choppy sea, but conditions were not bad.
 The Estebeth arrived on the scene sometime before noon, and af- ter hailing Captain Locke, dropped down to the buoy and tied up there, where it remained until after high tide late in the afternoon. He saw small boat launched from the Estebeth He said that about 1 or 4:30 the Estebeth went up to within 50 feet of the Princess So- phia and again talked with Captain Locke after which it went into shelter The Amy, he said, arrived about an hour after the Estebeth appeared on the scene.
 Rescue Possible
 The witness testified that in his opinion it was entirely feasible to have transferred all passengers without danger from the time he arrived at a. m. until , o'clock,
 
 that time, until he left at o'clock, rescue could have been affected, all though it would have had to be carried out under more difficulties as the sea was some rougher and darkness was falling fast. He told of discussions held aboard the Pet erson regarding the manner in which people were being held on board the wreck and the possibility o transferring them. MT. Walkley his engineer, had remarked, he said that they ought to take those peo- pie off" The engineer, he said was inclined to think that the Prin- cess Sophia was lodged firmly and would stay where she was, and al though he was more than half in clined to agree with him, he had stated that he thought they ought to take the passengers off to guard against contingencies. He was con- vinced that they would have worse weather to contend with before il moderated.
 Vessel Damaged
 Captain Stidham said that he no ticed that the Princess Sophia's hull was damaged where it had scrapet on the reef Under the forefooi and between and the hull, there was a hole for about five feet through which daylight could be seen. The plates, he said. were damaged for a considerable distance back from the forefoot.
 Boat Lowered Again
 Captain Stidham said that tho boat from the Sophia was lowered a second time about p. m. Thi' boat was lined along the side O the ship, its occupants apparently making an examination of the null At high water, about 4 p. m, h' said he again went closer, seein! Captain Locke and other officer move back along the rail of the shii and looking oevrboard near tn stern as if they were expecting I to move. He thought they were go ing to try to back off the reel a that time, but as far as he coui' tell no effort was made. He looke' to see if the propeller blades wer moving, but if they did he neVe saw them. At this time, he sald number of passengers were aboar with suitcases and handbags in thei hands as if expecting to be take off
 Shortly afterward he had his sec ond and last conversation with Car | tain Locke in which the latter asR ed him to stand by until steame which he was expecting, arrived He remained until he saw the light of another ship. which later prove to be the Cedar, and as the weathe was growing rcugher and the win coming up. he went into sheltel He remained there until the morhlh of Oct. 26. al which time the win