The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1921-08-11
STEAMER HITS ROCK;
MANY LIVES LOST
FORTY-EIGHT PERSONS BELIEV.
ED TO HAVE PERISHED
IN DISASTER

The steamer Alaska, which struck
on the rocks at Blunt's Reef with a
probable death list of 46 persons was
split in two by the explosion Of the
boilers when the boat started to sink,
survivors say, and passengers and
members of the crew were thrown
into the sea by the explosion.
The steamer Anyox took 166 sur
vivors of the wreck and seventeen
dead, including three men and a child,
to Eureka, Calf. There are thirty
one others missing and believed dead.
Twelve of the dead have been identi-
fed.
The full story of the sinking of the
kAlaska did not become known until
Survivors had landed at Eureka. 1t
vas brought out that the Alaska was
proceeding toward San Francisco in
Edense fog when she struck sub
6erged ledge of the reef. This
eshock was almost instantly followed
by another as the vessel struck an out
cropping of the reef above water.
The Alaska struck the reef short
" after nine o'clock. Immediately
wireless distress signals were flash
ed. Five miles away the steamer
Anyox, Vancouver, B. c., picked them
up, and disregarding fog and danger
Of striking the same rocks as the Al
aska, put on full speed to the resuce.
At $50 o'clock the Anyox received the
Alaska's final message: eve are sink
ing by the head"
Before the Anyox could reach the
stricken Alaska the latter had sunk.
In the fog the Anyox came upon
a lifeboat filled with survivors from
the Alaska. The boat was partially
filed with sea water and oily scum.
The oil, survivors said, had been
thrown over them and in the boat
by the explosion of the boilers which
wrecked the Alaska amidships.
The Anyox cruised about in the
fog until many other survivors had
been picked up from :he water, IT.
Guiding several women and children.
Among these were 1S-year-olo
Frona Erker, of Cornelius, Ore, who
IS in hospital with her chest chrush-
ed. She was caught between a life
boat and the side of the sinking ship
while the boat was being lowered and
was in the water from $50 Saturday
night until 1:30 o'clock Sunday morn
ing before being picked up and taken
aboard the Anyox.
The ropes of the lifeboat in which
she was being lowered gave away,
she said, and its entire cargo was
thrown into the sea.
Eileen Dyer, of La Grande, Ore
pno, aged 5, was rescued by the An
yox after she had drifted around on
wreckage in the water for nearly eight
hours. Little Eileen was unconscious
when found. Eileen with her parents,
Mr.. and Mrs. Dyer. and her twin SIS
ter and brother, was on her way to
for a visit to San Francisco. 4.
Mrs. Dyer, who was 22 years old,
and both of the twins, aged 6, are
reported missing.
Some of the deaths were declared
by survivors to have been caused by
the explosion of the Alaska's boilers
as the ship started sinking.
Many of the passengers and mem
hers of the crew who were blown into
the sea by the explosion, succeeded
in again boarding the ship or were
resuced by lifeboats after clinging to
wreckage until help arrived it was
said.
So sudden did the tragedy happen
that the steamers crew hardly had
time to prepare the. lifeboats and
many of these were reported wrecked,
while being put over the vessels side,
spilling their human cargo into the
Geld waters. Many of the survivors
were rescued by the Anyox after they
had floated about in the water for
several hours.
Capt. Harry Hotey, of the Alaska,
preferred to go to his death rather
than leave his command, passengers
reported. When Mr.. Moss removed
q lifebelt he was wearing and offer
ed it to Capt. Hobey, telling him to
save himself, witnesses said the cap
tain walked away, replying:
"T prefer to go Gown with my ship.
Rate slashes, in some cases as
NrnfAU