The New York herald., 1921-08-08
Alaska Goes Aground in
Fog Near Eureka, Cal,
and Side Of Vessel Is
Ripped Open.
SINKS IN Is MINUTES
Anyox Rushes to Rescue
and Takes Survivors
From Lifeboats;
Others Aid.
BROOKLYN MAN A VICTIM
Rank Inefficieney Charged in
Manner i'm Which Boats
Are Launched From
Wreck.

EUREKA, Cal, Aug. 7.-Blunts Reef,
chain of rocks which extends far
into the Pacific from point on shore
forty miles south of this place, and
which up to twenty years ago was
the scene Of long list Of wrecks
and lesser marine disasters, caused
the loss of the steamship Alaska of
the San Francisco and Portland Line
last night while the vessel was COM
ing down the coast in heavy fog.
Reports to date indicate that forty
eight persons, thirty-six passengers
and twelve of the crew. lost their
lives. Twelve bodies have been re-
covered.
Capt. Harry Hobey, skipper OF the
wrecked vessel, went down with her.
Thomas Johnston OF Brooklyn, n.
y, was drowned and his wife rescued,
though injured. Owen Terlin and his
wife of Indianapolis were saved,
slightly injured. OF the twelve bodies
recovered four have been identified as
passengers and eight as officers and
crew.
The steamship Anyox reached port
late this afternoon with 166 surviv.
ors.
According to the stories of the sur
vivors three lifeboats were launched.
The last one was but a few feet from
the wreck when the Alaska. which
had listed to starboard. suddenly
r;ghted and then plunged, bow first.
Heavy fog, which for the last two
weeks has prevailed all along tho
coasts of Washington, Oregon and
California, was the single cause OF
| the wreck, which occurred in smooth
weather, with no sea running but a
fairly heavy swell on. The Alaska
left Portland on Friday for San Fran.
cisco with 132 passengers and crew
OF eighty-two. All but eight OF the
passengers were travelling in the
y first cabin. most of them being tour.
\ lists and people who were taking the
\ trip as vacation.
Passengers in Bcrths.
The vessels trip from Portland AZ
far as the reef had been slow and
cautious and nearly all her passengers
were in their berths last night when
she struck. She was proceeding un-
der slightly more than half speed when
she went on the reef. But in the
swell that was running her stern was
lifted and swung forward before il
was possible TO reverse her engines.
and as her broadsidc was crashed
4 against the rocks a great hole was
ripped in her and she began 10 fill and
20 down
K Except for several who later lost
their lives while they were being low
cred away in boat. the dead are ac-
counted for by those OF the passengers
whoEe staterooms were midships 81
the vessel and such OF the crew as
were in the engine room and stoke hole.
Where the ship had been ripped the
sea poured in at a rate which made
Il impossible for any one trapped in
that section of the huh 10 reach the
deck. But on deck good order was
preserved for as long as the ship
stayed above water which was only
about fifteen minutes.
Had there not been strong swell
running Il Is possible that the Alaska
might have remained impalcd on the,
points of rock where she struck inl
which event there need have been no,
hurry In leaving her and some OF those
who were lost might have been saved.
| But the swell, rolling heavily acainsti
| her. lifted her clear of the rositiouI
which she first took. and the water. once
she was clear. began coming in az a
rate which made IT plain that She could
not 1--we more than few minutes X
was about flftccn minutes after she hit,
according 20 survivors, that she rolled
over and went down. her keel upper.
most.