The Mena weekly star., 1921-08-11
AS IS DEATH TOLL
 ON SUNKEN VESSEL
Steamer Alaska Strikes On California Reef and Is Split by Boiler Ex- plosion--Baby Adrift Eight
 Hours-Tales of Heroism.

Eureka, Calif., Aug. 8.--The steam CT Alaska, which struck on the rocks at Blounts reef Saturday night, with probable death list of AS, was split in two by explosion of the boilers when the boat started to sink, sur viyers said here today, and passen- gers and members of the crew were thrown into the sea by the explosion.
 The steamer Anyox today brought | 166 survivors of the wrecked ship to Eureka. Seventeen dead were also crought here, including three women and a child. There are 31 others miss ing and believed dead. Twelve of the dead have been identified. The list of missing may be changed for lists of passengers and crew aboard have not been verified.
 Raced to Rescue.
 The full story of the sinking of the Alaska did not become known until survivors had landed here. It was brought out that the Alaska was pro- eeeding toward San Francisco in a dense fog when she struck a sub merged ledge of the reef. This shock was almost instantly followed by an- other as the vessel struck an out cropping of the reef above water.
 The Alaska struck the reef shortly after nine o'clock. Immediately wire less distress signals were flashed Five miles away the steamer Anyox of Vancouver, B. C., picked them up and disregarding fog and danger of striking the same rocks as the Alaska put on full speed to the rescue At 9:30 o'clock the Apyox received the Alaska's final message: "We are sinking by the head"
 Before the Anyox could reach the stricken Alaska the latter had sunk.
 Spattered With Oil.
 In the fog the Anyox came upon lifeboat filled with survivors from the Alaska. The boat was partially filled with sea water and oil scum. The oil, survivors said, had been thrown over them and in their 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 the water, including several women and children.
 Among these were 1s-year-old Frona Erker, of Cornelius, Ore, who is in a hospital with her chest crushed. She was caught between a lifeboat and the side of the sinking ship while the boat was being lowered, and was in the water from 9:30 Saturday night until 1:30 o'clock Sunday morning be- fore being picked up and was taken aboard the Anyox.
 Blown Into Sea.
 The ropes of the lifeboat, in which she was being lowered, gave way, she said, and it's entire cargo was thrown into the sea.
 Eileen Dyer of La Grande, Ore, aged 5, was rescued by the Anyox after she had drifted around on wreckage in the icy waters for near ly eight hours. Little Eileen was un- conscious when found.
 Some of the deaths were declared by survivors today to have been caused by the explosion of the Alas ka's boilers as the ship started sink ing.
 Many of the passengers and mem- bers of the crew, who were blown into the sea by the explosion, succeeded in again boarding the ship or were res- cued by life boats after clinging to wreckage until help arrived, it was said.
 Lifeboats Are Wrecked.
 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 sides, spilling their human cargo into the icy waters. Many of the survi- vors were rescued by the Anyox after they had floated about in the water i for several hours.
 1 J. H. Moss and c. l.. Vilim, both of Chicago, said they reached a lifeboat which had been swept off the decks | Other 5feboats, they declared, went down with the ship.
 Captain Harry Hobey, of the Alas. ka, preferred to go to his death rather than leave his command, passengers reported. When Mir. Moss removed { lifebelt he was wearing and offered I 1t to Captain Hobey, telling him t ] save himself, witnesses said the cap tain walked away, replying: q pre- fer to go down with my ship" T Tell of Heroism. Altho a veteran in the servicce Captain Hobey was only 40 years old He assumed command of the flask, three weeks ago and this was hi third trip.
 Stories of heroism were told b survivors. Captain Snoddy and tn crew of the Anyox were comnende for their rescue work. Accompanie by three seamen volunteers, Secop Officer Andrew Sinclair of the Anyo, took a lifeboat from the Alaska an
 within 30 minutes rescued 30 person clinging to wreckage in the water. .4 axu AL -~-s- - = -- = -