The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1921-08-24
STEAMSHIP SINKS
ON PACIFIC COAST.
ROLLER EXPLOOES ADDING HON.
OR TO TRAGEDY THAT COST
MANY LIVES
Boats Are Wrecked While Being Pu'
Over Side; survivors, in Water Tor
a. Hours; Death Toll
Runs High

mains of the San Francisco and PORT
and Steamship company's liner Alaska'
which fOundered in the Pacific on the
rocks Of Blunt'S reef, forty miles
south of here, Saturday night with
known loss of seventeen lives ana
with thirty persons definitely posted as
missing Monday and believed to be
dead. The ship was en- route to San
Francisco from Portland, Ore.
The Alaska had aboard 1872 passen-
gers and carried a crew OF eighty-two.
OF the passengers, revised lists Mon
day placed the missing or dead at th'r-
ty-tive. Twelve members Of the crew
are dead or missing.
Surviving passengers and crew, num-
bering 1877 were brought to this por,
Sunday by the steamer Anyox, which
answered the Alaska's distress calls.
Some Of the survivors planned to leave
for San Francisco aboard spec,a'
train arranged for by officials of the
line which owned the Alaska.
The authorities made plans to hold
an inquest over the seventeen bodies
in the morgue here.
| Some Of the deaths were declared
by survivors to have been caus-
ed by an explosion of the Alaska's
boilers as the ship started sinking af-
ter twice hitting the rocks. Some Of
the passengers and members of the
crew were blown into the sea. Many
of these, it was said, succeeded in
again boarding the ship or were res
sued by lifeboats after clinging to
wreckage until help arrived.
Oil rising from the burst tanks Of
the ship was scattered over one life
boat filled with survivors, tahe ocean
nearby was coated with oil and the
bodies Of the dead when recovered
were covered with oil.
So suddenly did the tradedy 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, SPILL
ing their human cargo into the Icy
waters. Many of the survivors were
rescued by the Anyox after they had
foated about in the water for several
hours.
]. H. Moss and c. L. Vilim, both OF
Chicago, said they reached lifeboat
which had been swept off the decks
Other lifeboats, they declared, went
down with the ship.
Captain Harry HOBBY Of the Alaska
preferred to 60 to his death rather
than leave his command, passengers
reported. When Mr.. Ross removed a
lifebelt he was wearing and offered IL
to Captain HOBBY, telling him to save
himself, witnesses said the captain
walked away, replying:
Il prefer to 60 down with my ship
Although veteran in the service
Captain HOBBY was only 40 years old
lie assumed command of the Alaska
three weeks ago, and this was Ills
third trip.
Stories Of heroism We're again told
by survivors of the i'll fated steamer
Captain SnOddy and the crew of the
Anyox were commended for their res
cue work. Accompanied by three sea.
men volunteers, Second Officer Andrew
Sinclair OF the Anyox took a lifeboal
from the Alaska and within thirty min,
utes rescued thirty persons clinging 70
wreckage in the water.
The full story of the sinking of the
Alaska did not become known until
survivors had landed here. 1t was
brought out that the Alaska was pro.
ceeding towards San Francisco in dense
fog when she struck submerged
ledge of the reef. This shock was al.
most instantly followed by another rs
the vessel struck an outcroppinr ot
the reef above water.
The Alaska struck the reef short;y
AFTER . o'clock, Immediately wireless,
MISTRESS signals were flashed Five
miles away the steamer Anyox of Van.
couver, Ii c., picked them ND and DIS
regarding fog and danger of striking
the same rock MS the Alaska. Dat on
speed to the rescue. At $50 o'clocs
the AnyoX received the Alasaa's tinul
message:
we are sinking by the head"
betore the Any"N could reach the
stricken Alaska the latter, had sunk
In the bog the Anyox came upon life
boat with survivors from tho Alan,..