The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1921-08-11
(By Associated Press Leased Wire. }

(By Associated Press Leased Wire.)
Eureka--Only wreckage remains Of
the San Francisco and Portland Steam
ship 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 II lives and with 81 persons missing
early today and believed to be dead.
The ship was enroute to San Francisco
from Portland, Ore.
Surviving passengers and crew num-
boring 166 were brought to this port
yesterday by the steamer Anyox which
answered the Alaskas distress calls.
Some of the survivors planned to leave
today for San Francisco aboard a spe-
cial train arranged for by officials of
the line which owned the Alaska. 9th
ers left Eureka last night.
The authorities planned an inquest
today over the II bodies in the morgue
here.
Some Killed. in Explosion.
Some of the deaths we're declared by
survivors today to have been caused by
an explosion of the Alaska's boilers
as the ship started sinking after twice
hitting the rocks. Some of the passen-
gers and members of the crew were
blown into the sea. Many of these, it
was said, succeeded in again boarding
the ship or were rescued by life boats
after clinging to wreckage until help
arrived.
Oil rising from the burst tanks of
the ships was scattered over one life
boat filled with survivors, the ocean
nearby was coated with oil, and the
bodies of the dead, when recovered,
were covered with oil.
So sudden did the tragedy happen
that the steamers crew hardly had
time to prepare the life boats and
many of these were reported wrecked
while being put over the vessei's sides,
splitting their human cargo into the icy
waters. aMny of the survivors were
rescued by the Anyox after they had
foated aout in the water for several
hours.
J. H. Moss and c. H. Vilim, both of
Chicago, said they reached a life boat
which had been swept off the decks.
Other lifeboats they declared, went
down with the ship.
Captain is Heroic.
Captain Harry HOBBY of the Alaska
preferred to go to his death rather
than leave his command, passengers re-
ported When Mr.. Moss removed a life
belt he was wearing and offering it to
Captain HOBBY telling him to save him
self, witnesses siad the captain walked
away replying:
81 prefer to go down with my ship"
Although a veteran in the service,
Captain HOBBY was only 40 years old.
He assumed command Of the Alaska
three weeks ago and this was his third
trip.
Stories of heroism were again told
today by survivors of the Inflated
steamer. Captain S. Snoddy and the
crew of the Anyox were commended
for their rescue work. Accompanied
by three sea-men volunteers, Second
officer Sinclair of the AnyoX took a
lifeboat from the Alaska and within 80
minutes rescued 80 persons clinging to
the wreckage in the water.
Seventeen bodies of victims of the
Alaska are in the city morgue.
The list of identified or partially
identified bodies is as follows:
Passengers
Thomas Johnston, Brooklyn, N Y.
J. C. Jackway, Oakland, Cal.
E. PickaIl, Los Angeles
A. M. Hutchinson, San Francisco.
S. Kumazawa, steerage passenger.
Mrs. j. W. Oliver San Jose, Cal.
Crew
Chief Steward Charles Hearne.
Steward F. H. King.
Frank Comm, Winnipeg, Can.
Ralph'J. Mockett, seaman, Red Clife,
Colo.
Larsen, engineer, Portland.
- Baldwin. bell boy. Oakland, Cal,
Twins Reported Missing.
Eighteen-vear-old Frona Erker of
/ Cornelius Ore. survivor of the liner
Alaska tonight was in hospital with
her chest crushed and her body other
wise badly bruised as a result of in
juries received when she was caught
between a lifeboat and the sinking ship
after being thrown into the water
Eileen Dyer of La Grande, Ore, aged
5. was rescued after she had drifted