The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-08-08
list OF DEAD
is SET AT 48
And 106 Survivors of
Steamer Anyox Are
Brought In
EXPLOSIONS BROKE
STEAMER IN TWO
After She Had Struck
Blunt's Reef in Pacific
Ocean


Eureka, Cal, Aug. s.--The steamer
Alaska, which struck on the rocks at
Blunt's reef Saturday night with a
probable death list of 48, was split in
two by explosion of the boilers when
the boat started to sink, survivors said
here to-day, and passengers and MEM
bers of the crew were thrown into-the
sea by the explosion.
| The steamer Anyox to-day brought
| 100 survivors of the wreck TO Eureka.
Seventeen dead were also brought here,
| including three women and child.
There are 81 Others missing and be-
lieved 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.
The Alaska was proceeding toward
San Francisco in fog when she struck
submerged ledge of the reef. This
shock was almost instantly followed
by another as the vessel struck an out
cropping of the reef above water.
The Alaska struck the reef shortly
after 8 o'clock. Immediately wireless
distress signals were flashed, Five
miles away the steamer Anyox of
Vancouver, b. c., picked them up and,
disregarding fog and danger of strik-
ing the same rocks as the Alaska, put
on full speed to the rescue. At $3.50
O'Clock the Anyox received the Alas
ka's final message: I'VE are sinking
by the head"
Before the Anyox could reach the
Alaska the latter had sunk.
In the fog the Anyox came upon a
lifeboat filed with survivors from the
Alaska The boat was partly filled
with water and oily scum. The oil, sur
viyors 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 other survivors had
been picked up from the water in.
cluding several women and children. |
Among these were ls-year-old Frona !
Erker of Cornelius, Ore, who is in a !
hospital with her chest crushed. She |
was caught between life boat and |
the side of the sinking ship while the /
boat was being lowered and was in
the water from 9.30 Saturday night /
until 80 O'Clock Sunday morning, be
ing picked up and taken aboard the
Anyox.
The ropes of the lifebost, in which
she was being lowered gave way, she
said, and it's entire cargo thrown into
the sea.
Eileen Dyer of LaGrande, Ore. aged
1--WE years, was rescued by the Anyox,
after she had drifted around on wreck
lge in the waters for nearly eight
hours. Little Eileen was unconscious
phen found and was brought back to
only through the untir
ng efforts of Mrs. Grace Campbell of
San Francisco.
Eileen, with her parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. Dyer. and her brother and sister,
he latter twins, was on her way for q
'isit in San Francisco,
Mrs. Dyer. who was % years old,
nd both twins, aged six years, are
eported missing.
Most of those aboard the Alaska
rere cool and composed after the ship ,
ad struck the rocks and while they
rere being taken off in life boats and !
n life RATS, according to Mrs. Clinton
Wright Of Deuvile, ~ J., and Miss
RANGES Eckstrom of Minneapolis,
'hese two women were brought to
.ureka aboard the barge Henry vii 7
lrd. which the Anyox had in tow.
II wish ] could tell the name Of the
who, when some of the wom
n began to be hysterieal, sang out
heerily: Don't get scared, folks, A
fe're all going to have ham and eggs
about an hour, said Mrs. Wright.
he declared his conduct was typical
that of the men aboard the ship. =
Mrs. Wright tore off her silk shirt .
aist. she said. because the oarsmen .
her lifeboat found the oar handles
ippery with oil and they could make n
, headway and she used the garment a.
rub the oil off the oar handles. II
Mrs. Clark. Miss Eckstrom and 9TH b,
members OF their party were dane
z on the hurricane deck when the -
,ssel hit the rocks Both said il -
emed as II the Alaska struck one 81
ck and then suddenly crashed into 81
lother "a
Some Of the survivors planned to al
Ave to-day for San Francisco aboard Is
special train arranged for by Of ii
ials Of the line which owned the
aska. Others left Eureka last night. Y
The authorities made plans 90 hold
inquest over the II bodies in the
orgie here.
Captain Harry HOBBY. of the Alaska. Ca
eferred TO go 10 his death rather
an leave his command, passengers
ported. When one of tnem removed
life belt he was wearing and offered
10 Captain Hobey. telling him 70
re himself. witnesses said the cap o'c
n walked away replying: 10
I prefer 10 60 down With nv ship" hs
cat
~ ed