New-York tribune., 1921-08-08
Steamship Alaska Strikes
Reef Near Eureka. Cal.
al Night. and Goes to the
Bottom i'm 30 Minutes
Brooklyn Tourist
Dies: Wife Rescued
Death Estimates Range
From Twoscore to 100:
Ship Bound From Port
land to San Francisco

Spec'a4 Dispatch TO The Tribune
EUREKA, Calf. Aug. 7.-Pluny
ing through dense fog on her way
from Portland, Ore, to San Fran
CISCO, the steamship Alaska ripped
out the forward part of her hull on
Blunts Reef. forty miles south Of
here, late last night and sank within
a half hour.
The exact number of the dead in
the disaster is not known, but csti-
mates range from twoscore to
/ hundred. Twelve bodies already
have been recovered, and at least
thirty-siX persons are missing. Ono
hundred and twenty-six battered.
exhausted survivors, many of them
injured, have been brought to shore.
Of these ninety-six are passengers
and seventy members of the crew.
A dozen vessels, summoned by the S.
O. S. which the Alaska kept sounding
until her engine room flooded in the
bottom, are standing by in the hope Of
picking up drifting survivors and re
covering the bodies of other victims.
Brooklyn Man Among Dead
Among the known dead is Thomas
Johnson, of Brooklyn, n. Z. His wife
was rescued, although slightly injured
Mrs. Clifford Wright, Of Upper Mont
clair, N. j., and Mr.. and Mrs. c. A.
Wright, of Deauville, n. j. were among
those rescued
The list of identified dead tonight
was as follows:
Johnson, Thomas. Brooklyn. y. y.
HUTCHINSON, Alvin. San Francisco.
COMM. Frank, British Columbia.
PlCkNELL. c., Hubbard, Ore
LARSEN, --, seaman, Portland.
KING. Frank. waiter, San Francisco.
DEHN, Charles. chief Steward
ktNASAWA, a japanese
MOCKETT, Ralph j., seaman
janitor, belloby and a waiter
whose names are not known
Captain Harry Hobey of the wrecked
ship Is missing and is believed to have
perlshed when his vessel sank
lhe Alaska, vessel Of nearly 1000
francisco and Portland Steamship Com
pany, and its passenger list was made
up largely of tourists. The number on
board has not definitely been deter
mined. One reporC was that there
were l3l passengers and 80 members
of the crew. Another was that there
were 206 passengers and that the crew
numbered SO. Until the exact figures
are learned the death toll viii not be
known definitely
Handling of Boats Criticized
The end Of the Alaska came witt
terrifying swiftness. but, survivors Say
1t brought out a score Of deeds Of hero
lsm both by members of the crew and
Passengers. There was abundant tribute
to the bravery Of the officers and the
crew. but there we're charges also that
the handling OF the lfeboats was in
efficient and that the extent Of the
death list wa due to lifeboats over
turning into the water because Of
faulty handling
Blunt's Reef is long, Jagged rib or
rock that extends far out 30 sea, and
has been the scene of many shipwrecke
1t Is believed Captain Hobey navigat-
ing his ship through the heavy fog and
keeping in shore to escape the heavy
seas. mlsca lculated his distance from
the treacherous reef
The smash came at 9:40 clock, az
the passengers were in the midst OF
thelr evening gaietIes. Many were
dancing in one OF the small saloons
when, without warning. there was
ripping crash that tnrew them against
ore another and against the walls
There was no panic. the survivors
SAID. They went out on deck, adjust
ing their life preservers, to wait for
orders. There the scene was terrify-
ing. for, with most Of the ships bow
torn off. the vessel began 20 list almost
immediately. Captain Ho5ey, standing
on the bridge, ordered the crew to
lover the l1eboats. Immediately the
tragedy began. At least two Of the
boats on the port side overturned as
they were dropped toward the surface
OF the sea and the occupants were
thrown into the water.
See Their Companions Drown
Others on the fitting deck. clinginr
20 the rails as the surf thrown IN bv
the reef sprayed over them, watched
their shipmate struggling in the water
below as they waited their turn 10 en-
ter the ifehoats
The women and children were put or
first. Most Of the boats got awav
safely. The last one pushed away iusr
as the Alaska plunged TO the bottom.
AS Captain Hobey was directing the
efforts TO save has charges several of
the men passengers joined him on the
bridge and were with him at the END,
when, without life prcse rvnr, he still
stood on the deck of his ship.
Among this little group were J. II.
Moss, c. L. Vilin, Of Chicago. and
George Glenn, all passengers, all of
whom were picked up after the Alaska
sank
We are certain Captain Hobey was
drowned" said Moss I'VE were stand
ing beside him when the boat went
down"
The death struggles Of the Alaska
occupied only half hour AS thev
were ended and tho vessel settled on
the ocean floor, with only the tips OF
her masts showing above the water.
the passengers began a second battle
with death.
Passengers Struggle In Sea
The sea was filled with struggling
men, women and children. Passen-
gers and members Of the crew who had
been fortunate enough to get away
safely in lifeboats made their vay