The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-08-08
STEAMSHIP ALASKA SINKS , s,.. On

Captain HaSy HOBBY went down
with hts ship. when the troachcrous
fingers OF tho rect ripped open the
bottom % the vessel
The Alaska went down In 10 min.
utcs. her wireless calling for help
10 the last. amid scenes OF disorder.
Passengers charge that partly
green crew. recruited during the
marine strike. huneled the launching
Of some OF the iifehoais.
For two hours Saturday night the
survivors fioated around the scene
OF the wrcck In lifehoats and on
wreckage. while the steamer Anyox
rushed thru the fog 20 their rescue.
The Anyox saved aif OF the sur
vlvors who were brought TO shore.
Most of the survivors were In
pitiful condition. Many had
been picked up from th~ wreck.
age. Nearly all were dr~nched
In fuel oil from the bursting Of
the vessels tanks.
on tho heels OF the Anyox. bearing
the living. came the tug Ranger bear
ing fs shrouded bodies on her deck
A fisherpans smack later Slipped
into the harbor with five more bodies
and two empty life boats picked M
near the scene
Speed competition between
eoastwisc vessels was blamed In
marine circles for the Alaska
disaster. rs we'll n Tor most Of
the cth~r half hundred weeks
which have str~wn the reefs and
headiand~ u the Pacific during
the last 20 years. In order 10
save time. coastwtse passenger
ships hug close 10 the fr~ach~r-
Gus shorciinc. instead of keeping
well out 20 sea.
when the trcachcrous fog OF sat.
uriay night crep, down over the Pa
cifie. Captain Hovcy lost sight OF the
flashing signals OF lighthouses that
dot the dangerous coast.
Nervousiy. according 10 Second
Mate pupray. who was on watch
with Captain HobcN the captain
called him to tho bridge and together
they attempted 10 determine the yes.
sells position. They were aware Of
the nearnezs OF Biunt's reef.
Twice they altered tho vcssolS
position in an effort to keep clear
OF the reef.
Captain Hovcy thought he heard
the warning whistle OF the Blunt's
reef ightshig and sent Dupray to
the sounding instruments In an ef.
fort to locate from what direction
II came. pupray was unable to get
an accurate bearing on the faint.
funeral whistle that momentariiy
sent cut Its nournfui warning.
AGAIN ALTER COURSE:
THEN CAME CRASH
Dupray hurried 20 the bridge and
informed the captain OF his inability
to locate the whistle. They again
altered the position Of the Alaska
20 take her farther out ~ sea-
Then came the crashing and ripping
as the bottom OF the vessel forward
was torn out Water poured into
the hold tn a gushing flood The
vessel iurchcd and began TO settle.
Startled Passengers rushed from
their stale rooms onto the darkcned
decks. Amid the erica Of the terror.
stricken and the noise OF sharp
called orders. the passengers donncd
iifebeiss and took their positions BY
the llfeeoats.
The ship began 10 list and the
choppy waves nbou; tho reef licked
higher and higher on the vessels
side Fearful mon. women and
children chung 20 the fitting rail.
The iights went out a. the pouring
seas flooded the engine room
Scattered mcsnberS Of tfe
crew. according IN Robert Van
Wettcr. storckesper on the
Alaska. finally appeared 1t most
Of the lifcboats- Many Of them,
he said. were green ut the work
Of preparing the boats and
handling the davitS. Canvas
covers Of the boats wsre -rippsd
of ~ nervous fingers failed 10
unla>h them.
Women and children. according to
the code OF the sea. were given pref.
erence In the boats But there was
room for ALI
A. the lIbeboatx swung oul
over the sid~ Of the ear~csssng
ship scenes Of is.cosnpctence and
disorder were reported
The first two boats pulled