Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1921-09-23

engineer had the fOrecastle lighted.
At first it looked almost impossible
to stop the water from coming in.
The harder the storm ragged the more
water came gushing in. There was
no time for delay. This was our last
and only chance to save the steamer
and the lives of those who volunteered
to stay aboard. We took a chance
and made a dash. Mr.. Forbes and
John Dyer took the lead. Captain
Star and I followed. We got the
blankets and mattresses on the right
place. Then braced and spiked them
down. That stopped the heavy flow
of water. When we got through we
were all soaking wet, and some Of )
badly bruised. But we did not mini
that, for we all started in to build
a bulkhead across the bow to make
it doubly secure. Mr.. Forbes and
John Dyer took charge of the work.
Almost every one aboard gave d
hand. We had plenty Of lumber AMI
nails. We made it tight and strong.
That kept the water back where it
could do no harm.
While the work was going on we
all took turn about to call on Johnny
Ross, our favorite cook. He gave us
plenty of good things to eat and
drink. That braced us up. Just as
we finished building the bulkhead the
storm commenced to abate and the
seas Gained down, and at the break
of day cheers went up. The steamer
Isabel was in sight. She was delayed
and almost lost on account of the ter
rife storm. She came alongside,
made fast, took the heavy freight off
the North Pacific, then backed W.
and pulled her off the rocks. Just
then the lifeboats returned with the
passengers, alive and we'll, and they
came aboard. We all greeted each
other as long lost friends, for when
we parted. only a few hours before,
it looked doubtful IL we would ever
meet again. Then the two steamers
left for Victoria, side by side. On
leaving the fatal spot 1t was a sad
sight to see the dead cattle, bloated
up. floating everywhere. But the
saddest sight of all YVES to see poor
old Mr.. Jackson, the owner of the
cattle, standing on the upper for
ward deck, taking his last farewell
of the scene Of the disaster. He
sobbed as he turned and walked
away, with great tears rolling down
his cheeks.
As we were Fearing Vancouver
island, Beacon hill was black with
people, anxiously awaiting our ar
rival, "a hours behind time. That
was long and anxious day and night
for all aboard, as we'll as friends
ashore. We were forlorn looking
crowed when we were towed into
Victoria harbor. with our steamer
badly cripple. and her flag torn to
pieces, and the only portion left
hanging halfmast. On landing, tho
Victoria people were wild with ex-
element, and came in great crowds
to meet and greet us. In reply to
many inquiries made we told them
of the risk we ran and the narrow
escape we had from q watery grave.
We were glad to set our feet on soli'l
soil again.
As soon as arrangements could be
made the steamer was hauled out OF
the water on Lang's ways. When she
was high and dry experts came to see
the amount Of damage done. They
examined the outside and inside, the
bulkhead, and how the blankets AMI
the mattresses covered the gaping
hole in the hull and how the braces
and the spikes held them down and
stopped the heavy gush Of water from
coming in. The experts declared It
to be great piece Of work for the
time and place we had to do 1t in;
for it saved the steamer from being
a total wreck, and probably the lives
of all on board. The steamer was
repaired and made rs good as ever.
and then went on the Victoria-Puget
Sound route again.
Now, after all this happened, I at.
ton dod tho funeral and helDed to bury
four of the Star brothers, the owners
of the Star Steamer line, and I was
with two of them when they died.
All the officers and tho whole of the