Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1921-08-11
Steamer Alaska Goes Down 50
Minutes After Crashing Into
Rocks Of BMnt's Reel.
CAPTAIN DIES II POST
tee ourvivers Brought 70 Port =,
Rescue ohlp Anyex-crsw and
Passengers oSaptay Crest
Aerolsm % Vessel olnks.

Eureka. Calif.--rorty-eight persons,
thirty-six passeagSrs and twelve Of
the crew we're lost Saturday nsxht
when the steamer Alaska Of the SSA
Francisco Z Portland SteamAhip com.
pany. southbound from Portland. Ore.
to San Francisco. sank thirty minutes
aftsr crashing into the rocks Of
Blunt's Reef. forty miles south Of this
city.
The survivors. numbering 10 per.
Sons, were brought here BY the rescue
ship Anyox, the frst vessel to reach
the scene OF the wreck II response TO
the Alaska's radio signals. The coast
guard tug Ranger. dispatched from
Eureka, returned to port with the
bodies OF twelve men. Eight were
members Of the crew and four were
passengers.
Captain Harry HOBBY. master Of the
Alaska. 10 still uaaccounted for and
10 believed to have gone down With
the ship.
OF the survivors landed BY the An
yox. thirty were more or less severely
injured and received medical treat
ment at hospitals.
The Alaska struck the rect b0w-on
In . dense fog. according to the sur.
vivOrs. and immediately began to list.
The work Of launching the lifeboats
was accomplished without delay or
disorder.
One Deat cspslsss.
Three OF the boats successfully rude
the waves. but the fourth boat cap
sised and precipitated IT, occupants
into the sea. The greatest loss Of life,
the survivors said. resulted from this
mishap. A few who wore life belts
succeeded In keeping afloat until the
boats Of the Anyox picked them up.
Captain HOBBY. when the last Of
the lifeboats had been sent over the
side Of the rapidly nlling Alaska. went
to the stern OF his vessel and no was
seen there when It started it, plunge
to the bottom.
George Glenn, who. with another
passenger and the captain. were the
last men on the ship. came to the
surface. . short time sfterward. and
finally found An empty lifeboat. 9th
ers were struggling In the water. The
steamer Anyox. towing . barge ia
Vancouver. was twelve miles distant
when the first -. O. s." signals Of the
Alaska flashed out.
Aid Arrives In Hour.
Within an hour the Anyox arrived
at the wreck and with order that won
high praise from the survivors. the
crew OF the Anyox speedily picked up
those who were drifting In life pre-.
servers or In life boats. Through the
night other ships Joined In the rescue
work.
II was a short time-a Scant thirty
minutes --between the striking on the
rock and the sinking OF the vessel.
But without signs Of disorder. the pas
sengers were helped into the lifeboats
under calm direction OF officers and
crew and they were lowered into the
water.
Women and Children First.
Captain Hobey's heroic direction OF
the life saving was OF such thrilling
example that several men passengers
stayed by him and the women and
children were taken first into the
boats.
The vessel slowly listed and then.
Fighting itself, suddenly plunged.
An overturned life-boat shot many
passengers into the water. There was
q half-hour OF bleak darkness with the
life boats drifting into the blanket OF
fog before the siren OF the rescue
steamer Anyox was heard.
Captain Snoddy Of the Anyox and
his crew. de!ied the treacheries OF the
reef In carrying on the rescue work.
but 1t was with difficulty that the
wreck victims in lifeboats and many
in life-preservers or clinging or drift.
fnv wrackaya uara fdflnd