Evening star., 1921-08-08
EXPLODING BOILERS
SPLIT SINKING SHIP; !;
48 BELIEVED DEAD
Passengers Being Rescued
From Steamer Alaska Are
Blown Into Sea.
II BODIES RECOVERED;
81 ARE STILL MISSING
Heroic Efforts to Save Lives-Ves-
sci Goes Down Immediately
After Striking Reef.
BY the Associated Press.

by the Associated Press.
EUREKA. Calf. August S-The
steamer Alaska. which struck on the
rocks at Blunts reef Saturday night with
probable death list of forty eight,
was split in two by explosion of the
boilers when the boat started to sink,
survivors said>here today. and pas
sengers and members of the crew
were thrown into the sea by the ex-
plosion.
The steamer Anyox today brought
q loo survivors of the wreck to Eureka
seventeen dead also were brought
mere. There are. thirty-one others
missing and believed dead. Twelve Of
the oead have been identified.
me ilst or missing may be changed,
1or lists of passengers and crew
ABOARD nave not been verified.
Survivors Landed.
Ipe full story of the sinking of the
Alaska did not become known until
survivors had landed here. II was
brought out the Alaska was proceed.
ing toward San Francisco an a dense
iog when she struck submerged
ledge of the reef. This shock was al
most instantly followed by another
or the reef above water
Ine Alaska struck the reef shortly
after o'clock. Immediately wireless
alStress signals were flashed.
rive miles away the steamer Anyox
OF vancouver. b. G.. picked them up.
striking the same rocks as the Alaska,
put on full speed to the rescue Al
$3.50 o'clock the Anyox received the
Alaska,s final message: I'VE are
sinking by the head"
BeIore the Anyox could reach the
lat
,,x IN the fog the AnyoN came upon a
li1eboat filled with survivors from the
Alaska, The boat was partially fill-
ed win sea water and oily scum. The
OH. survivors said. had been thrown
over them and in their boat by the
explosion of the boilers. which wreck
ed the Alaska amidships
Ine AnyoX cruiSed about in the
Log unit! many other survivors had
been picked up from the water. in
several women and children
Girl Tells Of Sinking.
Among these were eighteen.xsap-t
'id Frona Erker OF Cornelius. Greg!
who is In a hospital with her chest
;rushed She was caught between a i
ifeboat and the side of the sinking
ship while the boat was being lowered |
.nd was in the water from $50 Satur- !
lay night until 80 o'clock Sunday |
morning before being picked up and /
AIKEN aboard the Anyox
The ropes of the lifeboat in which |
me was being lowered gave way, she |
aid. and its entire cargo was thrown !;
nto the sea.
Eileen Dyer of La Grande. Ore. aged
I've, was rescued by the Anyox after |
'he had drifted around on wreckaee
the icy waters for nearly eight |
1ours. Little Eileen was unconscious
when found and was brought back to
;ensciousness only through the un-
lring efforts of Mrs. Grace Campbell
If San Francisco. Eileen with her
parents. Mr.. and Mrs H. Dyer. and
Ter sister and brother. the latter
wins. was on her way for a visit to
san Francisco.
Mrs. Dyer. who was twenty-five
ears old. and both of the twins, aged
TX. are reported missing.
Explosion Causes Death.
Some of the survivors planned to
cave today for San Francisco aboard
special train arranged for by Of
Icials of the line which owned the
llsaka. Others left Eureka last
light.
The authorities made plans to hold
n inquest today over the seventeen
odies in the morgue here.--,-
Some OF the deaths were declared
aused by the explosion of the
.laska's boilers as he ship started
linking.
Many OF the passengers and mem
ers of the crew who were blown into
he sea by the explosion succeeded in
gain boarding the ship or were res
ued by lifeboats after clingine to!
'reckage until help arrived, it was
aid.
So sudden did the tragedy happen
nat the steamers crew hardly had
Ime to prepare the lifeboats, and
iany of these were reported wrecked
nile being put over the vessels