The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-08-08
PASSENGERS WERE
BLOWN FROM DECK
OF THE ALASKA AS.
BOILER EXPLODED
SURVIVORS TELL FULL STORY
OF SINKING OF STEAMER; 166
RESCUED; IL OF DEAD
ARE IDENTIFIED

decks of the vessel into the ocean
when the ships boiler exploded as
the Alaska started sinking after twice
hitting on Blunts Reef, Saturday
night survivors brought here said to-
day. The steamer Anyox today
brought in 166 survivors of the wreck
to Eureka. Seventeen dead We're also
brought here, including three women
and a child. There were 81 others
missing and believed dead. Twelve
of the dead had been identified.
The list Of missing may be changed
for lists of passengers and crew
aboard have not been verified
The fun story of the sinking of the
Alaska did not become known until
survivors had landed here. 1t was
brought out the Alaska was proceed
ing toward san Francisco in a dense
fog when she struck submerged
ledge off the reef. This shock was
almost instantly followed by another
as the vessel struck an outcropping
Of the reef above the water.
The Alaska struck the reef shortly
after 9 o'clock. Immediately, wire
less distress signals were flashed.
Five miles away the steamer Anyox
of Van Couver Il. c.. picked them
up and disregarded fog and danger
Of striking the same rocks as the
Alaska, put on fun speed to the res
cue. At $3.50 o'clock the Anyox re-
ceived the Aaskas final message:
1--WE are sinking by the head"
Before the AnyoX could reach the
stricken Alaska, the latter had sunk.
In the fog the Anyox came upon a
lifeboat with survivors from the
Alaska. The boat was partially filled
with sea water and oily scum. The
oil, survivors said, had been thrown
over them and in their boat by the
explosion Of the boilers which wrecked
the Alaska amidships.
Eighteen-year-old Frona Erker OF
Cornelius, Ore. today was in u hos
pital with her chest crushed and her
body otherwise badly bruised. She
was caught between a lfeboat and
the sinking ship after being thrown
into the water She was in the water
from the time OF the wreck at 9:3l
o'clock Saturday night until 80
o'clock this morning before being pick
ed up and taken aboard the Anyox.
The list of identified or partially
identified bodies is as follows:
Passengers:
Thomas Johnston, Brooklyn. n. Y
+. Pickall, Hubbard, ore.
\. y. Hutchins, Portland. Ore.
$. Kuma2awa, steerage passenger.
Crew:
Chief Steward Charles Hearne.
Steward +. X. King.
Frank Comm.
Ralph j. Mockett. seaman.
------ Larson, Engineer, Portland
Ore.
Deck hand, name unknown.
Waiter, name unknown.
Bell hoy. believed named Baldwin. OF
Oakland, Cal.
Eileen Dyer Of la Grande. Ore
aged five. was rescued by the AnyoS
after she had driftcd around on wreck
age in the icy waters for nearly IS
hours. Little Eileen was unconscious
when found. Eileen with her par
ents, Mr.. and Mrs. II. Dyer. and her
twin sister and brother was on her
way for a visit to San Francisco.
Mrs. Dyer, who was % years old
and both Of the twins. aged six, arc
reported missing Dyer was rescued
passengers say in an insane condi
tion ana was only partially Quieted
when told OF the rescue of his baby
Eileen.
The crew hardly had time to pre-
pare the life boats and many OF
these We're reported wrecked while
being put over the sides loaded.
j. II. Moss and g. L. Vilim. both vi
Chicago. said they reached a lifeboat
which had been swept off the decks
Other lfeboats, they declared. went
down with the ship.
Captain Harry Hobey Of the Alaska
preferred to 60 10 his death rather
than leave his command passengers
reported When Mr.. Moss removed
a lifcbct he was wearing and Offered
II to Captain Hobey, telling him tc
save himself saw the captain walk
ing away, replying:
Il prefer TO 80 down with my ship
Although q veteran IN the servic,
Captain Hobey was only 40 years old
He assumed command Of the Alaska
three weeks ago and this was hi.
third trip
Captain :. $. Noddy and the crew
of the AnyoN werv commended col
their rescue work. Accompanied IN
three seamcn volunteers. Second OF
ficer Andrew Sinclair of the Anyo,
took lifcboat from the Alaska ant
withing thirty minutes rescued THIRTY
persons clinging To wreckage In tn,
water.
Heroic officers OF the engine room
crew prevented panic when IN,
Alaska foundercd First Officer W. T.
McClintock said today Electric light,
aboard the steamer burned unit sh,
went down, as the engine room work
crs remained at their posts and KEEP
up steam FOR the dynamos.
zen or eleven lifehoats and foui
life RATS were launched" he said
I'VE were able to clear the stafboar,
side of all passengers and those VIII,
werr lost were on the port side"
Captain Hobey was in the whee
house when she foundered"
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