The Daily Alaska empire., 1936-03-02
ALASKAN SINKS AFTER BREAKING
 HER TAILSHAFT
Owners Make Safety After Three-Hour Battle with
 One Oar in Heavy Sea
TALLAPOOSA BRINGS
 ILL-FATED PAIR HERE
Captain and Sister Report ed to Have Lost All in
 Sinking of Casboat

{ Capt. A. LaGasa, owner of the i gasboat Alaskan, and his sister, Lois LaGasa, who rowed ashore at Taku Harbor ill S>.iff from the Alaskan when it was apparently in sinking condition in Stephens Passage. ar rived here aboard the U s. Coast Guard cutter Tallapoosa last night. A thorough search of the entire dis trict by the Tallapoosa Saturday night and Sunday failed to disclose any evidence of the Alaskan, and it is the opinion of both Capt LaGasa and Lieut.. Miles Inlay of the Talla- poosa, that the gasboat unquestion- ably sank to the bottom of Stephens Passage
 At about l o'clock Saturday after noon while in the middle of Stephens ! Passage near Limestone Inlet, the tail-shaft of the Alaskan crystal ized and broke allowing sea water to enter the vessel through the stern tube. Efforts to plug the stern tube proved unavailing and the broken [ shaft knocked out the packing.
 When water in the bilges of the Alaskan had reached a depth of two feet. Capt Lagasa launched his skiff. breaking an oarlock and losing an oar due to the bounding of the heavy seas, and with one oar pad- ! Fdled himself and his sister to safety after a three hour battle with the waves.
 Upon reaching Tax: Harbor La Casa secured the assistance of the gasboat Nip and Tuck and started for Juneau. In the meanwhile the Alaskan had been driven by prevail ng southeast winds straight up the channel toward Juneau, and was sighted near Circle Point with her decks awash. The Nip and Tuck at tempted to tow the Alaskan to safety at Slocum Inlet but was unable to move the water-logged vessel
 Tally To Help
 Upon arriving at Juneau at 1O:4O pm. Saturday night aboard the Nip and Tuck, LaGasa requested assist ance of the Tallapoosa. The Coast Guard cutter left Juneau about an hour later. Lieut. Miles Imlay. com mander of the Tallapoosa. stated that he expected to find the Alaskan in the neighborhood of Point Bishop. but that no sign of the gasboat was observed. The Tallapoosa searched the coast of the mainland as far as Cooper Point, crossed to Circle point and continued the search to Taku Harbor, arriving there at 4 m. Sum- day.
 Visibility was very poor, Lieut.. Inlay said so the Tallapoosa re- mained at Taku Harbor until about 8:30 am. when the search was re- sumed. although strong wind made close approach to the shore-line ex- tremely hazardous. A thorough search of the entire area failed to disclose any further evidence of the Alaskan.
 Lose Personal Effects
 Lois LaGasa boarded the Talla- poosa at Taku Harbor yesterday
 
 morning, and arrived here with her brother aboard the Coast Guard ves- sei yesterday afternoon. All the per- sonal efefcts of both LaGasa and his sister were lost in the wreck of the Alaskan, which was their home. Last night Miss LaGasa was the guest of Mrs. George Anderson. and Capt. LaGasa spent the night aboard the gasboat Yakobi. owned by Capt. Tom Smith.
 Lieut.. Inlay commented upon the feat of seamanship accomplished by LaGasa in rowing several miles to safety with one oar through hiph seas and strong wind.
 On February 15 the Alaskan and the Tallapoosa went to Taku Harbor on an emergency trip to provide transportation for several travellers rom Tulsequah, who had been ma- rooned at the mouth of the Taku rlver The two vessels cooperated in removing Mrs. George Bacon, in nee Of medical attention, Joe smith, MT. and Mrs J, Lingard and their two sons, from ice at the mouth of the Taku River to Ju- neau.