The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-02-05


passengers and crew Of 124, from
Seward to Seattle, broke in two on
the reef The stern half capsized
after hours of buffeting by 60-miIe
winds and churning seas.
Everybody had been ordered to
move toward the bow half Of the
ship which remained firmly wedged
on the rocks" Bassette said. But
some of us didn't make It," He was
swept overheard with Army Staff
Sergeant Jack Reinhold and the
Yukon's assistant purser, Charles
Scrivener.
Three were washed to the foot
Of 300-foot cliffs whose face was
so steep they were unable TO climb
ashore. Small rescue boats picked
them up, 80 minutes later.
IT don't know what happened to
the rest of those who went over.
board" Bassette said. THANK God
we had life-belts."
HuddIed In Forward
The rest of the passengers and
crew were huddled in the forward
part of the vessel which was firmly
resting on the rocks. Rescue workers
hoped to transfer them to safety this
morning.
The center of the storm had
passed to the east.
Oil escaping from the battered
liner Gained the seas last night
enough for power launches TO ap-
proach the ship. The frightened wom-
en- and children were lowered on
Swaying ropes to be taken to the
freighter North Haven and the Naval
transport Henry s. Failing. which
were standing by.
AS the transfer was completed, the
recently evacuated stern snapped off
and teetered on the rocks, threaten
ing to plunge into the sea.
$50 GIs On Board
Among the 495 persons aboard the
Yukon were $50 servicemen return
ing home from duty in Alaska. Mrs.
John z. Manders, wife Of the Mayor
OF Anchorage, her niece. Carol
Treadwell, 9. and Mr.. and Mrs
George Marsh, owners Of a Marshall
Alaska mine.
The crews Of the rescue crafts
worked all through the Arctic night
in the weirdly weaving beams OF
searchlightS aboard the tossing ships
in an attempt to transfer the pas
sengers from the hulk Of the il-fated
| Yukon.
The Coast Guard Cutter, Ononda.
ga, was the first vessel TO reach the
Yukon. She came within hailing dis.
lance of the liner at D. m, EST
nine hours after the Yukon had sem
out her first SOS.
The Onondaga was joined by thu
cutter Cedar, the vessels NORTH
Haven and the Henry s. Failing, ths
Navy salvage ship Curb and tn,
s. s. zalinski and the Patrol Boa
lo7.
Rescuers POweFIeSs
But they were powerleSs TO do any
thing in the face of the raging sea!
that sent 22-foot waves crashing
over their decks. The blizzard which
reduced visibility to zero, was &C
companied by winds Of hurrican,
force.
AAAS bpAAAAA5 seas AOAtCA IA dLbciupb
to get line aboard the liner whicl
lay On the rocks, her stern dipping
down into the water.
Her position was made even NOR
precarious because of the DANCE
that she might slip off into the wa
ter, which is i,500-feet deep at tina
point.
When the liner broke In two. tn
after section rolled to starboari
but the forward part, including tn
salon deck. remaining. solidl
grounded on the rocks.
Army Acts Quickly
The Yukons captain, Christian /
TFondsen. Seattle. had ordered al
persons aboard IN the forward par
when 1t became apparent that tn
vessel was breaking up.
Trondsen reported that no on
aboard the vessel was injured wheI
she ran aground about Q a. m. =
The Yukon crashed into the rock
after O rough eight-hour journe
from Seward. At first It was though
she suffered only superficial danag
and would be floated again at hig
tide, but as thesstorm increased
intensity and began to batter tn
ship. it became clear that she wa
doomed.
Rescue operations were starte