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About The Coos Bay times. (Marshfield, Or.) 1906-1957 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 3, 1915)
A PESSIMIST IS A MAN WHO IS SEASICK DURING THt WHOLE VOYAGE Of LIFE Coos Bay Times Your Paper A Southwest Oregon Paper That's what tho Oooa Day Times Is. A Boatfe. west Oregon paper for Southwest Orogom people and devoted to tbo best Interest of this great icctloa . The Times jdwya boosts Md mtst knocks. mm Ihe Coos Bay Times la proud of Its title "The People' Taper," anu n strives at ail times to ii.. n to its namo by dovotlng Its cnerglss to promoting tbo people's laiorosts. MEMIIER OP TI1E ASSOCIATED PRESS Vol. No. XXXIX. Established 1878 MARSHFIELD, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1915 MORNING EDITION. Aa The Const Mali. AD IN SANTA CLARA WRECK EIGHT THE KNOWN DEAD AD ROD ES AND INJURED SURVIVORS IN SMALL CABIN MUCH SUFFERING WHEN DARKNESS AND HEAVY RAIN HOLDS HALF-CLAD AND SHIVERING PEOPLE IN SMALL COTTAGE ON THE BEACH 0 LACE REACHED ONLY BT HAIL FEAR IS THAT THERE ARE MORE DEAD AS SOME OF THE PASSENGERS AND CREW ARE MISSING VESSEL A TOTAL WRECK Eight persons are dead, including four women, three chil dren and one man, as a result of the wrecking of the steamer Santa Clara, south of Coos Bay Bar last evening. It is feared there may be more dead. Captain A. Lofstcd and six members of the crew who were urned out of a capsized boat and who were believed to have been lost, were late last night rescued. They had gotten back to the Santa Clara and were reached by the Coast Guard crew and removed to safety in the breeches buoy. ' .lasBik: SUFFERING IS GREAT The dead were all women and children passengers, except ing the one sailor. Much suffering was borne by the survivors on account of )hc isolated spot where they landed, the heavy rain and the darkness adding to the distress. STRUCK ON SOUTH SPIT The Santa Clara struck as she was crossing over the bar. She went side on at the South Spit at a point opposite where the portion of the jetty shows above water. She was carried in toward the south and finally stranded about half a mile from shore, opposite the cove where the Marconi was wrecked. BOTTOM IS TORN OUT. She pounded about frightfully after striking and it is bcliev believcd that her bottom was torn out as some of the freight washed ashore and men aboard saw big timbers come up, which evidently were from her bottom. There is no chance for her being saved, but those who went ashore could have stayed on board during at least most of the !ght, or until they were removed by the life-savers. Excepting the officers, who with the captain, were removed by the life-savers, all the others who came ashore were in smaHboats which were lowered from the Santa Clara. LIFE BOAT TURNED OVER. The women and 'children dead lost their lives when a life boat turned over near the shore, Apparently they were going Jo reach land in safety, but the boat struck a sand bar and urned turtle and the helpless women and children were dashed into the water and drowned within sight of those in the other boats and on board the vessel before help could reach them. SCENE IS HEART RENDING. . Most distressing were the circumstances after the survivors were brought ashore. Darkness had fallen and the place where the people landed was at Bastendorf Beach, where the Mussel Reef club house is located. This is a little cabin built by some of the boys who go there and it was last night the scene for as heart-rending a tragedy as Coos Bay ever knew. DEAD, INJLRED AND LIVING The bodies of the dead women and children lay omthe porch and in the room. A little boy was on the only bed apparently wad, several trying to revive him. Relatives of those lost tried "i vain to bring back their lovett ones to life. In the smal room of the house were crowded many persons, some who had gathered to help. Sailors with their clothing gone, shivered w'ln the cold. Only a small stove heated the place. WOMEN ARE HYSTERICAL ' Women wrapped in what covering could be gotten together fyhe time were in hysterical condition and moaned and cried Jfflea number were injured and suffered greatly. DARKNESS AND RAIN COME , Jo add to the horror a drenching rain poured down outside So t was impossible for the victims to leave the cabin in their exhausted condition. The only light was from a small kero jens : lamp, which barely gave sufficient illumination to distin guish one face from another. , HEART-BROKEN MOTHER. U) Mrs. Jennie Bogue, of Gold Hill, mother of Delmar Bogue, was heart broken and when it was found that the little boy MRS. M. J. DUNN, of Butte, Montana. MRS. D. H. THORNE, of Hood River. EUGENE GILLINWATER, aged 7 years. DELMAR BOGUE, of Gold Hill, aged 9 years. HARRY ANDRADE; oiler of Santa Clara. Thirteen months old son of J. C. Crowles, of Mill City, Oregon. Unidentified woman, rather heavy in build. Unidentified woman, elderly, wearing gold ring on left hand. MANY BRAVE ACTS CAFT. LOFSTEDT IS SAVED J. W. NOYES, 01-' EUKEKA, KES CUES WOMAN' AND (DHL The Passenger List Anderson, R. W. Allen, G. Ballard, Mrs. F. T. , Ballard, F. T. Ballard, Lucille Bogue, Mrs. Jennie Bogue, Henry Bogue, William Bogue, Delmar Cramer, J Church, Alice Collins, S. Castigan, M Crowley, B. J. Crowley, Mrs. B. J. and in fant son, Alfred. Cullcn, Mrs. B. Dunn, Mrs. Bridget. Dunn, Ray M. Dunn, Margaret. Davis, Dr. D. F. Gaff, T. Gillen, J. A. Jas. Lawson, Ferndale,Cal. Gillenwater, A; Gillenwater, June Gillenwater, Hugh Holgart, Chas. Hunter, W. Hayes, Jas. Jones, Fred. Kanack, Henry Larson, J. W. Murphy, Patrick Morris, Mrs. H. A.' Martin, A. P. Marguard, W.jG. McCarn, H. H. Neill, J. Jr. Stenhouse, G. W. Kincaid, Chas. C. Sykes, E. A. Thorn, D. H. Thorn, Mrs. Nettie E. Turney, Annie Weekie, M. Noyes, John W., Eureka. Tho nbovo list of passongors on tin Knntn Clara was tolegruphod from Portland about midnight and may contain somo innccurnclea. It Ih said somo loft tho boat at Astoria and did not got back lioforo uho sailed. Jmnos Lawson, of Korndnlo banrdod tho steamer' at Astoria. Mo Is among tho rescued. could not be revived, the mother was taken away to a place where she could be cared for. Some of the people were 'taken to the Bastendorf f farm house, which is some distance away, and some were removed early in the evening in an autp to Marshfield, but then the rain was pouring down and the roads were in such muddy condi tion that it was a much greater risk to try to move the injured and suffering. ONLY REACHED BY TRAIL The cabin where the survivors had gathered js on the beach and it was necessary to travel over a dark and slippery trail before reaching the main road and then it was 18 miles to Marshfield. PHYSICIAN WORKED HARD Dr. Ira B. Bartle was one of the first physicians to reach the place and he sent a general call for help. But physicians and pulmotors and other needed assistance were eighteen miles away with a bad road between. Dr. Bartle did hereoic work PEOPLE ALMOST SMOTHERED Thn room became so close with its 75 occunants that one women, Miss Annie Tierney, with a gash on her face, wrapped j only in a blanket and suffering greatly, had to be carried out j in the rain to prevent her total collapse. SAVED SISTER; LOST MOTHER The incidents surrounding the gathering of the people in the little cabin were very sad. Roy Dunn, a young man from Butte, Montana, worked with his dead mother in hopes of bringing her back to life. He said: "I was in a boat which left after the first boat containing my mother and sister, Margaret. We got to shore first and then I saw the boat with the women turn over and all of them dash ed into the water. I could not see my mother again. She seemed to go down at once. I saw my little sister, so I waded out and swam in the breakers and cjothold of her and brought her ashore. I saved her, but I could not sav emy mother." LIGHT HOUSE A MILE AWAY Captain Dunson, of the Cape Araqo lighthouse sent Word to have any of the survivors brought there, but that was over a mile away and the road a dark and muddy one. Some of the people who were not suffering areatly and who got ashore safely, attempted to wark to the city, not knowing how far it was. Thev were picked up bv autos. MANY MACHINES WENT When the news of the wreck spread many machines made the trip down and many willing persons offered assistance of every kind and before many hours all had been cared for as best they could under the circumstances. .The. rain stooped and most everyone was brought to Marshfield or North Bend. (Continued on Page Three,) Sailors lYom Vessel Do Effective. Work Mr. and Mrs. Wnssoit Aiuoiik l'li-M to Help Thero wore many nets of heroism In connection with tho wreck. J. W. Noyes, n modest middle-aged man, of Eureka, told last night of two rescues ho made. Mr. Noyes lives at Euroku, whero his son, Quy Noyes, Is In tho I'ostotflco, and ho was returning from a long trip. In tho wator ho managed to got hold or n lady and n llttlo girl. Ho got ono under each arm, and al though not a largo man, managed to hold on to them with great dif ficulty, until they got safely to shore Ho did not learn tho names of those ho rescued. Sailors Worked Well. Tho sallqru from tho Santa Clarn did excellent work In taking caro o tho Injured and unconscious. They understood what to do and workod with intolllgonco ami dis patch, They workod for a long time, over somo of tho womou and ehll dron In efforts to rovlvo thorn. Even those who woro apparently dead were given attention until thero was no further hopo of saving thorn. Hendercd Great Aid. Mr. and Mrs. Tom Wobboii woro among the first to roach tho placo and did much to rollovo tho suffer ing. Mr. Wesson got out his auto uiobllo and inndo two trips to North Demi and Marshfield, carrying up the suffering womou and children. Mrs. Wasson, with ono of tho only lanterns uvallablo early In tho ava iling, wont about tho womou and gave what relief was possible All Heady to Help Everybody who could glvo tiny help was ready to assist, but it was difficult to do anything, on account of tho great dlstnnco from tho cities and tho long tlmo required to got there. Coverings woro gathord from what fow housos thero woro In the neighborhood so tho women and children could have somo warmth. Most everyone wna wot through mid frightfully chilled. Drought DlanketM. A. J, .Mendel, of tho Hub, took a quantity of blankets and wont with Dr. Ilousoworth, but tho innchuio broke down mid unfortunately tho blankets did not reach there early. Offered His Doom. Whon somo of tho survivors reached Marshfield tho proprietor of tho Central Hotel left word in tbo restaurant for any who woro wrcckod to come to his placo and sleep as his guests. At first there woro not many at tho beach to liolp, but whon tho nows of tho wreck spread, big crowds gathared and ovoryono was being looked after. RIDE IN THE RAIN WOMEN' AND (DHLS l-'HOM VES SEL HAVE JIAItl) THH Willi Clotldittf Drenched and Al most Exhaiihted, Drought in Atito to the City. Tho first survivors to bo brought awuy from tho sceno of tho wreck camo to Marshfield in Tom Wusson's auto. It. was pouring dowu rain and they woro just out of tho wator and in a pitiable condition. Thore woro several young women and girls In tho party and thoy suffer ed greully, making tho hara trip over the rough road and from tho exposure in their dronched condi tion. Hide Dough One. Thoy shivered in the rain and wore Jolted about over tho 18 miles of road, much of which was exceed ingly rough and not pleasant to travel, oven whon in normal condi tion. One of tho young ladles was In a hysterical condition and a' will suffer moro or less from tnelr experlonco. In this first party to start for tho city were A. C. Martin, of New port,; Miss Tholma Snell, of Moa dowvale, Wash.! Miss Ilachael Crow ley. of Mill City, Oregon; J. A. Cramer, of Corvallls, Wash.; and Miss Alice Church, of Marshflold. AND PRAISED 0 BRAVERY SOBS WHEN HUSBAND OF ONE WOMAN LOST TELLS THE SKIPPER THAT NO ONE BLAMES HIM FOR THE DISASTER. SAY STEERING GEAR WENT WRONG AFTER BEING TAKEN WITH SIX OF CREW FROM SANTA CLARA IN BREECHES BUOY HE EXPLAINS HOW ACCIDENT OCCURRED. "It was the steering gear. It went wrong somewhere and refused to answer the helm after we had turned in to cross the bar. The seas caught Us then and drifted us, helpless, onto the South Spit." This was the brief statement of Captain Lofstedt of the Santa Clara, a moment after he was hauled up on the cliff overlooking the wreck in a breeches buoy. He was the last to leave his ship and came only after all lights on board had been "doused" that there might be no danger from fire. COAST GUARD CREW TOIL Captain Britt, of the Coast Guard Station, and his crew of men, toiled for hours through utter darkness and dense under brush to get their lines and tackles rigged on the oliff overlook ing the wreck and some 200 yards away. They were success ful in bringing ashore in the breeches buoy the last seven men aboard, all members of the crew and including the skipper. These are some of the men who attempted to leave In the sixth life-boat which was capsized by a heavy sea. sending them all into the breakers. These seven men struggled back on board. Practically the same story was given by Quartermaster Lahke, who was at the wheel when the Santa Clara struck, "It wouldn't work," he said last night. "I had it put far over to starboard in an effort to throw the ship away from the spit. It was no use, the wheel would not respond." STRUCK ON SOUTH SPIT Captain Lofstedt continued his story: "When the wheen went faulty I called from the bridge for full speed astern. It was too late then. A moment later and we struck on the South Spit. We bumped once or twice and the seas, which were fairly large then, seemed to carry us entirely over tho spit and into . deep water again when the vessel swung clear for a time. AFRAID TO LOWER ANCHOR "I was afraid to lower by anchors there. Not a bit of chance of getting the ship out, and I thought if she was going to be a total wreck the best way would be to let her drift as far inshore as possible to give the people a better chance of getting saved" CAPTAIN OLSON APPROVED Captain Olson, of the Adeline, told him: "Captain, you did exactly right. We were watching you and knew that the low ering of the anchors would not have been for the best. You did exactly right all the way through and I want to commend you" Doforo tho Coast Ounrd men reached tho bluff tho men aboard the Santa Clam had rigged tholr line gun from a point abaft their funnel and on the second attempt had shot a lino directly over tho limb of the treo to which it was lator mado fast. Delay Explained Captain Lofstedt explained tholr d olay in gottlng tho lino ashore. "In the excitement someone threw tho caps overbourd. Wo tried to find mora and lator lighted tho powdor with newspapers, 1 was afraid some ono was going to got hurt." ' Note Is Sent Ashore Tho brooches buoy was rigged, a tho men aboard tho doomed craft, night watchman. Ho reported ever said tho ship hud filled with wator Captain Olson, of the Adellno, had seamen from his ship loft lying In go out when tho Sunta Cluru wont n "It's all all over with now," deel dovu to my passengers." nolo was sont on the first rope to Tho first man off was C. Carlson, ythlng till right on board, though' and was going to pieces In places. early como .to tho point with two tho lower bay, Sho was ready to shoro. nrod Captain Lofstodt. "Let mo set Captain Showed (heat Feeling Through it all tho skipper hold lilt, nervo until tbo very last when his pent up feelings overcame him for a few moments on tho beach. Every one of tho officers, tho sailors and tho passeugors hud only praise for the cool headed way In which he ' directed tho lowering ot tfye life boats from tho bridge. Tho crow went to their posts,, as in drill, and' thero scouiB to have been very llttlo confusion about tho decks. Coast Guard Hurried Down Whon tho Coast Ouard lookout ut tho North Jetty reported the wre ck, Captain Urltt and his men hur-vled down from tho station In their power boat. They saw nothing cold bo dons Jrom Inside the br and went back for tholr breeches buoy and gun to shoot a line from tho cliff north of llaatendorf bea eh, (Continued on Pago Three,)