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VOL. X
THE DALLES, OREGON. THURSDAY. AUGUST-12, 1897
NO 182
WRECKED ON A REEF
Particulars of the Loss of the
Steamship Mexico.
PROSPECTORS STALLED AT DYE A
Many of Them Find It Impossible to Get
Through the Passed Freight Car
riers Are In Demand.
Victoria, Aug. 11. The steamer Mei
ich which was wrecked at the entrance
of Sitka harbor at 4 o'clock a. m. Au
gust 5th, had been rnnning at half speed
becaaee of the dense log until a few mo
ments before the rock was struck. Pilot
Connells rang for full steam ahead, and
soon after there was a terrific shock on
the starboard quarter. So great was the
momentum that the ship was carried
through the reef which, it' is believed,
was the West Devil rocks, and into deep
water beyond.
Instantly there was a call of the crew,
and without the slightest confusion the
seventy-five passengers on board were
safelv placed in the ship's boats. Soon
after the vessel struck the heavy fog j
cleared and it was bright and sunshiny)
before she went down. j
There was no excitement on board.
The passengers and watch below' were
awakened by the shock. The alarm was
quickly given and all were quickly
dressed, and, reassured by the coolness
of the officers, awaited their time to
enter the boats. The vessel was valued
at about $100,000.
Seattle, Wash., Aug. 11. The
steamer Topeka, from Alaska, arrived
here this morning, bringing the crew of
the steamer Mexico, which was wrecked
near Sitka.
When seen this morning, Captain
Thomas preferred to give out no ex
tended statement concerning the loss of
the Mexico, pending investigation to be
made this afternoon by Inspector W. J.
Bryant. The captain was in bed when
the accident occurred at about 4:30
o'clock Thursday morning. From the
(. time the steamer struck the rock until it
disappeared beneath the waves about
two hours elapsed. Captain Thomas
and Pilot Connell were the last to leave
the sinking ship. The self-control of
the passengers was commended by Cap
tain Thomas. He said there was no un
necessary excitement; the passengers
were aroused and put in boats with as
many of their personal effects as pos
sible. When asked concerning conditions at
Dyea, he said the people there were
making the best of their situation. The
opening of a trail through White's Pass
was nnder consideration by those seek
ing entrance to Yukon waters. Chil
koot Pass is full of prospectors as far as
Sheep Camp.
Wharfage facilities at Dyea are poor,
although the Mexico landed her cargo of
both passengers and freight safely on the
upland by means of boats. A new
wharf is being built at Skaguay. It is
doubtful if many people there now get
out this winter.
Percy Higgenbotham, who went up on
the Mexico as far as Dyea just for the
trip and came back on the same steamer,
this morning describes in a graphic
manner the sinking of the ill-fated ves
sel. Said he:
"The vessel went on the rock early in
the morniug and when the officers said
that the passengers had better take to
the life boats every one was cool and
calm and the ladies, when going down
the ladder over the side of the steamer
to get in the small boats, sang Christian
endeavor songs. The captain was cool,
but he couldn't realize that the boat was
Garland's Happy
Thought Salve.
We used your Salve on our little child, who
had 8c;ld Head. One jar cured her. We had
been using an ointment that the doctor pre
scribed, but it did not heal it up: so we can say
Garland's Happy Thought Salve is the best thing
torus. MRS. HASKELL,
Kenney Street, Seattle, Wash.
Sold by Donnell the Druggist, 50 cents
a jar.
Absolutely Pure.
Celebrated for Its g&at leavening strength aud
healthfulness. Assures the food against alum
and all forma of adulteration common to the
cheap brands.
Rotai. Bakinc; Powder Co. New Yoek.
doomed. Some one rushed to him and
asked, 'Can I get my baggage in a small
boat?' 'Calm yourself,' said Captain
Thomas. 'Better get in a small boat
yourself and leave the baggage to take
care of itself. It is impossible that the
Mexico will sink.' Some other passen
ger rushed to him for advice a little later
and the captain said : 'Take no chancee ;
get in the boat. I'm going to save my
ship if I can. She will not sink; she
cannot sink.'
"Within 20 minutes after the shock
the steamer's hold was filled with water
and the baggage was floating around.
We could hear the swish of the water
and could feel the steamer settling.
After all others had left the vessel and
stood away out of danger to watch the
work of dissolution, the captain and
his second mate, McCarthy, remained
on board. Twenty minutes before she
went under the captain arid mate
left the wreck in the steamer's
launch.
''Just two hours and 10 minutes after
the rock was struck the Mexico's bows
sank underneath the water out of sight.
Then the feows bobbed up again and the
stern sank under. Suddenly the bows
shot upward in a perpendicular line, and
the good ship Mexico went to the bot
tom like a fchot, stern first. Just as the
vessel went under, the charthonse,
which had not been tightly secured to
the dock, broke loose and floated to the
top. Then it was that this charthouse,
seven lifeboats and one steam launch,
loaded with passengers, was all that ap
peared of the Mexico remaining on the
surface of the water.
"No one knows exactly in how much
waterthe wreck of the Mexico lies.
Seventy fathoms of line were put out
without touching bottom.
"As soon as the Mexico went under,
and the captain had taken the bearings
of the ill-fated spot, the lifeboats pulled
away for Percy island, 13 miles aistant,
where the passengers landed on a rock
and had something to eat. Then the
long row was renewed, and the passen
gers were landed at Metlakahtla, 17
miles from the island, and 30 miles from
the point where the vessel went down,
and there all remained until picked up
by the steamer City of Topeka, bound
south."
Owing to the fact that the Mexico sank
in water so deep no effort will be made
to raise her. The Pacific Coast Steam
ship people, owners of the wrecked
steamer, say the Mexico must be in
about 85 fathoms of water, and nothing
can be done at such a depth.
The Mexico was one of the best-known
steamers on the Pacific coast. She was
built in 1882 by Dickie Bros., of San
Francisco, the Risdon iron works fur
nishing her engines, and was owned by
the Oregon Improvement Company,
and was in charge of Captain Hunting
ton. The Mexico registered 1797 tons,
and had a carrying capacity of 1341 tons.
She was 275 feet long, 36 feet beam
and 20 feet depth of hold. She was a
wooden steamer, and did good secvice
dnring her 15 years existence.
Do you want your windows cleaned,
carpets taken up, beaten and re laid, or
janitor work of any kind done by a
first-class man? If so, telephone Henry
Johnson at Parkins' barber shop.
'Phone 119. alO-lf
: Yellow washing powder will make
your clothes the same color. . Avoid
this by using Soap Foam. It's pure
white. a2-3m
PROSPECTORS TUKHISO BACK.
Many Find It Impossible to Get Across
the Pass.
Seattle, Wash., Aug. 11. The steam
er Rosalie arrived this morning from
Dyea, and from the statements of the
passengers it seems probable that a large
number of people who started, for the
Yukon will return to Seattle without
having gone further than Dyea or Ska
gua. It is reported on good authority
that outfits are being sold for almost
nothing and disgusted Klondikers are
arranging to come home as fast as pos
sible. Several were passengers on the
ill-fated Mexico and some 20 or 30 men
have returned to Juneau.
Between 2500 and 3000 miners are now
encamped at Dyea. They have organ
ized to keep down packing rates, and are
doing everything possible to get over
the pass. A rate of 20 cents per pound
from Dyea to the head of Lake Bennett
has been decided on by the miners' or
ganization and no one is allowed to pay
more. This step was made necessary
owing to the fact that men with money
were on the ground and offering as high
as 30 cents per pound in some cases to
get goods across. The poor man was left
behind and something had to be done.
Ae ia usual in such cases an organiza
tion was effected, it is said, and parties
were appointed to see that the rate for
packing was kept down.
F. B. Porter, of New York city, who
has been in Alaska for months on min
ing business, came down on the Rosalie.
He said :
About 3000 people are encamped at
Dyea. They are living in tents waiting
for a chance to get their goods to Lake
Bennett. Many have already sold their
outfits and are arranging to come back.
Skaguay trail is not open beyond ' the
summit. Some time ago a man reported
that the trail was open, and many of
those going into the Klondike landed
there. Juneau men who attempted to
take a small outfit over this trail were
compelled to turn back. They returned
to Juneau, enlarged their outfits and will
go in over the Dyea trail, Men are
needed to pack on these trails, not
horses. Horses get along all right until
they reach the summit, then a man has
to pack his own outfit or sell it. There
are 150 Indians at Dyea who are getting
20 cents per pound."
Captain Robertson, of the Rosalie,
was seen this morning. He said :
"We made a quick trip up in 34 days.
Our passengers were landed at the dock
at Skaguay. I did not go ashore to in
vestigate the condition of the miners al
ready there, so can give little informa
tion on that score. There was consider
able confusion along the trail, and a
great many of the miners are not hav
ing very much success in getting their
stuff in. They have pitched their tents
and piled up their outfits waiting for
packers, and for the trail to be fixed up.
I was informed that men were at work
widening the trails, and that they would
soon be in a passable condition. The
first pack train was expected back from
the lake the evening we left. They ex
pect to make the trip in two days.
SKAGUAY ROUTE IS OPEN.
But the
Trail Is Reported
Condition.
In Poor
Dyea, Alaska, Aug 4 Cvia Seattle, Aug.
11.) The British steamers Islander and
Gees have arrived with about 500 pros
pectors, which increases the number on
the Dyea and Skaguay trails to fully
1500.
Late reporis have come in to the effect
that the Skaguay .route is open to the
lakes, and that it is about forty-five
miles long. It is of a zig-zag course over
the mountains, and the road is very soft.
There are some 200 or 300 head of
horses on the trail, and they will soon
tramp the road into a deplorable condi
tion. The probability of one man in ten
reaching the Klondike is remote.
Old Alaska prospectors, some of whom
have wintered in the Yukon and know
I what to expect are becoming frightened
and are turning back. Not that they
fear the hardships, but that they are
apprehensive of a famine on acconnt of
so many men rushing headlong to the
mines without enough provisions to last
them two months.
The best evidence that those upon the
ground regard the situation with more
or less alarm is the fact that many are
paying 20 cents a pound to have freight
packed across Dyea pass. This is an in
crease of 3 cents per pound since the
sailing of the Al-Ki, at which time 16
Closing
Prices
5HIRT WAIST SELLING with us has been profitable. The bulk of our stock
has been disposed of, and what we have on hand we are quite willing arid can
afford to offer to our customers at ,
Decided Bargains.
All 50c and 75c
WAISTS
Reduced to 35c
and 17 cents were charged. Twenty
cents. is the regular rate over the Dyea
or Chilkoot paes route. This increase
and exorbitant charte is due to a scar
city of horses. Without pack animals
of some description it appears to be next
to Impossible at this season to get freight
and outfits across the divide.
A Four Days' Clen-Up.
Redding, Cal., Aug. 10. J. B. and R.
B. Graves boarded the overland train to-,
night having in their possession $42,000
in gold, the result of four days work on
Morrison gulch, a tributary of Codec
creek, beyond Carville, in Trinity
county. They have been mining on the
gulch for a year past, and ran a tunnel
into a ledge of red and black iron forma
tion 3K feet wide. Thev struck several
pockets of pure gold embedded in the
ledge, one of the purest yielding $4000,
while several others yielded from $3000
to $300. On August 4th, at a point 25
feet from the mouth of the. tunnel, and
12 feet from the surface, they uncovered
a large pocket of pure gold. In four
days they took out 163 pounds, avoirdu-
poir weight. The largest piece was three
feet long, two feet wide and five inches
thick. The pocket yielded $42,000. The
ledge in still intact, and averages from
$300 to $500 per ton.
LOST.
A Mystic Shrine pin ; two tiger claws
in shape of a half moon suspended to a
scimiter, and to which was attached a
star containing a email diamond. The
finder will confer a great favor and be
suitably rewarded by returning to
A. S. Mac Almbteb,
At The Chronicle office.
Cash In l'our c becks.
All countv warrants registered prior
to March 11, 1893, will be paid at my
office. Interest ceases after Aug 5,
1897. C. L. Phillips,
Countv Treasurer.
This Is Toot Opportunity.
On reeeict of ten cents, cash or stamps,
at generous sample will be mailed of the
most noDular Catarrh and Hay Fever Cure
(Ely's Cream Balm) sufficient to demon,
titrate the great merits of the remedy.
ELY BROTHERS,
56 Warren St., New xork City.
Ttev. Jolir F.eid, Jr.. of Great Falls, Mont.,
recommended Ely's Cream Balm to me. I
can emphasize his statement, "It is a posi
tive cure for catarrh if used as directed."
Rev. Francis W. Poole, Pastor Central Prea.
Church, Helena, Mont.
Ely's Cream Balm is the acknowledged
cure for catarrh and contains no mercury
( nor any injurious drug. Price, 50 cents.
All $1.00
WAISTS
Reduced to 50c
At ttie Busy Store.
eiv York Weekly Tribune
With the close of the Presidential Campaign THE TRIBUNE recognizes the
fact that the American people are now anxious to give their attention to home and
business interests. To meet this condition, politics will have far less space and
prominence, until another State or National occasion demands a renewal of the
fight for the principles for which THE TRIBUNE bas labored from its inception
to the present day. and won its greatest victories.
Every possible effort will be pnl forth, and money freely spent, to make THE
WEEKLY TRIBUNE pre-eminently a National Family Newspaper, interesting,
instructive, entertaining and indisnensable to eaeh member of the family.
We furjrish "The Chronicle" and N. Y. Weekly Trib
une one year for only $1.75.
EST' Write your name and address on a postal card, send it to Geo. W. Best,
Tribune Office, New York City, acd a sample copy of The New York Weekly Trib
nne will be mailed to von.
PHESCHlPTIOfi DRUGGIST
t
TOILET ARTICLES AND PERFUMERY.
Ojp. A. M. Williams & Co.,
i
T.. Z. DONNE
BISHOP SCOTT ACRDEIWY
FOUNDED 1370.
A Boarding and Day School for Boys, Under
Military Discipline.
The 20th year under the present management befrfns Sent 14, 1897. This institution
is thoroughly equipped for the mental, social, physical ana moral training of boys. A.
thorough preparation for any college or scientific school. Graduates at present in Yale,
West Point, Massachusetts I nttitute of Technology, 8tate Universities of California, Ore.
gon, Pennsylvania. Stanford and McGill. During vacation visitors welcome crom 9 to 12
a. m. For catalogue and other informntion, address the Principal, J. W. HII.I M. I.
Portland, Oregon. Postofhee drawer 17.
i Shirt I
Waists
All $1.25 and $1.50
WAISTS
Reduced to 75 c
Farmers and Villagers,
FOB
Fathers and Mothers,
FOB
Sons and Daughters,
FOK
All the Family. v
THE DALIES, OR.