Tho steamer Curacao belong
ing to tho Pacific Coast Steam
ship Company is laying today a
total wreck on the West Coast
of Prince of Wales Island. She
was steaming on her regular
course from Craig to Swifts
Cannery at the Warm Chuck
on Ihe morning of June 21. She
had passed St. Phillips Island
and was abeam of Culebra Is
land and about a mile and a
half off shore when she struck
an uncharlered rock. She
slruck while going at regular
speed on her starboard bow arn.l
passed clear over ihe rock,
’i lie channel where she struck
is three miles wide and is a
perfectly slrait course at that
joint. The rock is almost in
ihe center-of Tornweka Bay.
To people standing on deck i'.
felt as if the boat were thrown
logli in the. air. The ship
then look a heavy list lo port
followed by a very heavy list I j
starboard after she had righted
herself. The Captain, Wm.
rl hompson, ordered the wire
less operator F. A. Shaeffer to
secure help if possible, lie in1
mediately sent out the S. O. S.
call and continued to do so
until ihe engine room became
flooded and cut off the power.
The Captain ordered the life
boats cleared away in readiness
foi lowering as the damage
v. .is evidently serious. The ship
slruck at 7:20 A. M. and the
Captain at once ordered full
speed ahead as the engines
were undamaged. The wire
less operator says that the
steamer Alameda was heard a
honl 8:30 A. M. but he was up
able to establish comunication
with her on account of flic high
hills intervening. The opera
tors of the Commercial laud
stations were all off shift and
he was unable to get any of
them. The shores at that point
are all steep and rocky and
there was no place near, where
she could be beached so she
was headed foe Swifts Can
nery as that i- Ihe nearest place
with any beach. She was al
most in to the cannery when
ihe boilers became flooded and
Hie engines went out of com
ission. She was under head
way however and drifted in
until she struck within three
hundred feet of the wharf at
Swifts cannery. She was
beached at 9:10 A. M., a half
l our before extreme low water.
She sank at 2:13 P. M. and
b y in an upright position until
six in the evening before she
filled iij) and fell over on her
port side. Soundings were
taken al high lide and showed
a depth at eight feet of water
at her bow, seventy two feet at
the bridge and seventy two feet
at the stern with a gradual
slope and sand bottom from
the bridge back. At high tide
she lay with one foot of the
forward rail, and’ six feet of
Ihe smokestack showing. As
4he ship fell over the lashings
0 ft lie deckload carried away
ami il went drifting around the
hay, \fter Ihe accident io the
•ship breakfast was served to
the passengers and crew- ns
t.'ierc v. as no immediate dan get:.
After I ho shiji struc k the
beach ail r. :sengers were traits
ferri*d to tic beach and stores
were carried off. Preperation
were made 'o serve lunch and
to care for the passengers nn
1 il relief arrived.
The gas boat Uncle Ban w as
the first, boat on Ihe scene and
was dispatched to find the Sur
vey bin Gedney. The Gedney
arrived at 1 P. M. and stood by
to render all the assistance that
was possible. After the Cura
cao sank and all hope of living
Ihe ship was at an end the j as
s'ngers and crew were trans
ferred to ihe Gedney and her
lender the Cosmos, and starle.l
for Craig. Arriving there at 8Ar$
P. M. Upon arrival at Craig
care for the passengers and
arrangements were made to
crew for the night. The Orient,
started at once for Ketchikan
v. .th the news of the disaster.
I lie Gedney left the next morn
ing at 1 A. M. arriving at Ket
chikan at 8:-'i5 with all the pas
sengers and crew.
CapUiiu William Thompson;
first Officer, A. Wic; Seeomi
Officer, L. A. Laatz; Steward.
Ii. Kirmson; and Boatswain J
fioberg, remained at the wreck
for I he purpose of looking af
ter Hie company interests. The
Curacao at the time she struck
had six first class and 33 sec
ond class passengers. The
crew numbered 37, with
nine olficers making a total of
eighty live people.
The ship is laying in a fairly
well protected position and ic
tiling with her bow on a roc!.,
t ut her stern is resting on the
sand and she can probably be
mised providing she is not too
badly injured. This cannot be
determined until divers are on
the ground and have made an
examination.
The foregoing is from ihc
pencil of John Edward Dray, a
California newspaperman wno
was on board Hie Curacao at
the time.
-+
CURACAO HAD LOAD OF
SPECIAL MACHINERY
When the steamer Curacao
of the Pacific Coast Steamship
Co. sank on the West Coast
last Saturday she earned to
the bottom with her a larg?
shipment of special machinery
that was consigned to the
Sheep Creek mine at Juneau
This machinery was a special
order and the factory in the
stales has been working on it
for the better part of the last
year. It is not known yet
whether the shipment can be
saved or not.
FINE TREATMENT
ON THE GEDNEY
The passengers and crew of
•lie wrecked Curacao are loud
fiui unanimous in Iheir praise
o ' the crew of the Gednev for
the treatment accorded at tbeir
hands. From Captain Derrick
son to the mess boy they all
put themselves to lots of trout)
ic to make the wrecked people
comfortable. They ga\e up
iheir bunks and four sittings at
the tables before they got fed
themselves. While the accom
odations on the Gednev are very
l..nited they all say that they
could not have been treated
holier if they had been kings.
L. J. Coughlin the purser of
the Curacao had charge of the
people until they reached Ket
chikan where they were taken
»n charge by the Customs
Douse. They will be sent
south this evening on the
Northwestern.
-+
EXPLORING SHIP PASSES
The steam whaler Karluk is
reported to have passed Ketch
ikan at an early hour yesterday
morning. The Karluk is the ex
ploring ship that is to carry >he
expedition of Professor Steph
enson to the far north in the
search of a new country in
habited by blond Eskimos She
sailed from Victoria and car
ries the British flag. Prof. Step,
hen-on returned from the Arc
tic lost fall and reported the
discovery of a new people
The vessel will proceed to
Nome and pick up the leader of
the expedition and then so soon
as the condition of the ice per
mits will proceed on her way.
--*
CANNERY MAN SIGNS UP
B. P. Walsh of the Walsh
Voorc Packing company at
Wmds Cove signed up ti pay
union, prices for fish this s a
s'.n with the local union this
morning.
-1
Mr. Merrit and son returned
last night from the Hot Springs j
CRUISE OF THE GALVESTON
—By J, T. Dickson—
Staff Correspondent for the
Post-Intelligencer.
If there was any citizen of
Ketchikan who was not on one
of the city's docks last evening
lo welcome the officers and
men of the U. S. S. Galveston,
(he absentee was either less
than one year of age or under
the care of a physician. Wh.cn
the big cruiser cast anchor in
Ihe harbor a salule of cheers
and fire crackers sounded from
shore, and a reply was sound
ed on the ship’s siren.
The first citizens lo board
I lie Galveston were Mayor M. J.
Heneghan and# City Attorney
C. II. Cosgrove, both of whom
were welcomed by Capt. Jen
son, commanding, of the reg
ular navy and Lieift. Command
er W. B. Allison of the Naval
Militia of Washington.
After formal ceremonies were
over more lhan 400 blue jack
els, most of whom were enlist
ed men in the militia service,
came ashore in the ship’s small
boats. Local merchants were
benefitted to a great measure
as it is a well known fact that
when “Jackie” is ashore he
spends all his money—and
Ihese men were not an ex
ception.
Executive officers of the Gal
veston were lenient in granting
-bore leave to the men, and
the night is one that will be
recorded as one of the big
events in the history of Ketchi
kan. Officers also came a
shore and the. sight of men in
officers’ uniforms and hun
dreds of blue jackets visiting
places of amusement and en
joying themselves as they
chose was one that was an as
surance to this country’s rich
est territory that Uncle San.
can and will send liis fighting
men anywhere at any time they
are required.
The cruise north from Seat
lie was uneventful—except for
the fact that some of fhe men
were a bit seasick when we
struck open water (we came
north by ihe outside way.) We
left Seattle Saturday morning.
Of course the trip as far as
Tatoosh Island was easy for
ihe unseamanlike seamen, hut
when the deep -sea swell set in
mess rail was not nr. all popu
lar. There is always, aboard
the Galveston, plenty of food
for all—and of the best quality—
but even at that many of the
men failed to respond to mess
call while we were in Ihe open.
Owing to the fact that Secrc
tary of Navy Daniels has is
sued orders that the Galveston
must be in Seattle June 30 the
request of Mayor Heneghan,
Mr. Cosgrove, and Mr. Fred
Purinton of the Commercial
Club, and other prominent cit
izens, that the ship’s comple
ment remain ashore for a hall
game and other entertainment,
could not be complied with.
We return by the outside, and
target practice wiil be the or
der. Guns must he manned,
ammunition hoists must he
ready, and the crew of the Gal
veston must make a record.
The real object of the cruise
lo Ketchikan and Alaskan wat
ers is lo give the members of
die naval militia a taste of real
sea life aboard a man-of-wars
rnan. In command of the Gal
veston is Captain Jenson in the
regular service, assisted by
[.'apt. W. Frank Andrews, com
manding; Lieut. Commander,
W. B. Allison; Lieut. Charles
Svensson, navigator; Lieut. G.
It. Glaghorii; Lieut. W. L. Vir
gin: Lieut. W. E. McNelley- t
Lieut. G. Benson Wood; En
-ign George D. Grant; Ensign,
W. Foss; Lieut. F. W. Griffith.
Ensign W. G. Stearns; Lieu!.
F.. A. McKenna; Ensign E. A.
Bradner; Lieut. George A.
Browne; Surgeon L. B. Ashton;
Ensign A. Moody, and Chief
Machinist C. A. Janies.
An incident of the cruise is
that Mr. James incurred a frac
ture of his left shoulder and
two ribs while descending the
ladder in the engine room when
the vessel gave a lurch, and in
sisted on standing his regular
watch before his injury was at
tended to by the doctor.
■-*
GALVESTON ARRIVES
WITH NAVAL MILITIA
Just about eight o’clock last
night the United Stales cruiser
Galveston with the naval militia
of Washington on board drop
ped anchor in the channel, com
pietirig the first leg of her
cruise. The trip up was a
pleasant one, although some of
the amaluer sailors were sea
sick on the first day out while
the vessel was coming up the
outside of Vancouver Island.
The Galveston is rated as a pro
tected cruiser, being built in
iOOi. She is of 3,200 tons dis
placement and has a speed C f
to. 5 knots. Her armament
consists of ten 5 inch rapid
lire guns, eight six pounders,
two one pounders, four .30 cal
iber automatics and one 3 inch
field gun. She continues her
trip this afternoon, leaving port
here after playing a few sel
ections by the band and re
turns via the outside.
-4
BUYS ISLANDS
FOR FOX FARMS
F. W. Whelpley, the fox man
representing New Brunswick
capitalists has purchased for a
substantial amount, three or
four fox islands to the west
from fox farmers who have
long engaged in this industry,
says the Seward Gateway. An
drew Griswold, L. Beed and
Samual Appelgate, western Al
aska pioneers, have sold their
holdings to Whelpley, who, it
is said, will engage in fox
farming upon an extensive
scale in behalf of the interests
he represents.
--
Nfcw STORE ROOM
ABOUT COMPLETE
The new store room for H. G.
Knbleys confectionary ?lore is
put about finished and certain
ly is a big improvement over
I ho old stand and makes one
of ihe best appearing fronts in
town
-A
ED. IS FREIGHT CLERK
Ed. Richmond was aboard toe
sieamer Jefferson which went
through yesterday morning in
fiie position o/' freight clera
Fcl. says that Alaska looks good
even if he has not been away
iong.
FIRST INSTITUTE
EVER IN ALASKA
The first temperance insti
tute ever held in Alaska will be
held in the M. E. Church in
Ketchikan on Friday, June 2“.
This will be held under the aus
pices of the W. C. T. U. and the
National Organizer and Letcr
c:\ Mrs. Lora S. LaMance, of
Joplin, Mo. will be the con
ductor. But it is for everyone,
not the W. G. T. U. alone. Lead
mg citizens of Ketchikan will
ho given a part. The problems
of the day will be taken ip,
and the duty of good citizen
ship in relation to them. There
will also be a school of insru ;
lion, a parlimentary drill, and a
question box. The session op
ens at 10:30 a. m. Everybody
and his wife are invited to
come with baskets well filled
and a joy dinner will be hold
in the basement of the church
at noon. At 1.30 p. m. the af
lernoun exercises will negin,
closing promptly at 4 p. m.
when the children’s home hour
will begin. This will be held
at the school house. All child
ren and young people are wel
come to the latter service, oi
older people with young heart.i.
Full program will appear in to
morrow’s Miner. Come one and
aii.—By order of the Committee
-—+
PLENTY OF FISH
ON WEST COAST
Launches from the West
Coast bring the news that
spring salmon are very plenti
ful i:i that region, some of the
Iroilers making big catches.
The cannery at Klawock lias
canned in the neighborhood of
a ihousand cases of springs
too small for mild curing and
will make the experiment of
handling the seconds in this
way.
_A - ...
LIGHTHOUSE INSPECTOR
WILL BE TRANSFERRED
Ray L. Ilankinson, inspector
of (he Alaska lighthouse dis
iriet has secured a transfer to
District No. 5, with headquar
ters at Baltimore, and will leave
for his new location about Aug
ust 1st. Mr. Ilankinson has
been in charge of the district
since the retirement of Captain
Tillman, a little over a year ago
and has proved himself a cap
able and efficient official. He
will act as superintendent of
the eastern district.
-*
FORESTER GOES NORTH
W. Cl. Weigle, forest super
visor, left on the Alki for Ju
neau on official business. He
expects to be gone for a few
days only.
You cannot get a good weather and waterproof roof for your
building from a poor roofing.
The roof of your building is the most important part of it
and unless your roofing is right, there will be no
peace of mind for those who live under it.
A roof that leaks causes no end of trouble,
beside a lot of damage.
The best way to protect yourself from these unnecessary
troubles, is to use Malthoid Roofing.
The makers of Malthoid Roofing guarantee it to be a
perfect roofing—to give satisfaction and to last as long
as the building it covers, provided it is properly laid
and ordinary care is taken of it.
Twenty-eight years of experience enables The Paraffine Paint Co,
of San Francisco and Chicago Heights to
guarantee Malthoid Roofing under these conditions.
To be absolutely sure that you have no roofing troubles, buy
Malthoid and lay it properly
Ketchikan Agents
TONGASS TRADING CO. J. R. HECKMAN A COMPANY
A BOAT LOAD OF
PROMINENT VISITORS
The steamer Jefferson with a
full load of prominent people
on a sight and condition seeing
(rip arrived in port early thin
morning. Iler passengers con
sisting of people from practi
cally every slate in the Union
took in the many sights of the
town ,and announced themsel
'cs as surprised at the sturdy
appearance of Ketchikan and
the permanence of her build
mgs. Prominent among the
tourists are a number of iiie
leading magazine .and ncwspap
er writers of the country who
are north to see Alaska as she
i-i and thus lie in a position to
know the facts ol' the northern
empire. From here the boat
went t o Metlakahtla thence
north to Skagway calling in al
all the places of interest on II13
inside passage. The passen
gers will leave the vessel at
that place, take train to While
horse, then river steamer on
the Yukon for Dawson, and
Fairbanks and eventually Nome,
where the Victoria will be
boarded for the return trie,
ihat vessel being routed to call
i:i at the Westward points on
her way south, and also at
Ketchikan. A longer stay will
bo made at the latter place on
Ihe return trip than was made
this morning, owing to the fact
that the vessel today had to
hurry on to catch the tide m
Wrangell Narrow's.
_
CLOSE CALL FROM FIRE
What came very near being a
disasterous fire occured at the
residence of Miss Edmonds
last evening when the stove t.i
the front room of the house
exploded and the pipe fell to
the floor. Miss Edmond being
in the next room heard Ihe ex
plosion and rushed in to find
the room filled with soot and
smoke. Except for a blaze on
ihe wall paper, which was
quickly extinguished, and the
soot the damage was slight.
■-~+
ARE CROWDED FOR ROOM
The Forrester and the men
from the local mild cure plant
ol the Weise Packing Co., are
busy today transferring about
one hundred and twenty tier
i cs of fish to the New England
dock for storage. They have
so many tierces on hand that
they have no room to work and
are making the change for that
reason.
-+
WIDOWERS CLUB
LOOSING OUT
The “Widowers Club” is
certainly on the decline ami
som; of the members fear that
before long the order will have
to be abandoned. Mrs. Peck
hnm and Mrs. Michener arrived
up on the boat last night whi.l.
accounts for it all.
-+
CAME FOR BOX SHOOKS
The cannery tender Barbara
arrived over from Hunters Bay
cannery yesterday with a scow
in tow to take over a load of
box shooks from the Ketchi
kan Power company’s mill.
Cap!. HeGuitdre, superinton
dent of ihe cannery has been
in town for the last couple of
days awaiting Ihe arrival of the
boat. He reports that the can
nery is getting a few fish ev
ery day and that he anticipates
no difficulty in getting up Hie
season’s pack of 40,000 cases.
--
The coroner’s inquest over
the body of E. C. Tawney, a
trapper who committed suicide
on Stony river, a tributary of
Ihe Kuskokwim cost the gov
ernment $1,072.25.
-4
Mr. and Mrs. Bard and Miss
third returned from the lb l
Springs last night and report a
very pleasant two weeks spent
at that resort.