Vol g No 273 Member Associated Press SEWARD, ALASKA, THURSDAY EVENING, AUGUST 27,1914. Member Associated Press_Ten Cents the Copy
SAMPSON HIT WITH TERRIFIC FORCE
nl», WHILE VICTORIA GOING 18 KNOTS) 'mis
RUSSIAN FORCES IN EAST PRUSSIA PUSH FO .WARD
AND
WITH BRITISH
NAMUR FORTIFICATIONS FALL
BERLIN, Aug. 27.—'The fortifications of Namur have
fallen according to information received today trom the
German generals and the news has caused the gieatest it
joicings in this city as the place was expected to hold out
lor a prolonged period and to cause serious delays in the
advance of the German army into French territory.
The city of Longwy in France was conquered by the
Germans after what the German generals themselves de
scribe as a resolute defense by the French. The whole ;
French border in the noith is therefore now in the hands
of the kaiser's troops and the next move is awaited with
eager interest as it is assumed that they will at once be
gin the march towards Paris.
Upper Alsace is cleared of the French except in the dis
trict westward ol Alsace and the Germans ha\e penetiat
ed French territory along the other parts ot the Alsatian
border.
RUSSIANS DRIVE FORWARD
ST. PETERSBURG, Aug. 27.—The Russian advance
in East Prussia is proceeding w ith irresistable force. The
German army in that part ot the theater ol war has re
treated on Osterode and the Russian advance is already
proceeding to establish contact with it. 1 he news coming
from Prussia indicates that the Germans have reached a
most desperate condition and that an overwhelming vic
tory for Russia will result when the Germans are forced
to meet the main army of the invaders.
LONDON, Aug. 2fi.—The rush of the main Russian
army on the city of Posen in Germany is regarded here as
the sensational news of the day. It is believed in some
quarters that the advance on Posen may account for the
retreat of the Germans in East Prussia. They continue to
retreat before the Russians in that quarter without mak
ing anything like a determined effort to oppose the invad
ers but it is held that if they waited to light the left Rus
sian wing the main Russian force advancing on Posen
through Poland would outflank them. Those people be
lieve that when the Germans in East Prussia fall back far
enough to get in line w ith the German army around Posen
they w ill give battle.
The report that the French had abandoned their posi
tions in Alsace has not been confirmed here. The French
embassy in London knows nothing about the matter and
no official information to that effect has been received
from the French government.
GERMANS C APTURE THREE CITIES
OSTEND, Belgium, Aug. 27.—The Germans have now
occupied the three important French cities of Lille, Valen
ciennes and Roubaix some distance from the Belgian bor
der. The fall of these cities took place after the severe
fighting which took place a few days ago and is a bad loss
to the allies.
Lille is the chief city of the department of the north
and was protected by a fortress. It has a population of
more than two hundred thousand and is a manufacturing
center of importance.
Roubaix is also an important city having a population
of 122,000. Valenciennes is a fortified city with a popula
tion of about 20,000.
FRANCE STILL DEFIANT
PARIS, Aug. 27.—The government issued an official
statement today to the effect that the events of the past
few days in the north, unfavorable as they might he,
“have neither imperilled nor modified the arrangements
made in view of future development of the operations of
the French armies”.
This is taken to mean that the occurrences in the re
cent fighting are not regarded as disastrous to the hopes
of France and that the army will continue to fight it out
on the same ground.
The remainder of the official statement conveyed the
intelligence that in the region between the Vosges moun
tains and the city of Nancy the French troops continue to
progress favorably.
France is still buckling down to the work of repelling
the invaders with all her old spirit and determination and
is full of hope that the advance of the Russians in the east
will turn the tide in her favor. A splendid martial spirit
prevails all over France and the men are going to the
front when called out with magnificent eagerness and
patriotism.
TOGOLANI) SURRENDERS
LONDON, Aug. 2(>.—The Germans have surrendered
to the allied forces of French and British in the German
colony of Togoland, W est Africa, and the victors will en
ter kamina, the chief settlement, tomorrow. Ihe Ger
man commander had attempted to make terms hut the
allies refused to consider his oiler and he was lorced to
give up unconditionally.
LONDON, Aug. 20.—All the governments engaged in
the war withheld the news lrom the seat ol war today.
This fact, naturally, caused some uneasiness here as no
news is regarded as had news when the government con
trols the news sources.
The Norwegian steamer Godfried has been blown up
in the North sea by a floating mine and eight of the crew
lost their lives. Much danger exists for merchant ships
all over that body of water as it is the main lield of the
naval maneuvres of the great fleets ol the combatants.
SEARCHING FOR THE LEIPZIG
SEATTLE, Aug. 27.—The Japanese cruiser Idzumo,
the British cruiser Newcastle and the British scout ship
Prince George are now raking the sea ofl the Island oi
Vancouver in search of the German cruiser Leipzig. All
British vessels are asked if they have seen anything oi
her and a careful lookout is kept by the captains.
It is believed that the Leipzig has planned to get coa.
from the steamer Delhi which left Seattle for Alaska re
cently. W hether she will be able It/secure the coal peace
fully or will be compelled to take it by force remains to be
seen but many people have an idea that she is trying over
again the same old plan which she attempted with the
steamer Mazatlan in San Francisco.
BRITISH PROTECT MEXICAN GULF
GALVESTON, Aug. 27.—Three British warships have
been dispatched to protect ti e cotton and oil Gallic in the
Mexican gulf and are now said to be on their way across
the Atlantic. The fear of the interference comes from the
belief that German cruisers are hovering around the gulf
coasts although no definite information of the presence of
them has been obtained.
FRENCH SOCIALISTS FOR FRANCE
PARIS, Aug. 27.—The entry of Jules Guesde and Mar
cel Sembat into the leadership of the French socialist
party has unified the party. Both of these men have join
ed the French cabinet and are among the most determin
ed opponents of the Germans. All French socialists now
declare that they wish to join the rest of France in defense
of the nation. One result of the war will probably be the
destruction of the socialist world combination and the
splitting into national factions.
JAPANESE SEARCH FOR MINES
TOKIO, Aug. 27.—The Japanese fleet is now carefully
sweeping the waters around Kiauchau for mines which
have recently been laid by the Germans in large numbers.
Since the declaration of war, or rather since the dispatch
of the ultimatum, the Germans have been busy preparing
for the defense. The German government has entirely
ignored the demands of the Japanese government and has
treated them with an insolent silence.
The bombardment of the German fortifications will
begin when the warships have the way cleared for entry.
GERMAN PRINCE DIES
AMSTERDAM, Aug. 27.—Prince Lutpold, eldest son
of the crown prince of Bavaria, died yesterday at the age
of thirteen of inflamation of the throat. His father is
engaged in the war as a general and has distinguished
himself signally in several engagements. The death of
the boy prince is remarkable only because it adds more
deaths to the many which have taken place since the be
ginning of the war in the royal families of Germany.
GERMAN DESTROYS HIS SHIP
BERLIN, Aug. 27.—The German cruiser Magdeburg
was blown up by her own captain yesterday to save her
from capture by the enemy and the captain himself and
several of the crew lost their lives. The Magdeburg was
entering a bay on the Finnish coast when she ran aground.
Immediately afterwards an attack was opened on
her by superior naval forces of the enemy, principally
Russians and the captain found that he had to choose be
tween destroying the vessel or letting it fall into the hands
of the enemy who might use it against Germany later.
Most of the crew were saved by the hostile ships and by
boats from the shore. I
Canadian Steamer Libeled
and Is Being Held in Seattle
(By Albert G. Stamm)
Victoria Blamed for Wreck
SEATTLE, Aug. 27.—(Later). -
idle Admiral line has libelled the
Princess Victoria and held her here as
llu' Canadian ship is blamed fo” the
oss of the Sampson. Libelling her
prevents her from escaping to Cana
dian waters it she had any intention
of so doing.
It is alleged that the Princess was
‘raveling at too great a speed in etch
weather and that she failed to heed
.lie whistles of the Sampson and also
failed to reverse her engines in time
I fo prevent the disaster. The S imp
son. it is suited, was going at a rat*
»f three knots an nev»‘ and was blow
ing her horn constantly.
When the blow came the disc• j iin*.
>f both crews was splendid and all the
men worked with a will to sav** the
>assengers.
Captain Moore refused to leave the
ship and when he was last semi ho
was engaged in the work of helping
the passengers into the boats.
Chief Engineer Noon gave bis life
to the effort to save Mrs. Banbury but
he failed even at the loss of himself
to keep her from death.
The Victoria penetrated the imp
ion's oil storage and fire broke out
which spread to the Victoria he»self
so that for a moment the greatest
langer existed of the destruction of
both vessels.
Ilvnte, who was a stowaway and
not a tourist, was caught in the Imrn
n<> d' hris and begged those around
him to kill him and save him from
ortipv. He was finally released from
his awful situation but he had been
oo badly burned and he died soon
after reaching this city.
When the collision came the crew
»f the Sampson immediately set
ihout the task of arousing eve yone
to their danger. Marching along the
decks they broke the windows of the
ooni < so that everyone might In*
thoroughly awakened to their d r.ger
md soon the passengers were hasten
ing out to make the attempt to save
their lives.
(I. Goodrich, a man with a wioden
leg who was on the way to Seward,
jumped into the water after his wife
and succeeded in catching her. He
was then, however, dragged down In
the whirlpool caused by the sicking
ship but he held on to Mrs. Goodrich
and w as hauled aboard n.v ropes a hen
he arose to the surface.
Mrs. Ethel Eorgy, a widow lady
from New York who was on the way
to teach school at Seward, was one of
the last to jump from the sinking
Sampson. She was picked up by a
life boat filled with men and is report
'd to be none the worse for her terri
ble experience.
Second Wireless Operator Weihr of
the Sampson four.d little Palmer
Cook, aged three, whimpering in a
corner as the ship was going down.
He took the child in his aims and
jumped and sw am to the Victoria. The
little hoy and his sister Helen were
being taken to Va'dez to their par
ents by their grand mother, Mrs.
Cook.
The newspapers of this city are
giving anecdotes this morning of
Captain Moore's life which show him
to ha*re been one of the “whitest” men
that ever stood on a bridge. It nas
been noted by them and by all who
knew’ him that his death w’as a fit
ting ending for his life. He w:.s a
man, every inch of him, and all ^cat
tle seems to regret his fate. Indeed,
his loss seems to have aroused some
feeling against the boat that caused
it but it would be unwise to form any
judgment until the matter is calmly
investigated.
The pilot, Obert, who went through
a frightful experience, is now said to
he a nervous wreck ir. the hospital.
As stated before, he was on the Priige
with Captain Moore when he was
struck by wreckage.
Before the Victoria reached Seattle
the r >11 was called of the crew and
dramatic scenes ensued as the call
ing of the names of Captain Moore,
Chief Engineer Noon and the others
w’as followed by silence.
The loss is cstimtacd by th-3 Ad
miral line at six hundred and seventy
thousand dollars, including the vessel
itself which was valued at half a mil
lion. When the collision came the
freight was gouged up through the
hatches and floated around after the
vessel sank in tin* deep water.
I louts are now searching on the
spot for the bodies of Captain Moore
and tne other victims but no success
has yet been reported.
The accident will undoubtedly re
sult in the making of more strict reg
ulations for steamers traveling in
foggy weather in the Sound In the
meantime the people are waiting for
the investigation and for the* hearing
of th<» suit against the Canadian Pa
cific company.
SKATTLK, Aug. 27.—The Princess
Victoria when she hit the Admiral
Sampson w:;» traveling at the rate of
is miles an hour so that the impact
vas awful. She struck the Sampson
abaft of tlu beam at a quarter a igle
and so terrific was the shock that the
Sampson sank quickly.
Th*j accident took place at f> o’c.oc*
in the morning when most of the pas
sengers were sleeping and many of
them ran out undressed.
The Victoria’s captain kept hi-* 1 ead
and held the prow of his ship in the
hole made in the Sampson ir. the
effort to keep the stricken ship afloat
long enough to save the passengers.
Most of the passengers ran to the
bows of the Princess and soon v ere
crawling up to her decks as the Samp
son began to lower. The boats »f the
Victoria were lowered at once and
many of the* Sampson’s boats also,
soon after striking a fire brok * out
lear the hole stove in by the* bnv of
.he Princess and it was in this fire
'>at iv-.ra Byrne, a tourist, nv't the
injuries that later caused his death in
i Seattle hosptial. He was caught in
;ome manner in the wreckage ana
was unable to extricate himself when
the (lames broke out around him.
The Princess Victoria after the ac -
cident proceeded to Seattle under he r
>wn steam and arrived here at 10
o’clock where a big crowd and several
ambulances waited for her. SI\o had
a large hole stove in her bow but it
was choked with wreckage from the
Sampson and this aided in keeping
out the water.
Captain Zim Moore and Pilot Ohert
were on the bridge when the bow of
their ship dropped. As she was sink
ing Ohert was hit by wreckage and
rendered unconscious but he waj »*es
cued from the water. It is presumed
that Captain Moore was also hit by
.his same wreckage but this cannot be
stated for a fact as his bod> hau not
boon recovered.
The following is probably a correct
lescription of the others who lost
heir lives whom I did not mention in
yesterday’s dispatch: G. Bryant, pain
ter. Seattle; Mrs. Banbury, wife of
the Admiral Line agent at Skagv\ay;
L. Cabanes, third cook; J. Williams,
mess boy; Miss M. Campbell, s:ew
ardess; C. Marquette, quartermaster;
S. Sater, night watchman and W. He
ker.
SEATTLE, Aug. 27.—'The full
number of the lives lost on the Samp
son is eleven. She lies in water four
hundred feet deep. She has ten
bodies in her that will probably never
be recovered.
PRESIDENT WILSON
TAKES A HOLIDAY
WASHINGTON, Aug. 27.—Presi
dent Wilson leaves for Cornish, New
Hampshire, today and will remain
there until Monday or Tuesday rest
ing after the severe test he has been
subjected to by the death of his wife
and the important duties arising from
the war at the same time.
NORTHWESTERN AT SEA
At two o’clock this afternoon the
steamship Northwestern had not re
ported arriving or departing from any
port. Earlier in the day she was re
ported to be stilt at sea and she has
probably been held by severe weather
which rendered progress difficult.
SAMPSON LOSS HITS
SEW A III) DIRECTLY
Mrs. Banbury, One of the Victims,
Was Wife of the Brother ol
Martin Banbury
Mrs. Banbury, who lost her life in
the wreck of the Sampson, was the
wife of George Banbury, brother of
Mail in Banbury, conductor of the car
here. George Banbury and his aife,
the lady who has met so sad a fate,
were at Ship Creek this summer for
quite a time while Mr. Banbury had
charge of the Bertha. Mrs. Banbury
went out with her husband who hud
become agent for the Admiral line at
Skagway to which place Mrs. Ban
bury was bound to join him • h**n the
accident occurred that resulted in her
death.
Mr. Martin Banbury received a tele
gram last evenir r telling him of the
occurrence. It also stated that the
lady dies! as the result of burns re
ceived when the boiler exploded, h
‘act . Inch was not mentioned in the
Gateway telegram. Martin on hear
ing the news decided to leave for the
south to be with his brother in his
trouble.
CHILE TERNS DOWN
PANAMA EXPOSITION
Refuses to Take Part Probably Be
cause of the Lpheaval in Europe
SANTIAGO, Aug. 27.—The govern
ment of Chile announced today that it
will not take part in the Panama ex
position at San Francisco although it
had intended to do so. .Although so
much has not been stated in wort's it
is assumed in some quarters that the
decision to refrain from representa
tion comes from the belief that even
if the exposition goes on it will be
rendered useless as an international
exposition because of the great war.
It is held that even if the war is end
ed before next year the effects on the
governments will be such as to pre
vent them from taking any part, or,
at least, active parts.
GILPATRICK FINDS
VERY RICH ORE
Said to lx* Richest Ever Found in This
Section of Country
John Stevensen, who has been in
the Moose Pass district for the past
month returned to Seward last night
on the car and is loud in his praise
of that section as a quartz district.
Mr. Stevenson has been spending
most of his time on the Gilpatrick
and Baughman properties and doing
some prospecting on his own account.
He says that Gilpatrick has some of
the best quartz that has ever been
uncovered in this country ir 'ight and
has a sample of quartz that he select
ed from a quantity of pay o**e that is
being sacked, that is simply gold plat
ed. Some of the decomposed quartz
taken from the same place pan as
high as two dollars to the pan and
quartz has been discovered or. tl c
Baughman property th will run us
well. Gilpatrick is operating an ar
rasat**e and is doing well. The ore he
is handling is running into figures
that stamps it as very high grade, in
deed.
TOMORROW WILL BE
PIONEERS DAY
Baseball Club to Give a Dance in
Honor of the Occasion
Tomorrow, Aug. 28, will be Pio
neers’ Day in Seward and the occasion
will be recognized by the holding of a
dance by the Seward baseball club.
The club decided to give the dance
as the oldtimers made no movement
to celebrate. The day has b^en estab
lished to commemorate the landing of
the first people in the place where
this city stands.
“Uncle Joe” Irvine has returned to
his camp after a brief visit to the
city.