CAPTAIN PRAISES CREW

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XL, Issue 13191, 27 September 1913, Page 10

CAPTAIN PRAISES CREW

"Wreckage from the vessel was everywhere, and many passengers were held fast under the floating debris, making the rescue work hard. As soon as I could gather my crew. ,ishore I obtained two gas boats. One I sent to Petersburg, with instructions to notify any passing vessel of our trouble. The other I loaded with the injured and the bodies of the dead wliich we had recovered from the wreck, and headed for Juneau, ninety miles away. This boat; carrying the dead and "injured, met the steamship Jefferson and notified Captain Lord of the disaster. Captain Lord took the boat's people aboard and hurried to Gambicr Bay, where the Jefferson arrived at half -past five m the afternoon. The survivors who had remained at the cannery were taken on board the Jefferson, which carried them to Juneau.

"Too much praise can not be given the men of my crew for their perfect discipline and to the people of the cannery who sheltered the scaritilyrclad survivors and fitted them with warm clothing. The officers and crew of the' Jefferson also/ deserve praise for the ready response they made to. our call for . assistance. I,t7took some little time to recover tlie bodies as they were held m the wreckage and many never left their .state rooms." . - .

Chief Engineer A. Scandrett made a dive for the engine room a_ the first alarm, but was met by his crew who were filing up the companionway to get .cjear of the water which was pouring m m a great stream into the < engine room through a; wide hole torn m the bottom of the ship. ,. The engineroom was full of water .withjh a few minutes after the vessel struck. Chief Engineer Scandrett reported that there was loss of life m his. departments . j