Seward Daily Gateway May 27, 1929

STEAMER ALEUTIAN SINKS UYAK BAY ; ONE LIFE LOST

STEAMER SANK IN SEVEN MINUTES AFTER CRASHING INTO ROCK SUNDAY MORNING AT 5:30 A.M. —LIFE BOATS LAUNCHED IN RECORD TIME—NUMBER HAULED IN FROM WATER—MISS MILLER OF LATOUCHE NARROWLY ESCAPED: CLAD IN NIGHT DRESS AND COAT SHE WAS FORCED TO JUMP FROM RAIL—JANITOR WENT BACK TO STATEROOM TO SAVE A CHARM AND WAS NEVER SEEN SINCE

ALEUTIAN VALUED MILLION DOLLARS

Coast and Geodetic Survey steamer Surveyor, at anchor in Zacher Bay when received news of the disaster—rushed immediately to the scene and picked up survivors—administered medical attention to several, gave them hot food—due to arrive in Seward this afternoon.

The graveyard of the Pacific , the North Pacific Ocean, claimed one more vessel yesterday when the SS Aleutian of the Alaska Steamship Company, making a special trip Westward from the local terminal port, struck a rock in mid-channel of Uyak Bay, sinking at 5:30 a.m. Captain Gus Nord, veteran skipper of the company, commanded the Aleutian.

Only one life was lost, according to the meager reports which brot practically no details excepting the statement the steamer had sunk and the passengers and crew were aboard the Coast and Geodetic Survey vessel Surveyor, Captain R.R. Lukens and would arrive in Seward this afternoon.

The first message from Captain Lukens was to the effect he would bring his ship into port this morning. The second wire stated heavy weather would probably delay him and the arrival was set for this afternoon.

LATER DETAILS

The SS Aleutian struck a rock in mid-channel at the south end of Amook Island in Uyak Bay and was so badly damaged that she filled immediately, slid off into deep water, disappearing entirely in seven minutes. As she sank her stern rose high in the air and from her port holes, due to the air pressure within, towels, clothing, etc. shot out with great force.

The spectacular and efficient work of officers and crew in landing the lifeboats prevented a great loss of life, it is reported, as the ship listed badly. Every boat was filled without the slightest confusion.

All the people in the water were picked up by the small boats; also by a gas boat of some big game hunters nearby, the latter taking the women and four other passengers to their camp at Larson Bay from which point the disaster was broadcast.

SURVEYOR RUSHES SCENE

The Coast and Geodetic Survey vessel Surveyor, Capt. R.R. Lukens, was anchored in Zacher Bay and upon receipt of the wireless message rushed, full steam, to the scene and upon its arrival met the cannery tender Raven towing the lifeboats. All hands were taken aboard the Surveyor then proceeded to Larson Bay where the balance of the survivors were taken on board and sailed for Seward. The last report from Captain Lukens was to the effect he would bring his ship into port at 5:30 this afternoon.

JANITOR WAS LOST

The only life lost was that of Manuel Dorras, janitor. He was aroused in plenty of time but returned to his quarters to get a lucky charm—a stone—which he always carried. He never returned.

One of the passengers, Miss Miller, of Latouche, barely escaped with only her night gown on and a coat hurriedly thrown over her shoulders, she had to jump from the rail into the water and was hauled into a small boat just as the ship went down.

A NARROW ESCAPE

On one of the life boats a painter became fouled but the quick work of Pilot Stimson in cutting it saved the boatload of people from being dragged down with the stricken Aleutian .

REMARKABLE WORK

Throughout the disaster, the discipline and coolness of the officers of the Aleutian is reported to have been extraordinarily remarkable. The work of getting the life boats away in less than seven minutes will forever stand, it was said, as a credit to American shipping.

The Aleutian sank in deep water, her hull so badly shredded that it is doubtful she will ever be raised. The Aleutian ’s crew numbered 114.

Postmaster Charles Sheldon, of the Seward post office, reports there were seven pouches of mail matter lost. Claims may be put in for mail left at the post office up to last Friday night. Mr. Sheldon states all airmail was held in the local office.

SISTERSHIP TO YUKON

The Aleutian was built in Philadelphia in 1898 for the Ward Steamship lines and later sold to the U.S. Panama Railroad for $600,000 and renamed the Panama . The vessel was purchased by the Alaska Steamship Co. in 1927 and re-christened the Aleutian , a popular Alaskan name. The Aleutian was the sistership of the A.S.S. Co. steamer Yukon , which was likewise obtained from the Panama Railroad, having been operated under the name Colon .

FIVE PASSENGERS

Passengers out of Seward on the SS Aleutian numbered five, three of whom were Seward residents and two for Uganik. J.H. Flickinger, local agent for the A.S.S. Co., accompanied by Mrs. Flickinger, and Mrs. Charles C. Weybrecht, were aboard, the other two being John A. Johnson and Gus Wyman for Uganik. It is thought the latter two men had already been taken to their destination. A later report said Miss Miller of Latouche was also aboard.

MANY HAD TICKETS

According to the local office of the company about 50 reservations for the southbound voyage of the SS Aleutian had been sold. Practically all of these have been refunded and tickets purchased at the Pacific Steamship Co. office for transportation south on the Admiral Evans, now in port from the Westward, and which will depart for the south soon after the arrival this evening of the regular passenger train from the Interior.

SURVIVORS FROM SUNKEN STEAMER ARRIVE SEWARD

ALEUTIAN CREW BROT TO PORT BY SURVEYOR; OUTFITTED, SENT TO SEATTLE

Captain John S. Nord, master of the lost SS Aleutian, had little to add to the wreck of his vessel when interviewed upon his arrival here; not that he did not care to talk for publication due to grieving over the loss of his splendid vessel.

“I’m sorry,” he said, “but like Lindbergh I have nothing to say. A fine vessel is lost and that is all there is to it.”

MANY ON DOCK

Hundreds of citizens were gathered on the Seward dock as Captain Lukens, of the Surveyor, brot his vessel alongside. Then the survivors came ashore clad in almost the identical clothing they had fled the vessel early Sunday morning. Over the shoulders of a few were blankets, others were lacking shirts, coats, hats, ties and collars; overalls seemed to be the most popular worn garment while the ladies were garbed in civilian and sailors’ dungarees, shirts and caps. A few of the survivors were as immaculate as if they never had passed through an ordeal endangering their lives.

FEW WERE INJURED

The majority appeared in excellent spirits from their adventure with fate but there were many somber countenances, too. A half a dozen limped having sustained slight injuries and bruises in the haste of abandoning the stricken steamer which was listing at a dangerous angle of about 45 degrees.

Immediately upon the arrival of the survivors Captain Gilje, master of the Admiral Evans, and Wayne Blue, Seward agent for the Pacific Steamship Co., extended every courtesy to the officers and crew of the Aleutian and held the vessel in port for at least an hour beyond the scheduled sailing hour to permit sending of messages, purchases of clothing and numerous other personal matters by individuals.

PRAISES CREW

“It was the most efficient act of life saving at sea I ever heard of,” said Captain R.R. Lukens, speaking of the work of Captain John S. Nord and his men. “We were at Zacher Bay , tied to the dock when at 9 o’clock we received word of the accident to the SS Aleutian, and proceeded at once to Uyak under full steam. At Larsons Bay we met the gas boat Raven towing a string of life boats occupied by the Aleutian survivors. The life boats represent the only bits of equipment left of the liner. My calling to the occupants that we would take them to Seward in the Surveyor was hailed with a burst of cheers.

SOUGHT LOCATE ROCK

“After seeing all safely aboard the Surveyor, Captain Nord insisted upon leaving the party and returning in a small boat to the vicinity of the accident, in an endeavor to locate the hidden rock. Our tender Helianthes being along side, I put it at the disposal of Captain Nord’s mission, and accompanied by Thomas Healy, first officer of the Aleutian, he directed the Helianthes back to Uyak Bay, only to return in about three hours unsuccessful in the worthy attempt.

CUTTER OFFER MADE

“At 2:30 p.m. we were underway for Seward. To a message from Captain C.S. Cochran, commandant of the Bering Sea patrol U.S. Coast Guard, Unalaska saying that he could send the cutter Unalga to the assistance of the Aleutian’s survivors by Tuesday, or the Chelan, his own ship, by Friday I replied that all 114 survivors were aboard the Surveyor and bound for Seward.

“The officers of the Surveyor persuaded the women to use their staterooms, and I endeavored to induce Captain Nord to take possession of my quarters but he stoutly refused to put any of us to the least inconvenience for his own comfort.”

CHARTED LAST IN 1907

Captain Lukens, who has been in charge of charting the waters of Southeastern Alaska for the last three years, said that apparently the Aleutian struck a pinnacle rock which could only be located by means of a drag line. Uyak Bay , he said, was last charted in 1907.

MISSED SCHOONER

The Aleutian had discharged a crew of cannery workers at Larsons Bay , and endeavors were being made to locate the fishing schooner Esther for whom several tons of freight were also being carried. Upon being informed that the Esther was well up into Uyak Bay , Captain Nord protestingly gave orders to proceed to find the craft. Nine men in the lower hold of the ship who had been sent down to handle the Esther’s freight, narrowly escaped being trapped in the hold when the last man came up a minute before the ship struck.

Almost perfect calmness prevailed among the passengers and crew, who didn’t seem to realize that the vessel was going to disappear in less than 10 minutes. There was no explosion nor did the ship roll over, but every man found his post without confusion just before the bow started to plunge.

RECEIVED SLIGHT INJURIES

Mrs. J.H. Flickinger was assisted into a life boat by her husband, local agent for the Alaska Steamship Co. here and Mrs. Charles C. Weybrecht, widow of Col. Weybrecht, world war veteran, sustained minor injuries as she scrambled over the rail into a life boat. The women scarcely had time to throw overcoats over their night gowns before taking to the boats.

So rapidly was the Aleutian sinking. Captain Miller, who is said to have been at the wheel when the vessel struck, leaped overboard with Captain Nord’s orders to abandon ship. Contributing to the preparedness of the crew was the fact that the men were up handling cargo, and the ship’s officers had changed watch an hour and a half before the time of the disaster.

PROVIDED NECESSITIES

The local quartermasters department of the U.S. Army co-operated in taking care of the southbound survivors to the extent of providing a large number of cots and blankets which will be returned on the next Admiral liner.

Thru the local Alaska Steamship Co. agent J.H. Flickinger, the crew was given requisitions on local stores for clothing.

It is estimated that 110 tons of cargo went down with the Aleutian , most of which comprised cannery supplies; the remainder of the tonnage was three carloads of ore which had been loaded on at Cordova for the Tacoma smelter.

It is now estimated that it was closer to 10 minutes than seven from the time the ship struck the uncharted rock to the time it dove to the bottom of the sea.

BRAVE STEWARDS

Barefooted and lightly clad members of the stewards department performed their duties bravely by bursting into every stateroom on the fast listing ship and rousing out the occupants and rushing them to the decks and overside.

It is stated that at least a dozen people were picked up from the water into which they had jumped.

LAST BOAT OFF

Miss Miller of Latouche hung by one hand on a rail suspended 40 feet in the air and going higher every second as the stern of the vessel kept rising. Finally she let go, falling into the water beside a lifeboat.

Captain Nord and his 17 officers presented the following testimonial to Captain Lukens of the Surveyor:

“We the undersigned officers of the ill-fated SS Aleutian, desire to express our sincere thanks and appreciation for the very excellent treatment and courtesy extended to us by the officers and crew of the Coast and Geodetic Survey vessel Surveyor.”

AGENT RELATES ACCOUNT SINKING S.S. ALEUTIAN

H. FLICKINGER ADDRESSES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TUESDAY LUNCHEON

A vivid account of the sinking of the SS Aleutian in Uyak Bay and the escapement of 155 of the 156 persons aboard the ill-fated liner when it struck a hidden rock off Amook Island Sunday morning, was given by J.H. Flickinger, Seward agent for the A.S.S. Co., addressing the Seward Chamber of Commerce at the weekly luncheon of the organization yesterday.

Sincere in its praise for the most efficient manner in which Captain Nord and his officers and crew removed everyone from the vessel which plunged to the bottom of the sea in less than 10 minutes after crashing, Mr. Flickinger, after paying tribute also to the employees of the Alaska Packers Association at the Larsons Bay cannery who assisted materially in the rescue work and rendered every possible aid in restoring the spirits and comfort of the shipwrecked members, turned to Captain R.R. Lukens, master of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey vessel, also present at the meeting, and with moist eyes and a broken voice thanked the Captain, in the name of the Alaska Steamship Co., and the doomed vessel’s survivors, for having speedily responded to their distress call, and rescuing the entire party from the waters, beaches and open life boats, and landing them all safely in Seward.

GRAPHIC ACCOUNT

“Accompanied by my wife,” said Mr. Flickinger, “I took the Aleutian out of Seward Friday night, after midnight intending to make the round trip to the Westward canneries and return to Seward Sunday nite or early Monday. The Aleutian was carrying freight and cannery crews for various ports in the district, including Uyak, Uganik, Larsons Bay and Zacker Bay , also about 10 tons of freight for the schooner Ester, which was to be met in Uyak Bay , at the far end of Amook Island .

“Everything had been going well. I had been up several times Saturday night as the ship made stops at the canneries, and at 4:30 a.m. Sunday morning I dressed fully. After the ship departed from Zacker Bay , I decided to lie down for a little more sleep, only removing part of my clothing. Just about 30 minutes after leaving Zacker Bay the crash came, and the ship immediately took a list to port.

TAKE TO BOATS

“My wife and I were in bed at once. Because of the great list it was impossible to finish dressing in the stateroom and we grabbed what clothes we could and made our way out on deck. We could feel the vessel sinking, and I became concerned only with the safety of my wife and myself. A partially clad steward passed us, rousing everyone who wasn’t already up. Captain Nord was giving sharp orders to the sailors and directing the lowering of the lifeboats.

“We made for a boat that was already being lowered, about 30 feet away from us, on the starboard side but by the time we reached the rail the boat was within 10 feet of the sea, and the occupants pushing with all their strength keeping the life boat from the ship. It didn’t seem necessary to lower very many of the Aleutian ’s life boats, but the one below us looked crowded already. As the stern began to rise, a jacob’s ladder was put over the rail and Mrs. Flickinger and I followed several persons down it to the waiting life boat.

SHIP ABANDONED

“Nearly every one had abandoned the ship by that time. Looking up, we saw Pilot Miller and Engineer Kelly standing at the rail, and as the stern of the Aleutian was going higher and higher, we frantically shouted to them to jump for God’s sake. Then both of them leaped over the rail. Kelly swam to a boat not far from ours, which picked him up. Another man, swimming towards the same boat was also helped in. Miller was swimming towards the ship’s magazine which was afloat, but his coat caught on what looked to me like part of a hatch cover, before he got a hold of the magazine.

“I don’t believe we were in the boats two minutes before the Aleutian disappeared entirely, and the floating life boats and a life raft were the only remains to be seen. The ship seemed to almost stand straight up before nosing easily to the bottom in about 300 or 400 feet of water. She went down gently, and with little if any suction. Two bear hunters, in a small gas boat, came alongside our boat and offered to tow several boats to the shore about a quarter of a mile away. Some of the men from our boat climbed over to the life raft that had floated by, and the remainder of us were taken to shore.

TOWED TO BAY

“Some of the life boats were still being used to pick up swimming sailors, tho there were only a few who actually took to the water.

“I desired as quickly as possible to get to Larsons Bay from where I might communicate with Captain Lukens of the SS Surveyor, which I understood was then in Zacker Bay . The gas boat first endeavored to tow three life boats full of occupants to Larsons Bay, and being unable to do so, we took Mrs. Waybrecht of Seward and Miss Miller of Latouche, and Mrs. Flickinger; also the second mate who had a gash in his side, the mail clerk whose finger was smashed, and one man who was nearly drowned when he remained on the Aleutian long enough to force Miss Miller off the sinking ship, and with a few more were towed to Larsons Bay in a single life boat.

SURVEYOR TO RESCUE

“On the way in to the cannery we met the cannery tender Raven, then on the way to assist in picking up the scattered survivors. Two other tenders were getting ready to proceed to the scene. The radio operator at Larsons Bay had no difficulty clearing the air, and in a few minutes I had a message from Captain Lukens that the Surveyor was rushing to our rescue, which was certainly cheerful news.

“The cannery employees of the Alaska Packers Association did everything in their power to make us comfortable, and medical attention was promptly administered to the few injured by the company’s doctor, and hot meals were prepared for us. Tho it was noon and none of us had eaten that day, we hadn’t any appetites.

OFF FOR SEWARD

“The Surveyor appeared about 11 o’clock , accompanied by the ship’s tender Helianthes, which craft Captain Lukens dispatched to Uyak Bay to notify and pick up Captain Nord and the others. The shipwrecked party was altogether about 2:30 p.m. and most comfortably located on board the Surveyor and bound for Seward, which was reached Monday evening about 6 o’clock . Home never looked better to Mrs. Flickinger and me, and never will.

“The next task was to give the crew requisitions on the Seward merchants for new outfits of clothing, many of whom had scarcely more than their underwear. Captain Nord and the remainder of the Aleutian ’s officers and crew sailed for Seattle Monday night on the SS Seward.”