Daily Kennebec Journal

Star of Bengal a Total Loss-Survivors Give An Account.

Wrangel, Alaska, Sept. 23.-One hundred and ten out of a total of 137 persons on board the cannery ship Star of Bengal were drowned last Sunday afternoon when the vessel was torn from the hold of protecting tugs and dashed ashore at Helm Point, at the southeast end of Coronation Island. The news was brought by the tug Hattie Gage, Capt. Farrer, which carried the survivors, 27 in all. The survivors before leaving Coronation Island, buried the bodies of 15 white men of the beach. The cable ship Burnside, which left for the scene of the wreck at midnight Monday as soon as the news was received, returned last evening with the news that the Star of Bengal was a total loss, only the ends of the masts showing above water. The ship was being towed to sea from the Wrangel cannery by the tugs Hattie Gage and Kayak. Capt. Farrer of the Hattie Gage gives the following account of the disaster: "As we came within reach of the gale we could see we were making leeway and drifting toward Coronation Island. The Kayak was light and could do nothing. The Hattie Gage could not handle the ship alone. At 4 o'clock the Star of Bengal drifted into a narrow bight and we could see land on both sides and abreast. We sounded and found eight fathoms. We could see the vessel dimly by the phosphorescent rocks, which were all around. We cut the tow line and steamed out into open water but could not see anything in the driving rain except one blue light burning on the ship. The storm increased and the tugs steamed away to Shipley bay, 26 miles away." Survivors Muir and Olsen said the ship sank about 9 o'clock after breaking into three pieces. The surf was full of salmon cases and gasoline drums. Muir says he and Olsen got a boat off and went ashore through the wreckage. They helped several ashore and pulled Captain out of the wreckage. He could not speak. The breeches buoy was rigged to a tree, but the ship was swaying so that the line was alternately loose and tight, making it impossible to use. The ship's books and papers were found on the beach. One man had matches and a fire was built with kerosene from the wreck. The fire kept the survivors from freezing. Seattle, Wash., Sept. 23.-A telegram from Fort Wrangel, Alaska, says: "Captain Wagner of the bark Star of Bengal, which was wrecked on Coronation island with a loss of no lives, was unconscious for an hour after rescue. He charges the captain of the tugs Kvak and Hattie Gage, who cut loose from him, with rank cowardice."