seemed to not be an issue at all. That all changed once the Estebeth cleared the northernmost point of Douglas Island. Here, at the entrance to Lynn Canal, Davis got a taste of what the stricken ship was facing. Snowfall increased dramatically and a strong wind from the north slammed into the shipâs forward superstructure. Whipped up into a froth by the increasing wind, the heavy seas tossed the petite Estebeth . It took nearly six more hours of sailing through these conditions for her to reach the Princess Sophia .
Other vessels were on the way, and would arrive earlier. At 5:45 a.m. Juneau Radio wired David Robinson on board the Princess Sophia . âTell VFI [ Princess Sophia ] [that] agent says three boats should arrive there in thirty minutes. These can care for 200 passengers.â Robinson wired back almost immediately: âVFI [ Princess Sophia ] says there is danger of fuel tanks puncturing. Tide is rising and heavy sea running and strong wind on quarter. Stopped snowing.â [4]
Four hours after running aground, this was the new challenge facing the Princess Sophia : whether or not the imminent high tide would force her off Vanderbilt Reef. Although the snow had let up and the fog that had enveloped them was finally beginning to lift, the wind and seas surrounding them remained as fearsome as ever. This concern filtered down to her passengers, most of whom were still huddled in the ships public rooms, strapped into their lifebelts. Fearing the worst, they began to make their way out on deck. For Captain Locke and his officers, how much damage the grounding had done to the shipâs hull was still unknown. During their inspections of the shipâs interior spaces it became clear she was not taking on water and her double-bottom hull had not been penetrated. This, however, was no safeguard against what might happen at high tide. As Army Private Auris McQueen noted, âIt was thought she might pound her bottom out on the rocks.â [5]
At six in the morning the tide hit its highest point. If anything, the increasing water level only managed to drive the wreck more firmly up on Vanderbilt Reef. The crashing of the waves against the hull and the horrifying sounds it created seemed to be lessening, and the weather was slowly starting to improve. Coupled with the assurances of Captain Locke and his officers and crew, most passengers began to calm down. Word had spread around the ship that other vessels were on their way, and most calculated that their situation seemed to be slowly improving. Many took off their lifebelts and conversed with each other, while card games broke out here and there using decks of Canadian Pacific-brand playing cards.
Satisfied that they were stuck on the reef for some time to come, at 7:20 a.m. the first formal wireless message of the entire day was sent out. Relayed from Captain Locke aboard the Princes Sophia via the United States Radio Station in Juneau, its recipient was Canadian Pacificâs British Columbia coastal service superintendent, Captain James Troup.
PRINCESS SOPHIA RAN ON VANDERBILT REEF LYNN CANAL AT 3 OâCLOCK SHIP NOT TAKING WATER AND WATER UNABLE TO BACK OFF AT HIGH WATER FRESH NORTHERLY WIND SHIP POUNDED ASSISTANCE ON WAY FROM JUNEAU. LOCKE . [6]
In the wireless message the time is given as three in the morning. British Columbia was on Pacific Standard Time, which is one hour ahead of Alaskan Standard Time. Princess Sophia kept her clocks set to Pacific Standard Time, accounting for the difference. Unfortunately, wireless telegraphy was far from being an accurate science; the message sent to Captain Troup was received in Juneau at 7:20 a.m., but it wasnât passed along to the Canadian Pacific offices in Victoria until 8:24 a.m. Captain Troup finally received the message at 9:11 a.m. â nearly two full hours after it had been sent from the Princess Sophia . The delays and limitations of the wireless would continue to be a source of
Other vessels were on the way, and would arrive earlier. At 5:45 a.m. Juneau Radio wired David Robinson on board the Princess Sophia . âTell VFI [ Princess Sophia ] [that] agent says three boats should arrive there in thirty minutes. These can care for 200 passengers.â Robinson wired back almost immediately: âVFI [ Princess Sophia ] says there is danger of fuel tanks puncturing. Tide is rising and heavy sea running and strong wind on quarter. Stopped snowing.â [4]
Four hours after running aground, this was the new challenge facing the Princess Sophia : whether or not the imminent high tide would force her off Vanderbilt Reef. Although the snow had let up and the fog that had enveloped them was finally beginning to lift, the wind and seas surrounding them remained as fearsome as ever. This concern filtered down to her passengers, most of whom were still huddled in the ships public rooms, strapped into their lifebelts. Fearing the worst, they began to make their way out on deck. For Captain Locke and his officers, how much damage the grounding had done to the shipâs hull was still unknown. During their inspections of the shipâs interior spaces it became clear she was not taking on water and her double-bottom hull had not been penetrated. This, however, was no safeguard against what might happen at high tide. As Army Private Auris McQueen noted, âIt was thought she might pound her bottom out on the rocks.â [5]
At six in the morning the tide hit its highest point. If anything, the increasing water level only managed to drive the wreck more firmly up on Vanderbilt Reef. The crashing of the waves against the hull and the horrifying sounds it created seemed to be lessening, and the weather was slowly starting to improve. Coupled with the assurances of Captain Locke and his officers and crew, most passengers began to calm down. Word had spread around the ship that other vessels were on their way, and most calculated that their situation seemed to be slowly improving. Many took off their lifebelts and conversed with each other, while card games broke out here and there using decks of Canadian Pacific-brand playing cards.
Satisfied that they were stuck on the reef for some time to come, at 7:20 a.m. the first formal wireless message of the entire day was sent out. Relayed from Captain Locke aboard the Princes Sophia via the United States Radio Station in Juneau, its recipient was Canadian Pacificâs British Columbia coastal service superintendent, Captain James Troup.
PRINCESS SOPHIA RAN ON VANDERBILT REEF LYNN CANAL AT 3 OâCLOCK SHIP NOT TAKING WATER AND WATER UNABLE TO BACK OFF AT HIGH WATER FRESH NORTHERLY WIND SHIP POUNDED ASSISTANCE ON WAY FROM JUNEAU. LOCKE . [6]
In the wireless message the time is given as three in the morning. British Columbia was on Pacific Standard Time, which is one hour ahead of Alaskan Standard Time. Princess Sophia kept her clocks set to Pacific Standard Time, accounting for the difference. Unfortunately, wireless telegraphy was far from being an accurate science; the message sent to Captain Troup was received in Juneau at 7:20 a.m., but it wasnât passed along to the Canadian Pacific offices in Victoria until 8:24 a.m. Captain Troup finally received the message at 9:11 a.m. â nearly two full hours after it had been sent from the Princess Sophia . The delays and limitations of the wireless would continue to be a source of
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