Forty May Be Dead

Victoria, B. C, Feb. 15.- The steamer Clara Nevada, bound for SeatUe, which left Dyea and Skaguay on Saturday, j Feb. 5, has not since been heard from I and is supposed to have been lost wlth all hands. The sleamer had several passengers on board for Juneau, but never reached there. The steamer Islander, for Victoria, called at Union, and Captain Irving telegraphed the news of the disaster. He also brought word some steamer was reported to have been on fire and to have disappeared after a great explosión on board in the neighborhood of Seaward, flfty miles north of Juneau. This is believed to have been the Clara Nevada, especially as it is said it was in similar trouble on its way up, oatching fire and also having to have its boilers repaired. Wreckage Comes to Shore. The shore in the vicinity of Seaward is strewn vvith a wreckage, freshly painted, like the bulwark of the Nevada. This wreckage was seen by Captain Thomas Lathan of the steamer Coleman, lately at Juneau from Skaguay. On the evening of the 5th inst. George Beek and wife of Seaward City saw a small steamer proceeding slowly against a hard wind well out in the channel, and while they watched its efforts to make headway the vessel broke out into Barnes. Nevada being the only boat not accounted for, it is believed that it has gone down with all hands - about forty people. The sea was very rough, so that those on board would have had little chance to make shore anywhere in boats. Some of Those on lïo;irch The Clara Nevada left Seattle for Skaguay Jan. 28, commanded by Captain C. H. Lewis, and carried a crew of tvventy-eight. Among those known to be on board were: Pilot, Ed Kelly; first officer. Smith; engineer, David Reed; purser, Foster Beek; steward, O'Donnell, and ireight clerk, George Rogers. The purser, who is interested in the company, wrote from Juneau on the up trip that everything had worked satisfactorily. The Clara Nevada was owned by the Pacific and Alaskan Transportation company. It was formerly the United States coast and geodetic survey steamer Hassler, and in 9ugust, 1897, after having been condemned as not available for government use, was sold at auction for $15,000.