A Squall Off Chuckanut: The Mail Steamer Buckeye Goes Down

Fairhaven, April 2.—Special.—The mail steamer Buckeye, on the route between Whatcom and Friday Harbor by way of Anacortes, was in a heavy sea shortly before 4 o'clock this afternoon, about two miles off Chuckanut. She had six passengers aboard, besides her crew of five, all of whom but one, H. Kautzman, of Anacortes, have been saved. The steamer carried one skiff, one lifeboat and a raft.

When she listed and filled, an attempt was made to launch the skiff, but she swamped. Then the lifeboat was lowered, and the captain, Oscar Hahn and Engineer Snyder, the cook, Mrs. Kautzman, a passenger, Will D. Jenkins, editor of the Champion, and Tony Golght pulled ashore, landing at Chuckanut. The remaining four—the mate, Capt. Boyden, Mr. Asher, Mr. Bennett and Mr. Kautzman—tried to reach shore on the life raft. Kautzman was soon washed off and drowned, and the other three were brought to this city by the tug Boyden about 11 o'clock tonight, having been picked up at 7 o'clock about two miles off shore. They had been about three hours in the water.

The house of the steamer had been washed off, and a portion of the upper works was seen by those aboard the tug tonight. She was heavily loaded forward with cattle, beef and hay, and the loss of the steamer was said to be due to the shifting of the cargo. She was owned by A. Newhall, of Newhall, Orcas Island. The amount of her insurance could not be learned tonight.