The Steamer Evangel Goes Down at Her Own Dock

PORT ANGELES, March 6.—The steamer Evangel went down this morning at 4 o'clock at the end of Morse's dock, nothing but the upper portion of the cabin remaining above water. The accident was caused through the negligence of the night watchman, who left the siphon open, which admitted a flood of water into the hold and listed the steamer toward the dock. As she was heavily loaded, the water rushed in over her side, and in less than five minutes her decks were flooded; but the cargo of shingles in her hold prevented her from sinking to the bottom. Seven passengers were sleeping on board at the time of the accident, and all succeeded in reaching the dock in safety, though a number of them were dripping from head to foot with the cold water which had so suddenly inundated their staterooms. Mrs. F. Lee, the only lady passenger on board, was rescued from the water by means of a rope thrown from the dock. Like the rest of the passengers, she had not had time in which to dress, and a blanket supplied by the wharfinger protected her from the cold morning air until she was conveyed to a hotel.

The steward of the boat made his escape through a window in the cabin, and four members of the crew, who slept in the forecastle, were all compelled to swim in order to reach the dock. The officers of the Evangel rendered every assistance possible to the passengers in helping them to escape from the water and in saving their effects. Capt. Mann has telegraphed for barges with which to raise the Evangel, and expects to meet with no difficulty in floating her.