, 1855-02-03
The Revenue Cutter "Jef. Da-
Vis,o Cant. Peasc, sc.


1t affords us pleasure to record to fol
lowing complimentary testimonial of th'
good Offices performed by Capt. PEAsE
and It. KELLOGG, in their noble and praise
worthy endavors to afford reliet to the pas
sengers and crew Of the wrecked steamer
"Southerner."
OLtAPrA, Jan. 29tb, 1855.
J. w WILEY Esq.-DeOr Sir: The
officers and passengers of the Southerner
were kind enough to speak, through the
columns of your pape: of the goth inst, oi
what they called the attention and kind.
ness they received at the hands of the off.
GERS of the steamer Major Tompkins "
during their passage from their camp on
the coast to Olympia, for all of which the
other gentlemen named, as well as myself,
are very grateful; but regret extremely
that the one to whom their rescue is main
ly attributable has been passed by entirely
unnoticed allude 10 Capt. VIM. G.
PEAsE, of the Revenue Cutter "Jeff. Da-
Wis"
Capt. Pease was passenger on board
the Major Tompkins when we left on
our usual trip down the Sound on the 5th
inst--the Cutter was then at Steilacoom.
On his arrival there he was met by an ex-
press from Col. Ebey, the Collector, with
letter from Maj. Alvord, of the army,
informing him of the disaster to the
Southerner," and asking immediate as
sstance. Without the delay of moment,
Capt. PeaSe purchased lis stores, and on
his own responsibility contracted with us
to tow the Cutter to Port Townsend--the
wind and tide then being ahead. Before
daylight on the morning of the 9th the
Cutter and steamer were at anchor at Port
Townsend. Here We met Capt. Sampson,
of the Southerner," who gave US the full
particulars of the wreck. The steamer
was there chartered to proceed TO Neah
Bay, to receive on board the passengers,
should the Cutter succeed in getting them
off the beach, We sailed in company
from Port Townsend, l for Victoria for
fuel, and Capt. Pease to the relief OF the
passengers He succeeded in getting, as
Capt. Sampson himself stated to me, with
in five miles Of the camp, where he anchor
ed to wait for daylight Unfortunately,
shortly after, strong breeze from s, W.
commenced blowing, which obliged him to
get under way, which, however, he was not
able to do without the loss of an anchor
aud chain. The wind continued 10 in
crease during the day, and before he got
into Nesh Bay it was blowing gale. We
were laying at anchor there at the time Of
his return, and were obliged to renain
there for the two following days, during
all Of which time it blew very heavily from
S. W. with q very heavy sea on Early
on the morning Of the third day after his
return, he attempted to get under way
again, but the wind having gone down, and
the swell still rolling in heavily, he was
obliged to anchor again to prevent bis
vessel going on the reef at Neah Island
He then came on board the steamer, and
desired me to see Capt Sampson and i
possible make some arrangements with hin
for the steamer to proceed to the rescue Of
the passengers, as it might not he possible
for him to get out for "a hours, the wind
being then so light. / did so, and Capt
S. returned with me on board the "Tomp
kins." Capt. Pease furnished us his Life
boat with I'd Lieut. Kellogg, to take charge
of her, and offering at the same time fNl
boats crew. We proceeded to sea as soor
as possible, aud were fortunate enough tc
succeed in getting the passengers off in q
very short space Of time after our arrival,
owing to the good conduct of those in
charge of the boats, and brought them
here without accident Bot Capt. Pease,
with whom, unfortunately, we were unable
to communicate on our return, lowing to
bad weather) remained cruising about the
mouth of the Straits, to render us assist
ance, until he learned we had passed up.
regret to occupy SO much Of your space
with this matter, but deem it duty
owe gentleman, who, by his courteous
demeanor and promptness to render assist
ance where needed, has made himself so de-
seryedIy popular, as VIC oil know him to
be, among those living on the Sound.
With respect ! remain,
Your obedient serv,tr
JAMES NJ Hum,
Master Steamer Major TompGins.