The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1870-04-09

PERILOUS oYAGE OF TIE AJAX
1t will be remembered that quite q mum
Der Of prominent citizens Of this city
were passengers by the steamer i ja.c to
San Francisco on the 10Th OF last month,
From the accounts that have reached Us,
the steamer had rough passage down,
aud came within an ace of going to the
bottom. The following particulars are
furnished the s. f Bdtefia, by police
officer Jones OF that city, who was pas
senger:
The jar sailed from Portland at 5:15
p N. Saturday, March 10Th, reached
Astoria on the 10th at I y. NJ, aud IN
about half an hour started across the
bar at the mouth of the Columbia While
on the bar her rudder post was started,
and she put back to Astoria for repairs.
A portion of her cargo was removed and
the rudder adjusted, it was supposed
properly, but when the engines were
started, it was found that the propeller
! caught on the shoe or some other part Of
the rudder and could not be revolyed.
! Again part Of the cargo was removed
/ to bring the propeller to the surface, when
/ the tips of its fans were cut of, so they
! would clear the obstruction. This being
accomplished, the portion of the cargo
which had been removed was replaced,
and the steamer resumed her voyage on
the evening of March 24. At about 5
A. NJ of the next day she was struck by
heavy gale, and at 6 A. NJ her rudder
and rudder post were carried away.
JURY RUDDER.
This left the steamer almost wholly at
the mercy of the wind and waves. She
fell into the trough of the sea and rolled
terribly, 50 that it was difficult for the
crew or the passengers to keep their feet.
But Capt Bolles and his officers and men
were equal to the emergency. \ spar
was taken down and the upper deck aft
cut away to some extent. The spar was
then rigged as a jury rudder, and the
Ajar was got ut Of the trough Of the
sea and headet off shore.
BRvKEN AGAIN.
The gale continued with unabated
violence, and ,on the spar was broken
and carried fro its fastcnings, leaving
the 4 jar again lmost helpless. Passen-
gers and crew went to work shifting the
cargo forward, to bring the stern as far
out of water as possible and give IN OPP
portunity to work. Another spar was
taken down and rugged, but the propeller
was entangled by some of the lines, and
before it could be worked it was neces-
sary to disengage it. The second officer
volunteered to perform this perilous duty.
A line was fastened around his body and
he dived several times, and finally sue
cecdcd in clearing the machinery. With
this heavy spar the course of the steamer
could be controlled, and she entered the
home port in safety.
A card of thanks to Capt. Bolles, and
his officers and crew is published in the
same paper, from which we clip the fol
lowing:
/ Resoloed, That it is with feelings OF
great gratitude that the undersigned, pas
sengers by the steamer Ajar, recognize
the obligations weare under to The officers
of the ship, who have SO safely brought
us to our desired port.
That to their untiring exertions and
sleepless energy, we feel we owe our lives,
so greatly imperiled.
That we consider for courtesy, bravery,
and thorough seamanship under the most
trying circumstances, Capt. Il. Bolles
stands at the head of his profession.
That alike to all the officers we return
our hearty thanks for their perseverance,
skill and kindness, and congratulate them
on the successful issue of the voyage.