Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-11-18
The Pacific Disaster.
sAs Faasasoo. yos. ..


A dispatch from Port Townsend this
cscning says:
Henry = s 9, ,se 'up p.sise. brought
here yesterday by the ship Mes
,sn0er In wrctched condition,
haring been on n raft thirty six
hU,rs before being picked up, says the Pa
.ci6c cnllided with some other vessel,
whose lights he saw. but in his interviews
with Giikey, Captain Of the Messenger,
tasting twelve hours, he made no mention
of the lights Of the vessel, and some think
him iaboring under Authorization ~ 10
thai. Experienced nayigators here think
IL more likely that she struck sunken
rock Jelley makes q statement to the
following effect:
Took cabin passage on the Pacific from
Victoria, leaving about quarter past nine
on the morning of Thursday, the 4th
inst. There were about 200 people on
board. Steamed all day against a
souiheas;er, the crew constantly pump
ing water into the boats 70 trim
The ship. The boats abaft the paddle
boxes had no oars In them. The others
had about eight or nine. In the even
ing. while in bed, heard crash and felt a
shock az If we had struck rock. Heard
something fall ~ II rocks had fallen on
the starb0ard bow. The bell was struck
% stop, back and 90 ahead. Wcn. On
deck and heard voices say: /" Irsall right;
we have struck vessel" Saw several
fights at distance but do not think they
were colored but paid little attention
Returned 10 the cabin and noticed the
ship took a heavy list 10 port. Went on
deck W the pilot.h0use and heard some
one say She u making water very fast. !"
The Captain was coming out OF bis room.
Asked him If there were any blue-ligbts
or guns. He said the blue. lights were In
the piothousc. tot them and burned
five. Noticed The engines still working,
but there was no one al the wheel. Went
To the starboard side forward Of the
pDldle-box where number OF men
were trying 10 get the loDg.boat out, but
could not. Went 10 the port-boat for
ward and helped Ave or six women into
H. Tried 10 get the boat off, but could
not move IL There were about twenty
women In IL. Heard the boats abaft the
paddles had got off, but did not see them.
Think il was about an hour after the
steamer struck when she listed no much
TO port that the boat was In the water.
was In that boat. Cut loose from the
daviis, when the boat filled and turned
over Got ON her bottom and helped sey.
eral up with me. Immediately after tho
steamer seemed % break in two tore and
aft The smokc-stack fell and struck our
boat, and the steamer sunk. Think about
all the women were In our boat, and fear
ahey we're all drowned when the
boat upset. This was about ten
in the evening. The night was not
dark nor the sea very rough, but fresh
breeze sprung up afterward. Left the bot.
tom Of the boat, and, with another man,
climbed on top Of the pilot.house, floating
near The next morning ! got some life
ipreserycrs, floating near, and with their
ropes dashed myself and companion TO the
house. Saw three RATS; the first had one
man on IL, the next had three men and a
woman. could not make out the other for
the distance, except that there were people
on IL. Think we were thirty or forty
miles south Of Cape Flattery when the
vessel sunk. Passed the light on Tat
toosh Island between four and five In the
evening. Myself and companion were
on the pilot. house ali Of Friday un-
I'll about four p. m, when he died,
and i cut him loose. The sea was
running very high all day, the waves
washing over US. Soon after he died i
sightcd vessel. Called, and heard the
people on the other RATS calling, but the
vessel did not come near. Friday night
we had but little wind, but In the
morning the wind and sea rose Was then
within mile Of the shore Of Vancouver
Island. Sighted two vessels on the Ameri
can shore, which passed on. About ten
O'Clock Saturday forenoon the Messenger
picked me up.
Jellcy stated, informally, that there was
no terror or confusion on the part Of the
passengers, and that II the boats could
have been launched and properly manned,
the sea being comparatively smooth,
all would have been saved.