Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-11-19
Story Of the Survivor OF the Steam.
ship Pacific.

SAN Francisco, Nov. q.
"A DISPATCH from Port Townsend this
evening says;
HenryF, -Jelley, supposed to be the sole
of tIfesl9acific, brought here yesteE51
day by the ship Messepgas 5poauwFetcffed
condition, having been on a raft thirty-si
hours before being picked up, says the
Pacific collided with some other vessel
whose lights he saw, but in his intervieYa
with Gilkey, Captain of the Messene
lasting twelve hours, he made no mentff ~
of the lights of the vessel, and someot Itk
him laboring under hallucinatior IS to
that. Experienced navigators hefl hink
it more likely that she struck .nken
rock. Jelley makes statement tQ he fol-
lowing effect:
Took cabin passage on the PatIfic from
Victoria, leaving about a quartet past nine
on the morning of. Thursday, the 4th
inst. There were about 2OQt people on
board. Steamed all day. against a
southeaster, the crew constantly pump
ing water into the bolts to trim
the ship. The boats aba0 the paddle
boxes had no oars in theH. The others
had about eight or nine. lh the evening,
while in bed, heard a crash and felt a
shock as if we had struck ia rock. Heard
something fall as if rocks had fallen on
the starboard bow. ThE bell was struck
to stop, back and gokahead. Went on
deck and heard voicedeay: Its all fright
we have struck yessel." Saw several
lights at a distancef but do not think they
were colored; buK paid little attention.
Returned to the Cabin and noticed the
ship took hea7 list to port. Went on
deck to the pill Ehouse and heard some
one say: "Shi Is making watervery fast. 1"
The Captain Vas coming out of his room.
Asked him iff there were any blue.lights
or guns. HRsaid the blue-lights were in
the pilot-hyuse. Got them and burned
five. Notified the engines still working,
but there Vas no one at the wheel. WIT
to the staA board side forward of the pad
dle-boxK where a number of men were
tryingWo get the long-boat out, bat
could dPnot. Went to the port-boat for
warRand helped five or six women into
.iE Tried to get the boat off, but could
not move it. There were about twenty
women in it. Heard the boats abaft the
paddles had got off, but did not see them.
Think it was about an hour after the
steamer struck when she listed so much
to port that the boat was in the water. l
was in that boat. Cut loose from the
davits, when the boat filled and turned
over. Got on her bottom and helped sew
eral up with me. Immediately after the
steamer seemed to break in Mos,foreea1d
aft. The smoke-stack fell and struck our
boat, and the steamer sunk. Think about
all the women were in our boat, and fear
they were all drowned when the boat
upset. This was about ten in the even
ing. The night was not dark nor the
sea very rough, but a fresh breeze
sprung up afterward. Left the bottom
of the boat, and, with another man,
climbed on top of the pilot house, floating
near. The next morning l got some life
preservers, floating near, and with their
ropes lashed myself and companion 10 the
house. Saw three RATS; the first had one
man on it, the next had three men and a
woman; could not make out the other for
the distance, except that there were people
on it. Think wewere thirty or forty miles
south of Cape Flattery when the vessel
sunk. Passed the light on Tattoosh Island
between four and five in the evening. Ny
self and companion were on the pilot
house all of Friday until about four p. m,
when he died, and / cut him loose. The
sea was running very high all day, the
waves washing over us. Soon after he
died sighted 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.
Jelley stated, informally, that there was
no terror or confusion on the part of the
passengers, and that if the boats could
have been launched and properly manned
the sea being comparatively smooth, all
would have been saved.
The statement of Neal O'Haley, Quar-
termaster of the Pacific, rescued by thu
morning of the 7th, is to the effect tina
there were over 200 people on board thu
lost steamer. He says:
saw large vessel under sail, which
they said struck the steamer; say he
green light distinctly. The passenger
crowded into the boats against the com
mands of the officers. /, with the chic
engineer, got port boat forward into tn
water and got fifteen women and six mel
in her. She was capsized by the rollln!
of the ship. saw none of them after
ward. / supported myself by floating
sky-light about fifteen minutes, and thel
got on portion of the hurricane decl
with some eight others. On looking TO
the steamer / found she had disappeared
| leaving floating mass of human beings
The screams for help were fearful but sool
ceased, and we were alone on the rafl
There were the Captain, second mate
second cook, and four passengers, in
cluding a young lady. AT one o'clOcI
the next morning, the 9th, ther
blew gale from the southeast, the Sc
making a clean break over the raft. w
lashed ourselves. About four a. m. tn
sea washed overheard the Captain, secon
mate, the lady and another passenge
About nine a. m. the second cook dieC
1t cleared up at aboutSfour p. m. sa'
land fifteen miles distant, and piece {
the wreck with two or more on it. AboI
five p. m. another died. On the mornin
of the 9th another died, leaving me alon
About four p. m. a large, empty box floate
near me. Got it on the raft for shelte
and slept soundly that night several hour
On the morning of the 7th saw land O
both sides and was surrounded with fioa
kelp, which made the water smooth.
continued calm all day and night. !
three a. m. l was rescued by the cutter.
ALL the rats in the Ophir and Co
solidated Virginia mines were killed
the gas during the late fire, and not one
| A.. 10 ~. naN Nlar sNan OF Nol