The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-11-25
The Pacific Disaster,

and its immediate neighborhood by high
tides on the 18th is over s., 100000.
The Pacific Disaster.
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov...9.
A dispatch from Port Townsend this
evening says:
Henry f. Jelley, supposed to be the
sole survivor of the Pacific, brought
here yesterday by the ship Mes
senger in wretched condition,
having been on raft thirty six
hours before being picked up, says the Pa
cific cOllided with some other vessel,
whose lights he saw, but in his interviews
with Gilkey, Captain of the Messenger,
lasting twelve hours, he made no mention
of the lights of the vessel, and some think
him laboring under Authorization as to
that. Experienced navigators here think
it more likely that she struck sunken
rock. Jelley makes 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
southeastern, the crew constantly pump
ing water into the boats to trim
the ship. The boats abaft the paddle
boxes had no oars in them. The others
had about eight or nine. In the even
ling, while in bed, heard a crash and felt a
shock as if we had struck rock. Heard
something fall as if rocks had fallen on
the starboard bow. The bell was struck
to stop, back and go ahead. Went on
deck and heard voices say" It's all right;
we have struck a vessel" Saw several
lights at distance but do not think they
were colored; but paid little attention.
Returned to the cabin and noticed the
ship took heavy list to port. Went on
deck to the pilot-house and heard some
o.; one say" She is making water very fast. "
The Captain was coming out of his room.
Asked him if there were any blue-lights
or guns. He said the blue lights were in
the pilot-house. got them and burned
five. Noticed the engines still working,
but there was no one at the wheel. Went
to the starboard side forward of the
paddle-box where a number of men
were trying to get the long-boat out, but
could not. Went to the port-boat for
ward and helped five or six women into
it. 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 80 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 two fore and
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 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
preservers, floating near, and with their
ropes dashed myself and companion to 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 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 all of Friday un-
til about four p: M, when he died,
and I cut him loose. The sea was
washing over US. Soon sitter 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-
tcrmaster of the Pacific, rescued by the
revenue-cutter Oliver Wolcott on the
morning Of the 7th, is to the effect that
there were over 200 people on board the
lost steamer. He says:
I saw large vessel under sail, which
lllCy OH uCh tAC 0VCduACA SuW uCA
green light distinctly. The passengers
crowded into the boats against the com
mands of the officers. l, with the chief
engineer, got port boat forward into the
water and got fifteen women and six men
in her. She was capsized by the rolling of
the ship. saw none of them afterward.
I supported myself by floating sky-light
about fifteen minutes, and then got on a
portion of the hurricane deck with some
eight others. On looking for the steamer
| I found she had disappeared, leaving a
| floating mass of human beings. The
screams for help were fearful, but soon
ceased, and we were alone on the raft.
There were the Captain, second mate,
second cook, and four passengers,
including a young lady. At one
o'clock the next morning, the 5th, there
blew a gale from the southeast, the sea
making clean break over the raft. We
dashed ourselves. About four a. m. the
sea washed overheard the Captain, second
mate, the lady and another passenger.
About nine a. m. the second cook died.
1t cleared up about four p. m. saw land
fifteen miles distant, and piece of the
wreck with two or more on it. About
five p. m. another died. On the morning
of the 9Th another died, leaving me alone.
About four p. m. large, empty box
f1oated near me. Got it on the raft for
shelter and slept soundly that night sew
eral hours. On the morning Of the 7th
saw land on both sides and was surround
ed with float-kelp, which made the water
| smooth. 1t continued calm all day and
night. At three q. m. was rescued by
the cutter.
Report of the Commissioner Of Inter.
nal Revenue.
| III E#fst..'.
WASHINGTON, Nov. II.