Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-11-13
CALIFORNIA.
The Steamship Pacific.
Further Particulars.

San Francisco, November IL. A despatch from
Port Townsand, this afternoon, reports the return
Of the revenue steamer Walcott, from her cruise
after the survivors of the Pacific, after finding
O'Hanley. The quartermaster previously report
ed the cutter steamed for Neah bay. When near
Waddon Island, she picked up the body of the un-
der steward of the Pacific. On reaching Neah
bay, Lieut.. HARDWOOD, in command of the cutter,
sent the Indians in canoes, who searched the coast
for 20 miles southwest of Cape Flattery, returning
after two days of unsuccessful search. There was
heavy gale on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Walcott sailed for Barclay Sound, Van
Covers Island, 50 miles from Cape Flattery, and
communicated with the Indians along Van Couv-
er's shore, but nothing of Importance was OBJ
tanned. Steaming up Barclay Sound, the first In
dian village was hailed. and canoe came off con-
tanning white man, who came aboard and intro
duced himself as the first mate of the ship Orphe-
US.
He stated that she had been run into the Thurs
wrecked on the following Saturday morning, on
an island near by Copper Island. The captain
and crew had got ashore safely and were encamped
further up.
Proceeding in the direction indicated, another
canoe approached, in which was Capt. Sawyer OF
the Orpheus. He gave the following account OF
the disaster: Thursday eveninythc was approach
ing the Cape by his reckoning about 20 miles OFT
with fresh southwest breeze, and steering about
northwest. The man at the wheel first saw the
steamers head light off the port bow, immediately
after straight ahead. Could see neither of her
side lights could not make out in which direction
she was coming He put his helm to the star,
board The light came nearer, continued to star
board his helm, until his vessel had turned around
with the sails fat back.
The steamer by this time had got very near him
and blew one whistle, and in less than half q
minute her bow struck his ship just abaft the
fore chains crushing in the rail and breaking the
planking down to near the copper. She surged
along side of her striking and grating along her
starboard side, carrying away a II the starboard
braces and rigging on that side; also the foretop-
mast Capt. Sawyer states that he hailed the
steamer as she swayed past and called to them to
lay by and send a boat to him, as he then sup
posed his ship to be in sinking condition No
one answered his hail, neither did he see any enc
on deck She drifted or steamed away, he was
not certain which.
| tie afterwards saw a dash Of light, Which he
took for a signal. He thought they had heard
| his hail and would lay by him. He saw her nc
more. His ship at that time demanded all of kis
| attention. He lay TO the remainder of that night
| and nearly all day Friday, repairing his rigging
That forenoon he got under way again and made
| sail for land. Soon after dark he made a light
which he took for Cape Flattery, not knowing
| there was light ON the coast further north. He
l allowed five miles clearance for Duncan rock ant
considered himself safe for entering the straits o.
l Fuca. At about o'clock Saturday morning hi
ship scraped over reef, Immediately after strik
ing her bow on rock, stuck fast and hiled. The
1 light he mistook for Fattery was Cape Beale, u
| the en- trance of Barclay sound, 80 miles north Of
| tine former. The ship will prove q total loss
Capt. Sawyer got all the valuables &c, he could
1 out Of her and encamped on the shore with his
| wife and the crew, in tents made Of sails lie
hired canoe of the Indians and started his mate
< to Victoria for help but the weather was so bad
! the Indians would not venture out on the voyage
Nothing was beard or seen in Barclay sound OF
| any thing pertaining to the Pacific.