The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-11-13
BY TELEGRAPH
WRECK OF STEAMER PACIFIC.
Collision with Steamship Orpheus

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. H.
A dispatch this afternoon from Port
Townsend, reports the return OF the reve-
nue. steamer Walcott, from cruise after
the survivors Of the Pacific. After find.
ing the quartermaster previously noted the
cutter steamed for Neah bay, near Wad-
den island and picked up the body of the
under steward of the Pacific. On reaching
Neah bay, Lieut. Harwood in command Of
the Walcott sent Indians Ia canoes who
reached the coast 20 miles south of Cape
Flattery, returning after two days I'M
successful search. A heavy gale all day
Tuesday and Wednesday. The cutter
sailed for Barclay Sound, Vancouvers
island 30 miles from Cape Flattery, com
municated with the Indians along Vancouver
shore, nothing of importance ascertained.
Steaming up Barclay sound, the first Indian
village, was hailed, A canoe came of con-
tanning white man who came aboard and
introduced himself as first mate of the ship
Orpheus he stated he had been run into
the Thursday night previous by steamer
and was wrecked on the following Satur-
day morning on an island near by Copper
island. The captain and Grew 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, who gave
the following account Of the disaster
Thursday evening he was approaching
the cape by his reckoning about 90 miles
off; fresh southwest breeze steering
about northwest man at the wheel first
sawa steamers headlight off the port bow;
Immediately after straight ahead could
see neither of her side lights could not
make out in which direction she was CON-
ing ; put his helm astarboard light came
near he continued to starboard his helm
until his vessel had turned round sails
flap aback; the steamer by this time had
got very near him blew one whistle In
less than half minute after her bow
struck his ship, glanclng the bow
just att the fore chains. crashing in rail
breaking planking down to near copper.
She Ourged alongside of her, striking and
grating and grading along the starboard
side carrying away all starboard braces
and rigging on that side, also foretop mast.
Capt Sawyer states he hailed the steamer
as she surged past. called to them to lay
by him and send boat, as he then supposed
the ship to be in a shaking condition, but
no one answered bis hail, neither did he see
any one on deck She drifted or steamed
away. He was not certain which. He af-
forwards saw fash of light which he took
for signal, he thought they had heard
his hail and would lay by him;
he saw her no more his ship at that time
demanded all his attention he lay too the
remainder of the night and nearly all Fri
day repairing rigging; that forenoon got
under way again and made safe for land
soon after dark made light which he took
for Cape Flattery not knowing there was
light on the coast, further north, he al
lowed five miles clearance for Duncan
Rock, and considered himself safe for en-.
ering the straits of Fuca, where, about 5.
o'clock, Saturday, his ship scraped over
the reefs and Immediately after struck her
bow on a rock, stuck fast and filed the
light he mistook for Fattery was Cape
Beale entrance of Barclay sound, thirty
five miles north of the former. The ship
will prove total loss.
Capt. Sawyer got all valuables, etc, he
could out of her encamped on shore with
his wife and crew in tents made of sails
had hired canoe from Indians and started
his mate to Victoria for help, but the
weather was so bad that the Indians could
not venture; out on the voyage, 80 they
were found when Wacott arrived
Lieut.. HARDWOOD took all of them aboard
otshis vessel with the most valuable por-
tionof the goods saved, leaving the first
mate of the Orpheus in charge of the
wreck until the owners could he consulted.
All were landed safely at Port Townsend
Friday morning Nothing was heard of
OF seen in Barclay sound of anything per-
tanning to the Pacific. ~. AZ
Capt. Harwood and Pilot Peter Thomp.
son went to work off Orpheus and exam
med 1t carefully. Sawyer says the ship
was undoubtedly struck by the steamer
just about forward rigging. The Orpheus
registered ten hundred slxty-seyen tone,
owned by c. L. Taylor & Co. of this city.
AT the time, of collision with the Pacific
she was in ballast on her way to Departure
Bay for coal, having sailed from
this port on the Goth ut. There is no ex-
pectation of rescuing any more of those on
Pacific. There has been heavy weather
most of the time since the wreck and after
thorough search nc hopes are entertained
of further discoveries.
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