The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-11-17
The Wreck of the steamer Pacific.

msnLX JGllYa VIC suDpOSeuu sOae suIVlvOI
fOf the Pacific, wrecked n TIE Pacific, n
4mid-ocean, is lnu q. most :wretched con:
dition,s having been, on "a o raft q thirt y'siz
hours before being picked np, says tn.
oacl tic1collidedi with some other vessel
whose lights hesaw.s. But. in his inter
views with Gilkey, captain Of the Mes.
senger; lasting twelvs hours, he. made nc
mention of the lights. o.: q, vessel. and
some think him Ia boring under . .ha:luci
nation .3eAsx to that experienced ,naviga
tors here think it more likely she struck
a sunken rock: r: iist,Iv ti;, ,1,s~!:
Jelly makes statement to the follow
ling effect: Il q, .41:.>~ ,,t4s. !-...r -
took cabin passage on the Pacific
from Victoria. leaving about a quarter
past nine on the morning Of Thursday
the 18th inst. There we're about 200 peo'
! pie on board. - The steamer worked: ai]
day against southeastern wind ana the
crew were constantly pumping water into
the boats to trim the ship. The boats
abaft the paddle boxes had no oars in
them; the others had between eight or
! nine.
In the evening while in bed heard a
crash and felt shock as if the ship had
struck rock: I heard something fall as
| if rocks had fallen. The starboard bow
| bell struck to stop, back and 60 ahead.
l went on deck and heard voices say, sits
all right; we have struck vessel Saw
several lights at distance, but do not
think they were colored; but paid little
attention. I returned to the cabin and
noticed the ship took heavy list to port.
Went on deck to the pilot house. Heard
some one say, ''She is making water very
fast" Saw the captain coming out of his
room. Asked him if there were any blue
lights or guns. He said the blue light:
were in the pilot house. I got them and
burned FIVE. Noticed the engines
still working but no one
at the wheel. Went to the starboard
side, forward of the paddle box, where a
mum her of men were trying to get out
the long boat, but could not. Went to
the port boat forward 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 abatt the paddle had got off, but
did not see them.
Think 1T was about an hour after the
steamer struck when she listed so much
The port boat was in the water. Twas
in that boat when it was cut loose from
the davits. The boat filled and helped
several up with me.
Immediately after the steamer seemed
to break in two. The fore aft smoke
stack fell and struck our boat and the
steamer sank.
think about all the women were in
our boat and fear they were all drowned
when the boat upset.
This was about ten in tn" evening
The night was not dark nor the sea very
| rough, but there was fresh breeze.
I afterwards left the bottom Of the boat
and with another man climbed on the pi
lot house top. In the morning l got
some life preservers floating near the
house and with their ropes dashed myself
and companions to the house.
We were thirty or forty miles south of
Cape Flattery when the vessel sunk. We
passed the light on TotooSh Island be,
tween four and five in the evening.
and my companion we're on the pilot
house all Of Friday until about 4 p. NJ
when he died and cut him loose. The
sea was running very high all day and
the waves washing over us. Soon after
he died [ sighted a vessel.called and hear
the people on the other RATS calling, but
the vessel did not come near.
Friday night there was but little wind,
Euatil morning when the wind and sea
rose. I Twas then within mile of the
shore of Vancouver Island and sighted
| two vessels on the American shore which
passed on.
About 10 A. NJ. Saturday the Messenger
picked me up.
The revenue steamer Oliver Walcott
on Monday morning picked up another OF
the crew Of the Pacific. tie was discovered
on raft three miles inside the straight
Of Fruda. He says that Capt. Howell was
drowned rom the same raft, and confirms
the statement of Jelly, that the Pacific
was struck by vessel under full sail
lie also says the steamer California passed
in plain sight Of the raft while several
were surviving. Another vessel also
passed in their vicinity. Two boats did
get away from the wreck. The Wa'cott
has also recovered one or two dead bodies.
| he steamer GuSsie Telfair reports see
ing vessel in distress outside the cape
with her flag union down and lower spirit
gone. which was undoubtedly the vessel
that collded with the Pacific. The
steamer Telfair has recovered three
| bodies.
Cave Discovery in Colorado..A