The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-01-16
Mysterious Loss Of the "Juventa''
and Her Crew.

Lettering about the wharves on dull
day one encounters occasional prouns
collected in pensive mood, and if he
cares to investigate the subject OF dis
eussion. he is more than likelv to learn
something new and strange in the way
Of nautical lore. or be interested with
the recital of thrilling marine reminis.
cences. Such salt-sea- savored proup
was encountered by Chryaicle reporter
yesterday. Captain 4. A. Williams. a
we'll known veteran mariner. had inst
commenced the recital Of sorrowful
narrative 1T is about four years ago. )"
said the Captain, that the schooner
Juventa sailed from the Amoor River
bound for San Francisco Her arrival
here was looked for with the greatest
eagerness. as the schooner was yery
popular, and her commander, Captain
Hall, was an old favorite. You know
with US sailors how vessels are spoken
of as having life, and being launched
under lucky or unlucky stars. Well.
We all thought the Juventa was born
under lucky star up TO the day when
we finally believed that disaster had
befallen her. We waited and waited
for her arrival, day by day and uisht
by night, for six months, but no Juven-
Ia came, and she has never been heard
OF, here from the day. some four years
ago. when Captain Hall sang out the
command, Let go the linesr in the
regions bordering on the Arctic. The
theory Is that the schooner struck float
ing ice and foundered, or else struck
sunken rocks. when she perished with
all on board. Those who went down
with her were Captain Hall. fine
young fellow named Goodrum, son of
Captain Goodrum of this city; two
mates. four men before the mast, and
the cook, as near as l can remember. |
sailed the Juventa myself, and she
made her frnrteen knots an hour under
a good stiff breeze. Inever saw the
pilot-boat that could speak her if her
Master gave her all the canvass she
could carry and handled her properly.
Running before q good gale, there was
not a steamer on the Pacific Ocean that
could sail away from her. The Juvcnta
was built at Coos Bay. Oregon by John
Hewlett, and was about l60 tons.
Never saw anything like her afloat for
making time i'll all kinds Of winds and
all kinds of weather. But the saddest
part is TO be told. Poor Captain Hall
had not seen his family for fourteen
years, and had written to his wife. and
beautiful daughter, sixteen years old.
To come to San Francisco and meet him
upon his return here from the Amoor
River. fixing the probable date Of arri-
val. The mother and daughter came
from the east at the appointed time.
with hearts full of love for the kind
protector whom they had not seen for
so many years. Letters and favors had
passed between them. but they never
met face to face in all that time Both
mother and daughter. upon their arrival
in this city. expected to meet Captain
Hail. hut they were doomed to disap~
Pontment. For six months they waited,
never allowing day to pass without
inquiring if the Juvents had arrived
yet. Every day the reply was, No:
but we expect her to morrow, sure
And the morrow passed and continued
To pass until six months had gone by.
At the expiration of this time both
mother and daughter were broken with
grief. Friends advised them that it
was useless to wait any longer, as the
vessel must have foundered at sea.
Again they went East in their desoln-
t'on. and from that day to this nothing
has ever been heard by either of them
OF the ill-fated schooner Juvents.