, 1878-02-01

COLUMBIA RIVER BAR.

lllhOlIl hl 'N' N''''''''.'N 'N''' Wv
,,rtIy verified the remarks made in
those columns not IOul since, To the
effect that. before the Wiutermonths
had PASSED. many vessels would leave
their bone, ON the dangerous sands.
The fuc ship NImbus, one Of the
hest snd strongest of American YES.
>rI,. la, become a wreck 10y ground
inr ON the bar, and together with a
yrrc valuable cargo, Is a total Joss
The ship Pilgrim struck on the bar
and was badly damaged, and the ship
Leading Wind, was driven ashore
from her anchorage inside. Both
these vessels will have to come TO san
Francisco for repairs, and as the car
roes are damaged, they will also have
TO be overhaulsd. An English YES
sci also struck on the bar and was So
badly damaged that her cargo will
have to he transferred to another ship
and the damaged vessel brought here
for repairs. The steamer George
w. Elder, commanded by Capt
Fred. Bolles-a gentleman who has
been identified with the Portland
trade for years and is thoroughly ac'
ouainted with the navi cation Of that
portion our waters-also struck IN
The river, but fortunately got of
without apparent damage. All these
accidents occurred within a period
af three days. Formerly, the poll,
cies of insurance distinctly prohibited
any vessel over fifteen feet draft, en-
tering the river, except at their own
risk. The dangers of crossing the
bar are SC conclusive, that it will not
be long before the Underwriters viii
return to their former rule in regard
to this river.
Let us review the several cases re
ferred to: The ship Pilgrim, 95t
tons, three years old, built at Med
ford, and owned by Henry Hastings
cleared on December 10th with
a cargo of 35,239 centals Of
wheat, valued at $54,S74; the ship
herself was valued at about $4,000
The Leading Wind, ship three
years old, built at Bath, owned by
Goss and Sawyer, valued at about
100000, and having on board 33,S7O
centals of wheat, valued at $72 ,916,
cleared on December 14th; while
the ship Nimbus, owned by Patton
& Son, of Bath, where she was built,
was eight years old, 1902 tons regis.
ter, valued at about $4,000, and
having a cargo of 1866 centals Of
wheat, valued at $92, ,49S, cleared on
December 18th. All had to wait un-
iii December 2Sth, when they got
what they supposed favorable
change to venture across the danger
Gus waters. The sequel shows the
way they were deceived. The Un
and owners sustain a loss
on the Nimbus of about $l40,000.
The damage on the other two ves-
sells, not taking the English ship into
consideration, will make the losses
in this affair alone over quarter ofa
million of dollars. Does the extra
freight of 81 per ton cover the
above? We think not, and we fear
also that we shall hear many more
Of the same kind of accidents before
the Winter is over. No vessel Of
over sixteen feet draft at most should
be permitted to cross Columbia Riv.
er Bar" Alta California"
Since the furore raised over the
Columbia river bar OH account of re-
cent marine disasters, the Portland
papers have been trying to smooth
matters over by attacking Puget
Sound interests, and parading the
Osmyn disaster in support of their
statements derogatory to our ship.
ing business. Every one who knows
about the loss OF the
Osmyn can easily see that the disas
ter was merely the result of a col
lision which might have occurred on
the high seas as readily as anywhere
else, while the perils Of Columbia
river navigation are so pslpable that
Oregon papers have to conceal them
as far as possible. After inserting
the clipping from the "Alta." I" dis.
patches came as follows hereinafter
about the disaster in San Francisco
Bay. 1t is well known fact that the
last named bay is fast filling up with
debris from the Sacramento river.
and that the harbor there is being
thereby rendered unsafe. Who will
not agree with US that il requires no
great stretch OF the Imagination to
sc: the day a few years hence when
Puget Sound will be sought as the