The Daily Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Or.) 1876-1883, 1883-09-05
ASHORE ON CLATS0P SPIT.
THE QUEEN OF THE PACIFIC,
The Passengers All Safe.

At two o'clock yesterday afternoon
the sound Of heavy guns was heard in
the direction of the Cape. The sup
position in the city was that the firing
was from Fort Stevens to enable the in
coming steamers to form some idea OF
their whereabouts. The densest fog
that has been known for years hung
over the mouth Of the river, and a
vessel could not be seen at twice her
distance. About three o'clock tho
General Cai.by came up from the fort
with the news that the Queen of tie
Pacific was ashore on Clatsop spit.
The absence of any definite news con-
cerning the ship OF her passengers oc-
casioned the greatest excitement. The
tugs Pioneer and Columbia immedi-
ately started for the scene of the dis
aster, the Breaham being at the Cape;
and steam was got up ON the astoria,
which with the Tom Morris and two
other steamers started to render all
the assistance possible.
About eight O'Clock the BrslJ,Gm
came alongside Gray S dock with about
$50 rescued passengers aboard. One
of them, an Astoriau, gave US the fol-
lowing account of the affair:
''We left San Francisco al right and
had good weather all the way up, a
light wind and fog now aud then.
We made the whistling buoy at eight
o'clock this morning and anchored in
side. All the morning it was so
thick you couldn't sec two ship
lengths ahead, but along towards noon
the fog lifted little and some of the
passengers were very anxious to get
in. Finally about half past-one we
started, picked up the red buoy or
buoy No. 4. and were making the
turn all right when the fog closed
down and the first thing we knew we
struck. The pilot sung out "Put
your helm hard-a-starboard," but as
she struck again the fog lifted and we
saw the buoy about 400 yards to the
north and east and found we were on
ClatsOp spit, south and west of No. 4
buoy and directly across the south
channel from the wreck Of the Great
Republic on Sand island. The ship
struck at two o'clock. In a few
minutes the captain sent second mate
Hall for assistance. At quarter to
three the BreHhdm came In sight; she
had the lifebOat from the cape. By
this time there was a heavy swell, but
the work OF taking on the passengers
Immediately began. came up on the
Brenhdm and when left, the Pioneer
and Tom Morris were taking on lot
more. There was no excitement or
confusion. Some of them were a
little scared, but the most of them
took it coolly. One lady had her leg
crushed between the boat and the tug
as she was being lifted in; she tainted
and was brought back to the ship. A
man had his ankle hurt. That is all
| heard in the way of accidents
When 1 left the ship she was hard and
fast. listed to starbOard."
AS soon as the news reached Astoria
preparations we're immediat ely made
for the rescue of the passengers. Tugs
and steamers were dispatched, and
tow of fishing boats sent by the
Tom Morris. These boats did good
service for they could live where no
other boat but a life boat dare ven
ture. The chamber Of commerce
and citizens generally made provision
for those who came up, and saw
that all were given place 10 spend
the night.
The Queen IF the Pacific sailed from
San Francisco for Astoria az ten min
utes past ten, last Sunday morning,
the 4th inst, the Oregon sailing about
ten minutes after. The Queen had
very little freight, the Oregon carry
ing freight and mail in add ion to the
usual large number of passengers, but
hac special delegation of prominent
men aboard who were going to the
scene of the diving of the last spike
on the Northern Pacific railway next
Saturday. Following Is list of her
passengers.