The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-12-18
LOST AT SEA.
A Whaling Bark Wrecked and a Num-
ber of Lives Lost.
Darkness and a Heavy Fog Prevent
Assistance Being Rendered.
a Rumor That a Large Part Of the
Crew Were intoxicated.
The Captains story Of the Fearful
Disaster.

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 17-At 2.30 O'Clock this
morning, the whaling bark Atlantic was driven
ashore a mile and half below the Clin House,
California, and went 10 pieces in few minutes,
not spar remaining standing. The wreck was
strewn along the beach for miles.
About 20 men are believed to be lost The cap
tain and mate, with eight or ten more were saved.
The Atlantic belonged to J. & w. r. Wing, OF
New Bedford, Mass. She had discharged her
terday to cruise IN the North seas. She was com
manded by Thomas 2. Warren, Of southampton,
l.. 1. Zenas f. D0uty, OF Falmouth, Mass, was
mate. She was valued at about s25, 900, and
there Is no insurance as far as known.
AT the time of the disaster there was dense
left here yesterday afternoon for a cruise in the
Southern Pacific, after which she was 10 proceed
70 the North. The Atlantic was an old vessel,
having been built In 1871, and was OF POL tons
register. She was owned by j. & w. X. Wing Of
New Bedford, Mass and was commanded by
R' tain the names Of the lost d' and spyed 70 'se'
The following Is Capt Warren's statement of
awe were towed out to sea yesterday. There
was heavy head swell and no wind and the cur
rents were 50 strong we could not get out Of the
swell. We let 20 both anchors, but the sea was
swept over our decks and the anchors could not
hold and we dragged ashore, and struck at 1.30
O'Clock a, a n H., The men were being washed on
ed over us. The vessel went to pieces In an hour
and half after she struck. There was a very
heavy fog and it was pitch dark. We succeeded
In lowering two boats, hut both were eapszed be-
fer getting two boat lengths from the ship. The
first boat contained z II. Doty, first mate; Anton
Perry, third mate, and four or fve Of the crew.
That was the last we saw Of them In the second
boat were myself, Second Mate Riug and five
men. When we were swamped the sea carried us
In until we touched bottom when we dragged our
selves ashore. We made no signals Of distress,
as IL was too f0ggy for any TO be seen. "
AS soon as the captain reached shore he made
his way In an exhausted condition to the life saw
ing station, 40U feet away, and gave an ala-m.
The life saving apparatus was immediately got
out, but owing to the darkness and fog Ii was
some time before the wreck could be located. A
line was then shot over her, but it proved Of no
service as II became entangled in some floating
wreekage, and the vessel shortly went to pieces.
The vessel was valued at $4,000, and her out
fit at $4,000. The insurance Is $4,000. Up to
the present time only eleven persons are known
to have been saved. Only one body thus far has
been recovered. 1t Is rum0red that large
portion of the crew were intoxicated and that
twenty-five men were below sleeping of the ef-
feets OF liquor when the vessel struck. There Is
some doubt as to the number OF persons on the
Inflated bark when she left here yesterday. The
custom house records give the number as AZ,
while the captain states that there were but 38
persons on board Ship captains and pilots ex-
press the opinion that the tug which tOwed her
out left her too soon. She should have taken her
at least four miles further out TO sea when she
would have been on the inshore sweep Of the
incoming tide. The timbers Of the vessel proved
to be very rotten on examining the wreckage