The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-12-28
THE M'KENZIE SUNK.
The Oregon Runs Down the
British Vessel.
HOW THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.
A Dark Night and ssrong ygind ON the
Ccinrnbfa Esser-Two s2iIers KILLED
-Exelsed Passengers-

PoxT1AND. Dec 2T.-At 30 paclock this
mornimg the Union Pacific Company 3
steamship Oregon Tsm into and SUNK the
British ship Clan McKeazss st Cofsin rock,
on the CoIamb.a river. three miles below
Kalama. Charles Austin and Matthew
Reel, ard two eosofed sailors, we're IN
stansly killed They we're asleep in the
fofecASsie Of the Clan MeKeaxie. and when
the bunks in which the sasiozs
were lying. cutting the two men IN
halves They we're struck at
the waist and upper part OF e2ch body
dr0rped into the river below and sank.
Chas. Fish. . coal passer Of tie Oregon wss
injured but not fatally. Another sailor on
ths Can Mckenzie was also badly injured,
bas vii Eseoysr. A member os tae Clan
crew said that - sooa as he two men
were cnt lhaiF blood few IN everg direction,
bespAiteFing the Walls and broken timoers.
aud then the water commenced pouring
in.
The Clan Mckenzie Is an iron ship, and
was on her way up from Astoria. NheSe
she arrived few days ago from BIO Jaa-
GIRO. in ballast. consigned 80 Laidlaw Il
Co, 81 Portland she came to anchor az
dark last night to wait til morning and
the high toe should come uY. She lay
with hsr bow up stream. and riding IN the
Oregon side Of the channel, clese into the
shore. Captain simpson. her master,
sail.
My watehman, James Wards. was on deck
we had j. st pat fresh iigats On the masthead
and side lights ali pat oat. | was straight with
the ehaanel snd did not swiag an ineh- Leaving
The waaehmen on aeek and the officers and
crew turned IN. My wtfe was with me. | was
scundly seeplns waen suddenly | was aMaE-
eued by m msndous Jar and crashing and heard
the water guaning into the hold. ] Immediately
got bastg out after hndiug the ship was sinking.
Two OF ms men. both e1iored, were Killed in-
sisntiy. Ny baw wes comp esely torn away.
The Oregon struck the says on the port kiae,
juss between she stem and cst cad. Tee blow
came straight iron ahead. aud was not from the
side. NJ lights wefe al out. as ] was not Ia
the channel
Az the time Of the collision the night was
very dark ana with an mp river wind blow
ing strongly in the face oi the vessel Ii is
not 10 be wondered At. so say experienced
nayigators. that the lights on the British
ship were not seen. The Oregon left her
dock in this city At 10 o'elock last night
Captain George Pease went aboard as
down the river At the time OF the col-
lision she was running under slow bell,
and ran her bow on she port side into the
slaTboard bow Of the Mckenzie a distance
OF thirty feet, tearing OF the 0regon's how
completely snd ripping Up the decks and
raj ing FOR about forty feet from the
sierra. In the foTecasiie about twenty were
steering in hunks and when they cot
ont they were covered with wreekage.
Fish was the only man hurt aud II Is re-
gaEsiea ~ 4 nifaese thnt sslkks< were n0t
killed OUTRIGHT As soon as she struck the
Mackenzie The Oregon attempted to back,
hut beT broken iron work was in the iron
sides Of the sailing vessel. so that only
afler several hours werx did she succeed
IN disentsngiing herself.
The sfAterooms and steerage of the
steamship were all tiled with passengers,
who we're thrown oat the instant the crash
J came and soon the decks were crowded
/ With excited individuals, all anxious to
/ learn the cause Meanwhile the Oregon
/ drilted about and got on the shore. from
which position she was finally extrieaied.
Soon alter daylight this morning she took
I tie crew and tire captain OF the Clan SIC.
/ kenzie aboard and steamed back to this
/ cifv.
! The Clan Mckenzie sunk IN about five
and one<half fathems OF water Her stern
I lies submerged TO the main hatch. The
I bow and forward works are Ont Of the
/ water IL is thought the vessel can be
/ rasset. Both Captain POLICEMAN and Pilot
| Paase decline TO make any statements
/ pending an official investigation by United
! States inspectors. The loss 10 the Oregon foI
/ repairs is $500. She viii probably be
/ taken 20 san Francisco to be flxed MP The
4 feat ia her hog extends to about SIX feet
/ above water hae when she is not loaded
heavily. The hole can be patched up 50
I thst she can be taken below with safety.
+ The damage To tie Clan Mckenzie is
difficult 20 estimate. The vessel cost $50.
coo she is said 10 hs fully insured She
had crew Of twenty men, seven OF
them being Engiish apprentice boys aud
the pfhegs cgfgrs5 man