The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-29
Ship Struan, From Port Discov-
cry, Abandoned at Sea.
FATE OF THE CREW UNKNOWN.
Private Mint and a Coiner Captured
in Mountains Near Helena.
Falling Tree Kills q Man in Chehalis
County-The City Of Portland Feed
ing Destitute Men The Victoria
Christmas Murder.

SAN FRANcIso, Dec. 2s.-Two more re-
ports have come in about the Point ST.
George derelict today, and her identity is
settled. The abandoned vessel is the Nor
wegian ship Struan, bound for Australia
from Port Discovery with lumber. The
steamers Truckee and Scotia brought in
the reports referred to, and Captain z. A.
Johnson, of the Scotia, is able to tell all
about the Struan, for he boarded her and
found some of her papers.
Captain Johnson said that his encounter
with the abandoned vessel occurred on the
day before Christmas, about 3 o'clock in
the afternoon, in latitude 1896 north lon
gitude lbs. 10 west. The sea was running
pretty high at the time, in long swells, but
there was little wind, and he had no diff
Guilty in boarding her, which he did as soon
as he discovered that she was abandoned.
Not sign of life was found anywhere ex-
cept in the captains cabin, where hand
some, half-starved dog welcomed the visit
ors with manifestations of joy.
The Struan was rudderless, her main
mast had been cut away to the deck, her
fore and mizzen topgallant masts and jib-
boom had been carried away. She had the
general appearance of having been on her
beam-ends. ALI the matches were off and
the ship was so full of water as to be un-
manageable, although there was no possi-
bility of her sinking with ], ,157 ,0o2 feet of
pine lumber in her hold.
Captain Johnson inspected such papers
as he could Ind, and learned that the
Struan was bound for Melbourne, and in
addition to the lumber mentioned in her
hold she carried deck load of los, S2i feet,
but this latter was all washed away during
her encounter with the gale. Captain f.
Ill. Skagland, of Hungesund, Norway, was
captain of the steamer, and the crew all
told numbered twenty-five men.
Captain Johnson got his hawser fast and
made all attempt to tow the ship to port
of safety, but found her so heavy with
water that the Scotia could hardly move
her. The hawser parted twice, and to-
wards dark another heavy southeast gale
set in, accompanied by so rough sea that
the prize was in danger of proving
the Scotia's destruction. Rather than
risk his own vessel Captain Johnson cast
off his line and came on. He saved
the dog. In his opinion the westerly
swell was sufficient to set the Struan
ashore before morning, presumably about
Nestuggal bay, toward which cove the
swell was carrying her when he had his
last view. The coast is quite rough there,
and the vessel would be likely to prove u
total loss.
So far nothing has been heard of her
crew, and it is supposed all hands were
lost, as it would be an exceptional ships
boat that would ride out such weather as
prevailed for several days after the ship
was abandoned, which was presumably
between the 18th and 18th of this month.
The Struan was built at St. Johns, n. B.,
and was owned in Hugensund. With the
cargo the loss will amount to over $500, ,OOO
She was well known here, having made
several trips here while in the coast trade.
VICTORIA, B. c., Dec. 28.-Intelligence
was received here this evening that large
unknown iron bark is ashore on Cape
Flattery. Owing to the gale help is un-
able to reach it.