The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-05-08
THE NEAH LIFEBOAT.
Proper Location of Station is on
Waddah Island.
ENFORCING THE PILOT LAW.
The Piunge ~ Kettle Falls-Harrlssa's
viais to Paees sesnd-Twe Rail-
rosds NJ Boise.

PoKf TowssEsp. May l.-At . recent
meeting Of the Chamber of Commerce of
this city committe was appointed to in
augurate means for improving the life-sav-
ing service at Neah bay, project OF great
importance to the maritime interests of
the sound. Judge Swan at another meet
ing Of the chamber held last evening pre-
senfed the report OF the committee, giving
the first authentic account of the condition
OF the service The report was as follows:
PcRT TOWNSEND, April 80. lsoo
To the Officers and Members Of the Port Town
send bamhar of Commerce-6tasa<m<a: Your
committee. appointed sf the meeting held on
Wednesday evening. April 3. 1870. 70 inquire
regarding the condition of the United States
Lfe-Saving station at Seah bay, near Cape Flat
terry. Cailam county. Washington. respectfully
present the following report
From the writtol and oral evidence submitted
10 us. we ind that the present hoathouse of the
station Is located on . bank at the west side of
Eeah bay. directly IN front Of which bank is .
reef Of rocks. bare 81 low water for several hun
dred yards. making it unsafe to laun b the life
boat exceps at high water. and impossible to
launch II at three-quarters ebp and as low tide
without great difficulty and danger.
The hieooat first furnished by the govern
menf, which was one of the largest and best
self-righting boats. wss taken To Neah bay on
the 18Th OF December. 1877. on the United States
steamer Corwin. captain John W. White
After IL had been placed In the boathouse 1t
remained quietly until 1854. when, on the "a of
February Of that year. the barx Lizzie Marshall.
Captain Bergman. was wrecked NJ Nitsinat, on
the southwest coast of Vancouver Island, oppo-
site Neah bay. The mate. with boats crew,
went for assistance TO the life saving station,
and with the assistance of Captain Frank
Tucker. keerer of Tato sh light. and some Indi-
- A. e.
on y time during the seven years IL had been in
the boathouee.
The keeper OF the iife-savinR station, man of
no practical experience. was unable to take
proper care of the lifeboat while 1t was being
towed TO the wreck BY . tugboa. which hap
penei into Neah bay. and the boat broke adrift
and went ashore on the rocks and btlged- She
was subsequently towed to Nesh bay. During
the last week OF April. 1854. two months after
the hfeboat was wrecked, the United states rev.
euue cutter woieots, Captain Moore. having on
board Major T. j. Blakeney. superintendent OF
the iife-savng service on the Pacific coast, pro-
ceeded 10 Neah bay and towed the lifeboat to
Port Townsend. where IL lay on the beach two
or three years. and was then sold 70 . fisherman
for s.. This fine boat has been replaced by .
surf boat which we are informed has never
been launched.
While Major Blakeney was at Eeah bay, he
examined waddah island. and stated thai he
should recommend 1t rs the proper location for
the life-saving station, and should recommend
that IL be placed in charge OF competent
keeper. with . full crew; but mp 10 the present
time nothing has been done of the slightest
service to commerce, and the life-saving station
At Mean bay remains ~ a monument Of iueffi-
cheney and mismanagcment which is d reproach
upon the government.
AZ commerce is rapidly increasing on Puget
sound, the dangers of shipwreck ~ the entrance
20 Fuca straits are proporionately increased.
and the necessity beeom more obvious OF hay
ing an efficient iife-saving service inaugurated
at that dangerous locality, which should be
done the present sumner. and not wait till
winter storms have caused shipwrcck and loss
of life. which Will arouse the public TO demand
that this Inefficient service be remedied.
Your commit ee woald therefore recommend
that the Chamber Of Commerce respectfully ask
the attention OF the superintendent OF the life-
saving service in Washington TO this matter,
ami that our senator's aud representatives In
congress be requested to use their best endeav-
ors to have the Cape Flsttery nfe-savfng station
placed ct once In an effective working condition.
All Of viii 10 respectfully submitted,
JAMES q. SWAN,
J. II. sTErsoN.
LESLIE CuLLoM.
Committee.