The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-29
SMASHED BY THE SEA.
Steamers Badly Injured on the
Oregon Coast.
DREARY CHRISTMAS IN STORM.
Inc Arago Almost Torn to Pieces bv
the Waves-Another Tremendous
Wind Approaching.

sAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 2s-The steamers Oregon
anu Columbia from Portland and Astoria ar
rived In port this morning after long rough
Trip down the coast. Both vessels encountered
.he iui force OF the storm which has been rag
ing during the past week SATURDAY. afternoon
huge wave pitched over the Oregon's bow,
smashing in the windows of the pilot-house
breaking the skylight over the forward hatch
anu breaking in the forward companion way to
the lower deck The Oregon will sail again to-
morrow morning at 10 O'Clock. The officers are
rushing things in order to discharge cargo and
Height: she was 1904 hours making the usual
run of forty-eight hours
The Columbia came into mort about eight
hours ahead of the Oregon. When off Cape
bianco on Christmas night an immense sea
dropped on board over the bow. 1t smashed in
the port and starbeard iron plate bulwarks and
carried away every vestige of the forward rail
on both sides.
Inc steamer Arago, which arrived here from
the North today, had one of the toughest voy-
ages OF the season. On her last trip down she
encountered heavy storms, and had to be thor
oroughly overhauled and repaired. These re-
pairs, Judging from the battered condition of
the vessel this morning, will have to be made
al over again. The Arago left Coos bay on
christmas morning. Before she reached Cape
Blanco, however, breeze from the south
east sprang up, fresh at first,
but afterward increasing in velocity to
I. gale. Little progress could be made against
the heavy wind, and Captain Langhorne hove
MS vessel to under the lee OF the cape. For
thirty-six hours the engines were idle and
melancholy Christmas was spent by those on
board. At the end of that time the sea had
quieted somewhat, and the wind had got around
10 the northwest The Arago made another
start, but favorable weather did not stay with
her long. The wind yeered around to the south
east again and the seas were higher and heavier
than ever. Stronger and stronger blew the
wind, and higher and higher leaped the waves,
The deck was flooded from stem to STERN, and
everything movable was washed overheard. 1t
was impossible TO remain outside and the only
one above deck was Captain Langhorne
who stood on the bridge wrapped in oilskins
Tor forty solid hours. Canvas weather cloths
were stretched upon either side of the pilot
house to save the windows and protect the men
at the wheel. The sea afterward washed over
the ship, completely burying the vessel and
smashing against the smokestack with a force
which threatened to tear it from its fastenings
The steamers siren was bent by the volumes of
water. The waves pounded against the deck
houses and into the cabin, saloon and galley,
completely cutting all three depart
ments. The dishes and everything porta-
bic were knocked about inside and
outside. and there was but little sleep for any,
one on board. All day Saturday and all night
long the steamer tossed about, but the stauneh
little craft weathered the Storm and on Sunday
morning there came a lull and the storm grad
ually subsidized.