The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-18
Schooner Seagull Wrecked on
British Columbia Coast.
THREE MEN PROBABLY DROWNED
Captain White, Late of the Steamer
Premier. One of the Victims.
Double Murder in Oregon-A Stallion
Kills Man and Gnaws the Body
Waiia walIs Boy Killed by Play
mste-Coliision on Northern Pacific.

VICTORIA. June 17.-TSpecial. ANDY
Reisenbach and companion named Pom
eroy were two Of the crew of five of the
little schooner Seagull, which left the
Sound for Sand point, Captain Frank
White in command. on Mayl. This after
noon they reached Victoria without their
companions. and themselves worn and
emaciated with the rough experiences of
the ili-starred trip. Reisenhach, whose
portly figure has lost its rounded lines.
tells a terrible story of suffering, of which
he and Pomeroy alone are in all probability
left 10 tell.
The Seagull bad an uneventful run
northward after leaving Port Townsend,
until the tenth day out. when in rough
weather she struck hard on ledge of
rocks running out from Cape ST. James.
The blow proved fatal to the schooner,
and almost before the barest necessaries
could be placed in the boats. she went
down. By means of the boats Captain
White and his four comrades reached the
island, where for three days the gale held
them prisoners without a drop of
fresh water. The wind abating on the
fourth day, the two open boats were again
launched. White and two com panions in
other set out for Skidegate, where they were
In hopes of catching steamer to take
them back to civilization Finding that
none would call till July 5. it was de-
cided TO push on TO Skeena, which was
reached June 20
A strong southeast gale sprang up the
next day, in which the two boats were
parted. That containing Captain White
Lea - - L 4. a. l. 4
then been fifty hours without sleep, food
or water, and as the wind moderated were
just able TO make Dungeness island, where
they found an Indian camp, which they
took possession of, almost exhausted and
haif-naked, their clothes having been liter
ally torn off during their hard battle with
the elements. They fell into good hands,
the Indians, one OF them. John Ryan es-
pecially, did all that could be done for the
shipwrecked white men, mended their tat
tered garments, gave them food, and
brought them fresh lease of life. After
three days rest at the rude camp, the men
started for Fort Simpson. hoping, almost
against conviction, that they would find
White there. He was not, however, and
so they returned TO Skeena, where Mr..
Stapledon and his bookkeeper, Mr.. Robin
son, were only too glad to aid them. Their
shoes and underclothing, which had gone
long before, were replaced. and Reisenbach
and Pomeroy were enabled to wait in COM
fort for the calling of the Boscowitz, which
brought them TO Victoria.
They say that the three nights spent in
the little open boat will always remain
with them like a horrible nightmare.
They have not yet given up their captain
and mates, who may have reached some
port of the Coast and be making their
way slowly down, or who may arrive by
the Danube when she returns. OF this.
however, there is little hope. The Sea
gull was a small 25-ton schooner, owned
in Port Townsend by Captain White, Pom
eroy, George Robb and Reisenbach. 1t was
valued at about $4,000 The missing
captain came TO this province in an Amer
ican ship about ten years ago. He left his
vessel at Moodyville and became comman-
der of the Eta White, and afterwards
quartermaster, mate and commander in
the Canadian Pacific Navigation Com
pany's service. For number of years he
commanded the Louise and +. 2. Rithet
on the New Westminster route, and when
the Premier was placed on the Vancouver
Puget sound route he was given command
of her. His unfortunate career on that
steamer is well known. His wife died in
San Francisco about a year ago.