The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-04
ON A PERILOUS COAST.
Another Vessel Wrecked Near
the COlumbia's Mouth.
DRIVEN ASHORE IN A FOG.
The British Bark Strathblane Broken
to Pieces on Hwaco Beach.
Terrific Force of the Gale That De-
stroyed Her-The Steam Collier We'll
lington Disabled and Adrift at Sea
in the Same Storm.

ASTORIA, Or, Nov 3-The British ship
Strathblane, nineteen days from Honolulu,
in ballast, went ashore twenty five miles
north of here at 5 o'clock this morning.
1t is a total wreck. She lies abreast of
Wiliapa bay, Washington, we'll up
on the sand Her masts and rig
ging are all gone and her hull is
fast going to pieces In an hour the Cape
Hancock saving crew and large number of
men from Ilwaco reached the scene of the
wreck on special train. 1t was low
water when the vessel struck and heavy
gale was blowing. The life crew worked
bravely, and the men went up to their
necks In the waves. One boat load of
eight men came ashore and reported
twenty-three more on board. The waves
are sweeping clear over the vessel All
were got safely ashore except five, who
were acknowledgement Cuthell, Richard
Hughes, the carpenter; Thomas Hunter,
the cook; Donald Mcleod seaman, and a
passenger, lawyer from Honolulu, named
William Lewis. Four of the bodies were
recovered
As near as can be learned at present of the
disaster, the vessel came up close into the
mouth OF the Columbia yesterday during a very
thick Jog, which was followed by one of the
worst gales OF the season. During the fog the
vessel had drifted so close in shore that when
the gale struck her she could not get to sea- and
III endeavoring to get away from the shore she
at last drifted on to the beach, striking
at O'Clock this morning, and the wind
ana sea forced her farther on with each success
slVe surge. AS soon she struck the seas
broke over her, shaking her like toy, and in a
few hours her rigging all went the side and
the deck was gradually washing away As soon
IaWpet ha
word was sent to the Fort Candy life crew, aud
they hurried to the rescne. but the terrible
gale interfered with getting a line aboard
from the mortar. The crew stayed by as long as
there was a show for life, and then one
by one dropped over the side and began a mad
struggle to reach shore and save their lives
All but five succeeded in reaching shore safely
In an exhausted condition, and were promtly
taken care OF by the people living in that
vicinity. BY the time the last man reached
shore the wreck was almost under water, owing
to the unusually high tide, and nothing loose
was LETT aboard of her, even the wreckage which
drifted ashore being battered and splintered by
the awful force OF the sea.
One OF the first to reach shore was little ap-
prentice boy, only IL years of age He came tumb-
ling in on big comber with life preseryer strap
ped around him, and when willing men rushed
IN TO help him to mis- feet, he pluckily said:
/ "Never mind me. Help those other fellows"
The Strathblane was an old clipper, built for
the Australian trade, and was an unusually
staunch vessel. She WAS built at Glasgow in
1865, and Was owned by b. & A. Allen
She registered 1864 tons. She had been
in this port before and left here
for Queenstown not quite one year ago. After
discharging her wheat cargo she loaded at
Glasgow for Honolulu, reaching there September
and sailing for Astoria October IA.
The crew will be brought to this city tomor-
row, but the bodies OF the men who lost their
lives will be buried at Ilwaco. This terrible
accident may have the effect of securing a light
house on McKenzie's head, as it is impossible to
see Cape disappointment light from the point
where the Strathblane struck, and the beach
there has been entirely unprotected