Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1891-12-18
The WhaIeback's Trip.


famous steel whaleback barge {.
w. Wetmore that has set the com
mercial kings and shippers of two
continents talking of cheap ocean
transportation is at anchor in As
toria harbor, after an eventful pass
age of eighty-one days from Phila-
delphia, and all doubts about the
successful workings of vessels of
this class are not at rest. Tie
Wetmore's appearance in Astoria is
the result of an accident, she hay-
ing lost her rudder during the biz
blow Monday. This quaint-looL-
ing craft that seems destined 10
revolutionize the ocean-carrving
business of the world, was built in
Duluth in 1900 and found her way
to the Atlantic ocean via the gre t
lakes. An experimental trip was
made to Europe and she behaved
50 well that her owners, the Amen
can Steel Barge Company decided
to start her to the Pacific coast with
a cargo of machinery to be used j..
a yard started at Everett, on Pug, t
sound, for the purpose of manufac
turing whaleback barges. She
sailed from Philadelphia. Septem
Der 10, with 1000 tons of cargo an.
nearly 1000 tons Of coal. Monte
yideo was reached October 20, and
after taking in a little more coal
she sailed again for the Pacific
After getting around all right sha
started up the coast, but was forceG
to put in at CoroneI, Chill, Novem
Der ., leaving there the following
day. After leaving the last port
nothing was seen of her until Point
Reyes was sighted December 4.
The Wetmore was nine miles of
shore and merely signaIed to the
lookout, who reported her.
Previous to this the huge rudder
became partially disabled, but could
still be used until Sunday night.
when off Cape Blanco, right where
the Alaskan went down, all that
was left Of it was carried away, leav-
ing nothing but the stock. The big
vessel at once became unmanage-
able, and about that time the hard
est gale that has been known here
for fifteen years, bore down, sending
great seas clear over the craft. -Four
temporary masts had been rugged
on the whaleback's deck and they
were fitted with canvas, which was
blown away in al instant after it
was spread. New sails were put on
and these shared a similar fate un-
til the only remaining sail on the
vessel was small one doing duty
as mainsail. The big anchor.
with sixty fathoms of chain as
drag was out, but in spite of it the
unwieldy craft continued to work
toward the shore. In this state she
was found by the British steamer
Zambesi, yesterday morning. The
Zambesi came down from the Sound
during the night and went we'll to
the southwark to be ready to come
in yesterday morning. AS soon as
day broke, the Wetmore, with her
distress signal was seen and few
moments afterward the steamer
took her in tow She Rugged the
bar pretty close all day yesterday
and last night, but having no pilot
could not come in until this even
ing. No agreement was made be-
tween the two captains as to the
price for towing her in, but it will
probably be fat plum for the Fam
best.
With the exception of the small
cabin aft, the Wetmore looks like a
huge cigar This cabin is roomy
and elegant, divided into six rooms,
including a chart-room, crews mess
room, pantry and gallery. The cap
tain, mate and engineer all have
separate rooms in this cabin, or
Texas" which is set up above the
rest Of the hull on steel frames or
legs. The dimensions of the vessel
are, length 275 feet, breadth 80 feet, |
depth Of hold "A feet. Captain G.
B. Hastings is in command, w. K
Baltic mate. Her present crew
consists of twenty-five men, all told, |
but it is only on account of the long
trip, as herregular crew while coast
ing or trading to China and Japan
will be but eighteen lltold. Taken
all in all the Wetmore is revela-
ton, and highly satisfactory results
will be expected from the new
scheme for lessening the time and
Of handling ocean freights.
The whaleback continues to at
tract considerable attention, and a
little steamer plying between her