The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-06
DRIVEN INTO PORT.
The Wilmington Forced to
Come Here by Storms.
NARROWLY ESCAPED SINKING.
The Steamer in Distress Could Not Put
Across the Columbia Bar-Hard-
ship in the steerage.

Portland on October 81 for san Francisco, ar
rived In por' here last night, after terrible ex-
perience Of five days in one OF the worst storms
that has ever been known on the northern coast
She made two unsuccessful attempts 10 get back
10 Astoria, aid was finally compe led to come TO
the sound for fresh supply of coal and to
ceive necessary repairs. Her passengers relate
graphic story OF the experience.
The vessel to have sailed from Port
land Friday evening, but on starting out
rope caught in her wheel, and she had TO
lie over until Saturday evening 10 have it cut
out Saturday night she reached Astoria and
left there sunday morning. Alter she passed
out OF the mouth of the Columbia river, she
encountered heavy southeast gale, which con-
tinued 10 grow heavier all night. and just as it
reached its height, about O'Clock in the morn
ing, the packing blew out OF the engine, and
her machinery had TO be shut down. 1t took
only about ten minutes to fix it, but even in
that short time she turned around SO that she
got caught in the trough OF the sea, and for a
time every moment seemed her last above the
fierce waves. The water swept the deck, carry
ing a quantity of the fifty tons of coal which
was piled forward on her deck, down into the
steerage; her bulwarks on the port side began
To give way, with such terrible force did the
waves mount the side of the vessel, and Captain
Moody in despair called on the steerage passen-
gers to come on deck and help 10 remove the
coal or all would be lost.
The poor steerage passengers were half fright
eued to death at the terrible situation, and
worked for dear life throwing the coal over
board, though at times some OF them had mar
row escape from being washed overheard, and
one was struck with such force that he was laid
up for two days.
In the meantime the engines were gotten to
work again. and she was held head on until the
storm began TO abate. She was then about sixty
miles from the Columbia river, and il was feared
guUnlV pi befpra
reached san Francisco, # the rough weather
continued, so she was turned around and
started back for Astoria TO take on more coal.
On reaching the mouth of the Columbia river
the sea was running mountain high, and IL
semen certain destruction TO venture in. Cap
tain Moody put to again, and on Tuesday
evening, after being tossed abou: considerably,
he made another attempt TO cross the bar, but it
was too foggy, considering the fact that there
was still very high sea. The next best thing
was 10 start for the Sound for coal,
the captain headed her north. and she kept her
course all right until night, when her engines
broke Down and she lay Tor over two hours at
the mercy OF the waves. TIE sea wss running
very high and the wind blowing heavy gale,
but the danger was not as great az that passed
through Monday morning. When her engines
were gotten in shape she lay to with her head
on until morning, when the storm abated and
she made for Destruction island, missing il by
6oclock, she passed Cape Flattery just ter
rifle storm was coming up. The sea was run
ming very high and the wind blowing furiously,
but she passed in in safety, though Captain
Moody says that had she been an hour later he
believes she would never have been seen again.
She reached Port Angeles yesterday morning,
and after lying there short time proceeded to
Seattle.
Chief Engineer Thomas Moran and in fact,
all the other officers, denied that the engines
broke down, when a Posi- INTELLIGENcER re-
porter asked them about the matter, but several
of the passengers say that the chief admitted to
them that they broke down, and V. Wcrden a
cabin passenger, says he heard the assistant
engineer call the chief out of bed informing
him that the engines were broken down. The
engineer admits that the engines were stopped
for time, but claims that il was done pur-
posey to save fuel as nothing was to oe gained
by working them. The passengers also COM
plain that the vessel went to sea unprepared-a
pie OF coal lying on the forward deck, the
matches not batteRed down and no rigging to
carry the vessel through in the emergency of
her machinery giving out 1t is further
charged that a number OF the crew
were drunk on leaving Portland and
found ii easy to replenish their TASKS, as
the steward had a stock OF liquor for sale ION
the side. Her Storage accommodations
certainly unfit Tor human beings, and the pas
sengers who occupied those wretched quarters
during this terrible experience complain that
after they had risked their lives clearing off the
coal-and this il is admitted is the only thing
that saved the vessci-they were compelled to
return 10 those filthy steerage rooms all wet
and dirty with coal, when there were plenty OF
cabin rooms they might have occupied n such
an emergency.
The following communication signed by most
OF the cabin passengers, however, shows that
they attach no blame whatever to the crew, and
especially commend Captain Moody for his
bravery:
We, the undersigned passengers on board the
steamer Wilmington, which left Portland on the
3lst uIt.. desire 10 express our heartfelt thanks
to the officers and crew of the above named yes
sci Tor bringing safely through one of the
most terrific gales ever experienced on the Pa
clfc coast; and especially do We commend Cap
tain +. J. Moody Tor his bravery in the hour of
danger. His energy and devotion 10 duty could
not be eXCei,ed aud we feel that to his skill and
the merclful providence oi Almighty God We
owe our lives. (Signedl
James ". Ray, Mrs. James W. Ray,
Michael tiaryey, Mrs ". r. Riley,
William X. Riley, Mrs. Martin Price,
4. W. NelAc, l.. + h Ohler.
II Price, d. L. squire
Edward Nelson, +. u Sopcr,
Van NcIden.
The vessels cargo consisted of 1000 tons of
freight, which has not sustained any material
damage. She had forty-three passengers in all,
and nearly all OF them are ia king about leaving
her ami taking another steamer TO san Francisco
One o, them. in speaking OF the experience 10
/ PoST-lNrELLIGENCER reporter last night, said
that her coming here was but another proof
Of the fact that there il good harbor north of
san Francisco except Puget sound.
he vessel VIII take coal today and over
! haul her cargo ana then proceed TO san Fran
csc.