The morning call., 1891-02-22
TlG Captain and Grew Go Ashore
With The Inflated Ship.
PROBABLY MANY LIVES LOST.
But Little Hope for the Men Left On BOTd-Tle
Captains Family and Three SsamHl Taken
Oh BY Tug Drowning Of the Captain
Of The Life-B9at Crew While in the Per
fOTmalGG Of His Duty.

The following dispatch was received at
the Merchants Exchange last night:
Ship Elizabeth, CAPTAIN Colcord, is ashore
four miles north of North Heads, supposed to be
total loss. Captains wife, two children and
three sailors were brought ashore by tow-boat
tShip Elizabeth was bound from New York for
;his port, ll9 days out aud with a cargo of mer-
ehandse for Williams, Dimond s Coz
The ship WAS bound from New York to
San Francisco and met her doom when al
most inside the Golden Gate. The Eliza
beth was: sighted about o'clock in the
afternoon ana at o'clock the tug Active
took her in tow to bring her in. The wind
was then blowing a heavy gale, which was
increasing every minute, besides which a
terrible sea was running.
1t was soon seen that in spite of all the
powerful tug could do the ship was steadily
drifting toward the shore. The tugs Re-
lief and Alliance were dispatched to the
assistance of the doomed craft and a haw-
ser was run out from the Active to the Re-
lance, but this soon parted and the ship
steadily drifted up the north channel
The gale, seemingly, was increasing every
moment, and the heavy sea was breaking
over both the tug and ship. The position of
the latter was observed by the life-saying
crew, and although the heavy, sea threat
ened to swallow boat and men the life-boat
was launched and started to the assistance
of the doomed crew.
The tow-boat R-Iief took the ife-boat in
tow, M the heavy sea running compelled
the boat to slow down, as there was danger
of the men being washed out Of the life
boat. Before the Relief made the north
ehannel those on board were compelled to
cut loose the life-boat, as the sea was going
clean over her. Watching their chance the
towline was cut, and while the life-boat
turned back the tug, putting on all steam,
began cleaying her way up the north chan
mel to where the. Inflated ship was still
struggling to escape the inevitable.
HOPING AGAINST HOPE.
It was now plain that othing could save
the ship. Still the Active held on hoping
against hope to keep the ship off the rocks
ground swell with the sea breaking over her
fore and aft in such manner that it was
wonder the entire crew was not washed
overheard
Meanwhile the tug=boat Reliance was try
ing 10 run out another hawser to assist the
Active, when suddenly the doomed ship
struck the bottom in four and half fathoms
of r.,Fa ha fun ,r-ifn
up to their highest pitch and her bow going
clean under every sea thar struck her, nobly
held on until at 80 o'clock, and after three
hours of battling the hawser parted and the
noble ship drifted in on the rocks.
The Elizabeth was as stated in about four
and half tathoms and every sea lifting
her further in on the rocks. The wind had
increased to hurricane force, and the sea
was higher than ever encountered on the
Coast by any one who was out last night.
Observing that the ship was drifting, the
captain Of the Reliance. at the risk Of los
ing his own craft gallantly ran in and
offered to take the ship in tow, but this was
refused by Captain Colcord of the Eliza
beth, who was firm 10 his determination to
take no hawseT until his wife and children
were out of the ship.
The E.izabeth's crew then cut loose the
port boat and three men entering 1t were
lowered into the water, but capsized as soon
as the falls. were unlocked. They were
dumped, Of course in the angry sea, but
elung to the keel of the boat, and were
picked up by the tug Reliance. Once more
the doomed crew launched boat This
time the diHgy was lowered over the side,
and in it were placed the captains wife,
daughter and son, after which the boat was
cut adrift. The tug Reliance also picked up
this boat, and the ladies were carried into
the cabin more dead than alive.
~. FAST BREAKING UP.
The ship was now fast breaking up, each
huge wave lifting ner higher on the unyield-
ing rocks. 1t now behooved the captain of
the tow-soat to move out of the dangerous
locality, as she was fast drifting ashore and
could do nothing to save the ship. Under
full pressure Of steam both boats put to sea
to clear the channel, and every sea went
clear over them.
The last seen of Captain Colcord he was
standing on the forecastle giving orders to
the crew. Soon after the masts went over
board with a terrible crash that could be
heard by those on the tug boats even above
the roar of the surging pillows and the
bowling of the gale. This was the last
seen of the Inflated slip as she was soon
lost from sight. swallowed up in darkness
and the mist and rain.
The tug Relief on her return trip took the
ife-boat in tow, but an awful accident oc-
CURED that compelled them to cut her
adrift A heavy sea struck the life-boat
and carried the captain overheard. In this
emergency, the men in the boat shouted TO
those aboard the tug to let go, and this be-
ing done, they endeavored to pick up the
drowning man, but in this they were un-
successful. and were compelled to give him
up as lost.
LANDING OF SURVIVORS.
The tugs continued on their way to the
city. and landed the survivors at the
Oceanic dock. The three sailors were
taken on board the mail steamer Australia.
where they were given every care. and fur