The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1892-05-27
FROM ALOG l,o0K i.

&c Stevens, first mate of the Steame
st Charles, recently blown up in TIN
Pacific, is in the city ON his way TO Sal
francisco. He tells the DEMocRAr tha
the report that his boats we're driitin,
into the rocks was entirely incorrect
They were entirely under his control.
Below we give selections from MI
Stevens log book, an exciting and inter.
esting account of the wrecking of the
steamer.
Friday, Mey 49, Tug boat Tacoma
can along side. At 5: 80 finished load
$500 tons coal. Draft water 25 feet .
inches aft. 25 feet forward. Proceeded
down sound. Dimensions OF ship e53
feet long, 40 feet BEAM 2l foot hold,
1861 tons mean measurement. Value,
$l25, 600.
Sunday Is, S:l5 m, tug let go. Fine
weather. Lat, 1870. Long, l26.1S, at
noon.
Tuesday, May l7.-These 2I hours
come in with moderate to light wind.
s w. All sail set. Middle part wind
light and battling At IN, calm, fine
clear weather At 40 III second mate
went down fore hatch to get potatoes. As
it was dark he took lantern. Had one
man with him. As they were entering
the potato bin the coal gas ignited and
caused terrific explosion; blew The
second mate up through the hatch, and
he fell back again; both were burned be-
yond recognition 1t blew the whole
main decks out; main matches blown
overheard, lets water ways, broke several
main deck beams, lifted pumps and un-
shipped rudder, broke tiiler of, whole
quarter deck cabin and wheel house
were literally blown to pieces; lastly,
but not least, the captain, | am afraid lis
dangerously injured, rs he was badly
burned and nearly sutfocated with gas,
also badly bruised, as | found him under
about 800 tons Of wreckage .groaning. lie
was lying head forward in his state room;
everything WAS wre kel in his cabin. The
partitions were all down and the decks
blown up through cabin. The coal is on
fire, main Gail burned one side oil on yard
but got the fire off aloft. Al a m got
one boat out and put captain and Two
men into her. Told them to las by. Got
other two boats out. and put water, pro
visions and everything considered neces
sary IN 1t III short space OF time. - ex-
pected her to I'LL ct any moment, as the
wind breeZed up from the north AMI there
was high old sea on at the time. There
was nothing to save her. TO. the cap
tain's chronometer: il WAS 10 feet from
where kept, and WAS still going and is
running MT. 1t was impossible toset into
! cabin 10 stop any length OF time. The gas
and smoke would sufocate. one. Ats
/ O'Clock all but one man and myself had
taken the boats and were anxious tn get
away from the ship. As | was searching
| for captains watch and chain the man
on deck sang ont she is going down. and
| | felI her give three or four heavy rolls.
thought | would leave her without il,
so / jumped overheard into the boat. SO
we pulled away from the ship. All hands
have los, all their clothing. Captain and
| saved nothing in that line. lie i de-
/ lirious and out Of his head. Have neither
compass nor chart, nor light book, no
/ Pacific Caasi almanac. so AZ 10 ! III got
capt. fixed comfortably in one boat and
took her in tow OF long boat. the other
one astern II her. with 4 disabled man
+ in each boat. " as anxious 20 get in &c
make land or get picked up, before had
weather. and we needed medical assis-
lance Every fziuu'e we remained by the
/ ship was lost time for the wind was hreez-
; ing mp, so | shaped our course !or Care
Foulweaiher, Oregon. pulled wilh the
oars due east. rs we'll rs possible without
compass. At noon ending Of thesssecond
/ day Lat. 1928 long 1852 n L.
| Wed MAY Is, noon.-F;ne weather
Ship still ailoat about 5's miles distant.
Moderate y y W wind. at , II
rugged sail on long haat steering east. A.;
1 p IN the ship disappeared. -
thought she has gone down N,
{ blowing a y W gale, high sea Running,
( long boat has both boats in tow Capt
no better. Midnight same Daylight
making in sight. 10 q IN made the land.
Continues TO y " to y y " gale and
tremendous sea; ending sea dav q
miles rorih Of Cape FoulWea;her. kept
her or and rna for cape where We landed
: 80 IN all safe.
Then follows an secoust of the spendij
( treatment received there, the death oi
Capt Chapman. his burial, with tribute
10 his memory. TIE tGo sailors will
probably recover; but one will be Grip
| pied TO. life.