The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-25
THE QUADRA SUNK.
Struck an Unknown Rock Near
Rose HarbOr, B. c.
HOPE THAT SHE MAY BE SAVED.
British COlumbia's Handsome New Rev
enue Cutter Comes to Grief on Her
First Cruise-Escape of Crew.


government steamer Qdadra, which left
Victoria on the 9th of this month with
Professor Macoun on board, bound for
Pribiiof islands, now lies a wreck in Rose
harbor, one of the best bays indenting the
coast of Queen Charlotte island group.
Captain James Gaudin, Professor Macoun,
Second Engineer Cullen, Fireman Davis
and three seamen reached here this even
ing by the steamer Chieftain, which was
chartered at Port Essington to bring the
news to Victoria and take assistance from
here to the scene Of the disaster. where
Chief Engineer Grant and the remainder
OF the ships company have gone into
camp. There are still prospects of
saving the new steamer, and the
steamer Sir James Douglas, with
divers and material for patching up,
will go as soon as she can be made ready
for service. manned and provisioned.
The accident occurred on Saturday. May
Ia, at 6 a. m., and is thus described by the
Quadra's master:
On the morning OF the Isth It was decided to
run into Rose harbor to give Professor Macoun
al opportunity OF communicating with the
seaiers who were there assembled TO
secure fresh water. The Quadras course
was through the Houston-Stewart channel,
which is marked on all charts Of the ocality as
good, safe passage. The Quadra grazed an u:i-
marked rock aad passed ON. few minutes
later the ship was found to be filling.
The pumps were started Immediately, but
were found TO be useless to check the thrush OF
water which quickly filed the fore compart-
ments Then full speed was got up and
the steamer was headed for the beach. Tie tide
at the time WAS at lis lowest ebb. Had it
been otherwise the Quadra would doubtless
hay mas aah M In rao binh
is expected would have remained unknown. As
the steamer now lies she is almost completely
submerged at high tide, while at low tide her
deck is clear.
After the two days of unsuccessful work
in attempting to free the vessel of water
and float her, Captain Gaudin and his
party took boat, and by rowing and sail
ing made his way to Skeena river, a run of
1G2 miles. There the steamer Cheftain was
engaged, and her run down will stand as
a record for others of her size to break if
they can.
The damage to the ship cannot he
estimated and Captain Gaudin can only
say he is confident of his ability to
patch, float and bring the steamer to
Esquimault dock, but having no divers
aboard, an examination could not be
made. The engine room filled quickly
after the accident but Engineer Grant
and his crew remained at their posts
till driven on deck by water. The rock
which brought the Quadra to grief is none
of the three marked on the charts, but is
In the center of sur
veyed channel described as safe
and capacious. A condensed report
of the disaster was wired to the minister
Of marine by Captain Gaudin this evening,
and steps have already been taken for
going to the rescue of the YES
sci. An inquiry will follow as
a matter of course. The Quadra is
equipped for lighthouse service. The
present trip was her first outside of short
run up the coast IN search of the wreck of
the Henry Dennis few weeks ago.
1.-The Quadra is the new revenue cutter built in
Scotland for service the British Columbia
coast. She arrived at Victoria on January 5
last. having been out eighty days from Greeuock.
She was built under the superintendent of
Gordon Grant, who was sent 10 England for that
purpose and who returned In her on her out
ward trip. The Qnadra was launched on July
%, 1891, by Miss buchanan, OF Glasgow,
and was named by order of the
Dominion government after Captain Quadra.
The Quadra was built at Paisley by Fleming &
Ferguson, the wen-known firm Of shipbuilders,
and is of 262 tons burden. She is built entirely
OF steel, with bridge spanning over ex-
tensive deck-houses and officers cabins.
Her saloon is beautifully fitted up
In mahogany and birds eye maple,
and she has an ample cabin accommodation.
She is twice as large as the Sir James Douglas,
and of course Ear superior in every respect.
Her trial trip gave her a speed OF l2l3 knots.
She measures lis feet over perpendiculars,
and 2l2 feet over all. Her beam is 81 feet
aud depth OF hold Is feet inches. Her
two boilers, beautiful pieces OF workmanship,
are each $50 pounds pressure, and the quad
ripple engines she carries register S93 horse
power. She is lighted throughout by electric
ity, her apparatus in this respect be-
ing marvel OF ingenuity and conven-
fence. Her powerful propeller is twelv,
feet in diameter ana has pitch of sixteen feet
six inches. She carries fore and aft sail, is
schooner rugged with q covered bow, and spiked
bowsprit. the latter two items finishing off her
appearance and giving her the look from stem
to stern of perfect model. Steam is utilized in
lifting anchors and all other available pur-
poses.l