The morning call., 1893-08-04
Mysterious Vessel on a
Lee Shore.
UNKNOWN AT THE EXCHANGE
Every Soul on Board the Stranger
Supposed to Have Been
Lost.
Special to THE MORNING CALL,

LoMPoc CAL, Aug 3.-News reached
here last night of steamer being ashore
near Point Conception. Your reporter
hurried to the scene and found the facts
as follows: A steam schooner bound
north ran ashore about three quarters of a
mile southeast Of Point Conception on a
reef of rocks. She lay on her starboard
side pounding Oh the rocks an hour and a
half.
A ChiHaman employed as assistant to
the ighthouse-keepeT, named John Little,
has a cabin near the point. He stood on
a small promontory and was spoken to by
the captain of the disabled ship. who
asked how tar the lighthouse was from
that point.
The Chinaman says the crew was small,
all hands being on deck and greatly ex-
cited.
The Chinaman left at once for the light
house to get assistance. Returning with
help he found the vessel had disappeared
and enough wreckage strewn on the beach
10 fill large wagon.
The stern of the vessel lies on the beach.
split in half. Plankins in pieces from 8
feet to Is feet, painted brown. inches
thick. with galvanized spikes through
them, and other timbers torn to threads
have been found. The keel is also there.
Lighthouse-keeper P. l.. Perry is of the
opinion that the vessel did not hear the
fog-horn on account OF the strong south
east wind owing.
The vessel was small steam schooner,
supposed to be used for carrying lumber
When she struck she blew her whistle
rapidly as signal Of distress. The re.
porter's opinion is that she was smug-
gler. for after being so near shore all the
crew could have landed easily. but on &C.
count of fear they did not, but preferred to
back out to sea, and she has sunk beyond
doubt before this, as the ocean has con-
siderable wreckage still floating mile
north of the lighthouse, some of which
looks like the roof of a cabin, wheel
house and water cask. and there are lots
of empty boxes in on shore.
If the vessel ever got to sea it is a
miracle, from the wreckage. She must
have hole in her large enough to sink
any ship. There is no possible clew to the
name.
A watch is being kept up at the light
house for any evidence of the wreck or
dead bodies.
The general superstition is the ship sank.
A sailing vessel sank in the same place six
years ago.
No blame can be attached to the light
house employees. as the siren was going all
night long.
Late yesterday afternoon the Merchants
Exchange posted the following dispatch
SANTA BARBARA, Aug. 3.-Reports
from Lompoc state that the vessel ashore
at Government Point was a small freight
steamer and was about seventy-fve yards
off the point. lying on the starboard side.
The men have returned to LompOc from
Point Conception, but could not tell the
name of the vessel. The supposition is
that the vessel and all on board are Loaf"
1t may be definitely announced that the
wreck is not one of the Pacific Coast Steam
ship Company's fleet. When the first news
came there were fears that it might be the
Bonita or the Alex Duncan. but both these
vessels arrived Yesterday. 1t is not the
Lakme, which left here July % for Santa
Monica. Her owners heard from her in
answer to Geographic Inquiry.
The only other steamers which suggest
themselves to well-informed shipping men
here are the Newsboy, Captain FOsen, $50
tons. which left here July % for Santa
Monica, and the wrecker San Pedro. She
is sort of scow with two masts, working
at the British ship Goldenhorn on one
of the islands. and may have struck the
point en- route to Santa Barbara.
There is no information leading to the
belief that the wreck is lumber vessel.
The planks men toned in the first dis atch
as having come ashore were not part of
her cargo but part of her deck.
If there are any small craft. sail or
steam, plying to Southern California
ports from the Columbia River or from
Puget Sound the fact is not known here.
One guess is that she is a smuggler and
that the crew were afraid to land when she
first struck.