The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-06-16
WHALING BARK LOST.
The Sea Ranger Wrecked on
kyak Island.
OFFICERS AND CREW AL SAVED.


The CITY Of Topeka. which arrived res
sefdsy from Asaska, brings the news Of
tne wreck Of the whaling bark Sea Ranger.
o. ssv BEDFORD. Nass., on . rocky ledge
snree miles west Of Kyak island on Nay
- Capt Charles H. Foley and six ofdeers
OF the Sea Ranger came down on the
steamer on their way 20 San Francisco.
the bsiaace Of The crew. forty men. re-
naming at 6itks in destitute circum.
stance. From m account Of the wreck
Puoiished In 7As Asaskan the following
particulars ass learned:
James Mckee having died ct sea on
Nay -. Capt. Foley decided not to give
decsased watery grave. - he MAS within
view Of the msjsssie range Of mountains
which borders the coast between Cross
and Prince William sounds. On the
morning Of the 18th. . light southeast
breeze blowing. he ran in shore to make .
landing on the west coast Of Kyak island
In order to convey the u!elcss body to its
last resting place. The captain Was in the
crows nest, directing she movements Of
the ship. with the prayer book in his
pocket. prepared TO heaye % the vessel
ana read the burial service before the
funeral party should dissmbark. Capt.
Foley was just about 70 give his orders to
stop the ships Roadway when the vessel
struck In . place whore no dangers were
marked on the chart, and even one mile
from the shore aoundines Of twenty
fathoms were noted. Ali attempts at
freeing the ship from the rocks were in
vain. and the wind increasing in strength
20 very freAh breeze which caused the
breakegs 70 roll over the suuken rock. the
ships doom vas sealed, - its breaking up
had become inevitable. Can't. Foley then
ordered the boats to 30 lowered 10 save
the lives Of those on board, and even the
coffin inciosing McKee's remains was
placed in one OF the boats. Before the
Sea Ranger WAS abandoned to it, fate the
siaunch vessel Was sinking rapidly, the
waves breaking over the hull.
Some provisions and part Of the crews
personal effects were secured. The surf
vas breaking badly on thTbsach rs far a.
the eye could reach. but the whaiers ran
two Of the boats ashore ana buried their
dead comrads. Then all the men gathered
in their boats about the captains boat and
he read the burial service. The crew then
pulled along the shore. ros knowing .
settlement was near, looking for camp
Ing place. They soon discovered two ma
tives out fishing in canoes and on the
beach . white man, who proved 70 be
George Barrett, In charge Of the North
American Commercial CompAny's store
on Little Kyak island. Mr.. Barrett re-
ceived and sheltered the men until the ar
rival Of the mail steamer Crescent City,
June ., whSn all hands were taken to
Sitka. where Capt. Foley expected further
pai fnff v,v h.
mander Ludlow, Of the govern ment fleet,
would not Assume the responsibility Of
sending steamer TO Port Townsend with
the crow, and the of6csrs Of the wrecked
bark secured passage on the City Of
Topeka.
Some Of the crew shipped aboard the
United States government vessels In
Alaska and the others will attempt to BE-
cure passage here on the next steamer.
On arriving in Port Townsend yesterday
Capt. Foley notified Collector WATSON
that twenty-four Of the bark's crew were
In Sitka in destitute circumstances. Col
lector WATSON wired the facts to the
treasury department., asking the govern
ment to take action to have their trans
portatIon provided to the states. A week
before the disaster Seaman 3. +. Farns-
worth WAS drowned by the capsixing of q
whalcboat.
The Sea Ranger was bark Of 80 IS
tons register and thirty-seven years old,
being built in Massachusetts. She cleared
from San Francisco in April for cruise in
the Gulf Of Alaska and tho Arctic ocean
and when wrecked had already on board
Oil and whalebone valued ut $il,0O,
which. with the ship, is . total loss.
The following dispatch from Port Towns
end gives news from the whaling and seal
ing sieet a. brought by Capt. Foley. of the
Sea Ranger:
PoRr Towxsgxp. June l5-IspeciAi Capt.
Foley brings the latest news from the Whaling
and sealing feet May ~ the sealing schooner
Henry Dennfs. of Seattle. was SPOKEN thirty
miles from CAps ST. Eliza sith LOO skins
lspoken June with l, 20 skinsl Barks Round.
log Biilow. James Arnold. Mars. Andrew Hicks
and SIR BlAkelsy had taken no whales on May -
Barss wandsrer and Josephine had each taken
one whale Reports from Unalaaka state that
seals more plentiius in Besing ssa this season
than known for many yeasA No scaling vessels
had made their appearance up to May Is The
oaiy vessels in port there wero the bark ocei-
deasai. disebarging coal steamer Dora.
schooncfs William Bowden. Hunter and Olga
The steam whsler Mary n. Hume sailed for the
Arctic ocean May n