The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-07-09
Loss of the
General Warren.

" tHStt teSpSCl lOI tLe ulcHlOIy VI the
late Captain George Flavel was Gem
eral j. B. Wall, the last living witness Of
Of the loss Of the Inflated steamer Cen
eral Warren, which went to pieces on
Clatsop spit in 1852. General Wall is a
member of the we'll known firm Of
Hobbs, Wall & Company Of San Fran
cisco, and was one Of the Warren's pas
sengers. He resided in Trinidad in
the flfties, and took passage in the
General Warren from San Francisco
for his home when the steamer left
California on what was destined to be
her last trip. 1t was upon that memo
rable trip that General Wall first made
the acquaintance of Captain Flavel,
and since then, whenever he was in
this part of the country. General Wall
has invariably called upon the man
to whose bravery, indomitable will and
coolness he was indebted for his escape
from a watery grave over forty years
ago.
General Wall was called upon by an
Astorlan representative yesterday, and
requested to furnish some particulars
of the wreck Of the Warren, no authen-
tic account of the affair ever having
been published.
When the reporter stated the object
of his visit, General Wall responded:
"I'll do so gladly" and proceeded as
follows:
"I was living in Trinadad in 1882, and
had visited San Francisco about Christ
mas time of that year, leaving for my
home with a number of other passen-
gers on New Years morning. On ac-
count of the stormy weather, the War
rem was unable to touch at either
Humboldt or Trinidad, and all the
passengers were compelled to come UP
to Astoria. We were piloted
in by Captain Flavel. AT
Portland the Steamer was
deeply laden, with grain, and at st.
Helens deck load of some 500 or 600
hogs was taken aboard on our way
down. We again crossed the bar in
safety with Captain Flavel as uilot. 1t
was about dark when we went out,
and the weather was rough, with
a strong breeze blowing off the land.
1--WE hoisted sail, but at II the
topmast was carried away, and we re-
turned to the bar that night. Captain
Flavel had not crossed in with his
pilot boat, and he came alongside in
the morning, telling us we could not
cross in that morning, but that If the
bar Quilted down he would take. the
steamer over in the afternoon.
Captain Flavel then boarded the War
ren, telling his men to remain along
side. None knew the danger so well as
he, and while he was very quiet in his
demeanor, he told the captain firmly
that his advice was to remain outside
till the weather moderated. The pas
sengers added their entreaties and So
to those of the captain and
crew, and finally, with many misgiv-
ings he yielded, sending his men back
to the pilot boat with word that he
would take the Warren in.
when we got on the bar a thick
fog settled down and heard Captain
Flavel tell the captain that the sound
Of the breakers would have to be his
guide in keeping in the channel. A
later we struck on Clatsop
spit. Before an anchor could be got
out the steamer forged off the spit, the
water pouring into her from all direc-
lions. AS a last resort the steamer was
again sent up on the spit remaining
fast, but washed by every 'comber'
that came along.
1.-TWO hours after she struck the
whole after part of the vessel was gone.
That night the captain proposed that
crew man the only boat and go for re-
lief. He selected nine men, Of whom
was one, and placed the boat in
charge of Captain Flavel We had
many escapes from being swamped,
Ind the men decided to head for shore
and take their chances.
Lifting an oar over his head, Cap
tain Flavel told the oarsmen at their
peril to disobey him. Your only safety
lies in keeping to the channel; to your
work, nowp he said, and the battle was
over. In a a few minutes the frail
craft was in smooth water. We rowed
to Astoria, manned the surf boats and
put back again for the wreck, but not
a vestige of it remained.
Among the party saved there was
not dollar, everything having been
lost, and Captain Flavel paid for board,
lodgings and clothing for all of us.
Upon the arrival Of the mail boat Colum
bia, we were taken aboard and intro
duced to the captain by Captain Fla
vel The former coldly stated that If
we could pay our fares he would take
us to California, but not otherwise.
Send the bill to my Office said Cap
tain Flavel, and then he bade us good
bye. Everything that could be done
for our comfort while here he did, and
as we left, from more than one thank
full heart went up the prayer God
bless him."
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