The morning call., 1893-01-29
ADRIFT FOR DAYS.
The Abandoned Schooner
COurser in Port.
TOWED IN BY THE VIGILANT.
Fears Entertained About the City of
Picking - Arrival of the Light
house Tender CoIumbine.

All that remained Of the three-masted
schooner Courser was towed into port yes
teriay afternoon by the tug Figlant.
The Courser sailed from Port Blakeley for
Newport on December IS last. On the I'D
size was struck by the terr fe southeaster
which ragged with such violence during
Christmas week. She WAS loaded with
lumber and Captain Colby did all he could
t. keep her before the wind. TIE Courser,
however. sprang leak and noiwithstand-
ing the workings Of the pump soon had six
feet Of water in the hold. The water con-
tiuued to gain and on December % the
deckload was cast adrfi, but this only
afforded temporary relief, The water in the
hold continuing to gain. TIE windstorm
tore all the sails of the schooner TO ribbons
and on the second day OF the storm the yes
sci became waterlogged. Captain Colby
said that lie lost control of the vessel and
when thu barkentine Tam o Shanter hove
IN sight be determined to abandon the craft.
Accordingly tie crew of the schooner
COurser was transferred to the Tam o
Shanter and brought to this city Before
leaving the schooner Captain Colby ordered
the Courser fred, so that she would not be
menace to navigation. When the Tam o
Shanter left the schooner 1t was drifting
mass Of flames and was thought 20 have
burned aud sunk.
Other vessels subsequently sighted the
abandoned schooner and reported that she
was drifting mastless about the sea as
derelct, great source OF danger TO vesse Is.
On hearing this news the firm OF Spreek-
els Bros. ordered tie tug Figiant to proceed
10 search of the derelct and tow 1t to port.
Captain Mccoy took the Nigilant north ac
c0rding 10 orders and on Monday last
Tf-Hr tod I-TFF - rulal@ fNac
southwest Of the Columbia River. On Tues
day she began the tow, arriving 10 port
yesterday afternoon.
Captain Mccoy reported that the tow
down was very tedious on account OF the
heavy seas which were encountered off the
Mendocino coast. When the tow began
Captain BTOkaw of the tug Alert took
charge Of the schooner and steered her oil
the trip. His job was a very difficult and
thankless one, on account Of the seas break
ing over the derelict, as 1t was clean cut
almost TO the water line. On Thursday
several eXtra-heaYy seas were encountered,
and Captain Br0kaw and his assistant were
washed out Of the cabin, having a very
narrow escaue with their lives. This was
the only incident OF interest on the trip.
When the wrecked schooner was tOwed
up the bay TO the Oceanic dock a large
crowd had already gathered to await her
arrival. The dereliet was Immediately
moored alongside the wharf and boarded by
John ID. Spreckels and Captain Colby, both
OF whom congratulated Captain Mccoy on
the successful outcome of his trip.
The COurser presented sorry appear
ance when alongside the wharf. Her decks
Tesembled veritable juukshop. The for
ward portions Of tie deck were all charred
and burnt from the effects OF tile fire, which
had been set by Captain Colby TO sink the
wreck 1t was easily seen why the fire did
not obtain hold for the starboard bull
waTks we're all torn away and being heaV-
lily laden with lumber the seas swept over
the decks and soon eXtinguished the flames
Captain Colby states that when ne left
the schooner the three masts were intact,
although ali the rigging and sails were
blown away When the Vigilaut struck
TIE abandoned wreck she was mastless, the
masts having been snapped of at the bot
tom near the deck, the wood being torn and
twisted into splinters. The chains and
anchors OF the COuTser were also saved.
small portion OF lumber still remains
on the deck and all that is in the hold is
uninjured The hold Of the schooner is not
damaged. though through some OF the seams