The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-27
THE WRECK OF THE MICHIGAN.
story OF the Disaster steamer and
Cargo HopelesslY Lost.

story OF the Disaster - steamer and
Cargo Hopeiessly Lost.
PORT TOWNSEND, Jan. n.26.-[Special. THE
steamship Michigan is total wreck on
vancouver island and all sf her cargo. $50
tons of general merchandise, will be lost.
Inc disaster occurred at 1855 .. m. last
Saturday, six miles south of Cape Beale.
The vessel struck three times on the rocks
alter getting into the breakers, The
weather was very thick and heavy swell
was rolling In from the westward. The
Chief cause of the disaster was that the
vessel overran the distance calculated by
her captain, s. +. Graves. 1t was impos-
slble to see the shore or lights through the
log, and by calculation it was thought
tnat the steamer had proceeded far enough
north at 10 o'clock Saturday night as
TO be abreast of Juan de Fuca straits
she was headed east, and an hour
later was piled upon the rocks of Vancou-
yer island. Capt. Edward Lennon, WE'LL
known Puget sound mariner, who was a
passenger from San Francisco on the
Michigan. arrived here today on the Gar
land from Neah bay, accompanied by
George Marshal, first officer. and twelve
OF the crew. The tug Discovery went
bay yesterday, brought the crew back and
transferred them to the Garland. Capt
S. +. Graves sent the following account of
the disaster to the PosT-INTELLIGENCRR's s
news bureau In this city under date of
yesterday:
The steamer Michfran went ashore at IL p. m.
on sunday, January 2l. between Bonila point
and Cape Beale. The weather was SO thick out
side that no lights could be seen nor any sounds
from the log whistles could be heard. We were
headed east, and at 1850 slowed down. and at
the same time breakers ahead were reported by
the lookout The engines were reversed at full
speei, but she had too much headway, and an
instant Later the vessel struck three times and
then remained stationary. At midnight there
was three feet OF water in her hold, and the YES
sci was laboring heavily. The night was ex-
ceptionaly dark and stormy, and the white
mountain OF breakers that enveloped the steamer
from stem to stern obscured the shore from
view. The fires went out and 1t became in
tenseiy cold. 1t apparent that the
vessel was doomed to destruction and that the
lives OF my passengerssand crew were in great
danger There was no possible way of getting
ashore that night The continual pounding of
the vessel on the huge boulders was a constant
menace to the safety OF our lives. We then
turned our attention to getting line ashore
AT O'Clock Sunday morning one OF my men,
Seaman ST. mons, went over the bow with a
line fastened TO his body. After several almost
superhuman efforts he was taken upon the crest
OF breaker and carried ashore. The feat was a
daring one and was attended with much dam
ger. Simmons reached the beach more dead
than alive. After recovering from his exhausted
condition he made the line fat to the shore.
"basket traveller" was rigged on the line,
and by this manner the passengers, crew, pro-
visions and cooking utensils were landed. Each
time the basket was drawn ashore the surf
would envelop it. The last of the others on
board beside myself to go ashore was Capt
Lennon, and then got into the basket and was
hauled safely ashore through the surf. Rain
was falling in torrents. and we hastily built
tents and started fires.
The next day no steamers passed by, and
we Travelled up and down the beach several
miles until stopped by swollen streams. On
Tuesday at 10 O'Clock the weather had so mod
Grated that we got aboard the Michigan and
lowered the starboard lifeboat. l sent the boat
to Neah Bay via Bonilla point lighthouse in
charge OF First Officer Marshall. The
tug Discovery Was in Neah Bay
and she crossed over to the scene of the disaster
and brought portion OF the crew back. First
Engineer Johnson and two men are trying to
get to Bonil!a point light by the beach. l went
across to Neah bay this afternoon in the Dis
covery with my crew, leaving the wreck in
charge OF Second Officer Batchelden, Purser +.
Beecher, Chief Engineer J. Burke aud fireman.
The Indians were gathering around in threat
ening attitude this afternoon ana was some
what apprehensive lest we be attacked. / called
all hands together and discussed the situation,
and from present appearances do not antici-
pate any trouble. expect to get the rest OF the
crew across TO Neah bay tomorrow.
/ wish to express my thanks to Capt Lennon,
who has ably assisted me during the voyage and
at the disaster. and to my officers and crew, all
OF whom stood by me nobly and executed my
orders in q calm and intelligent manner, to all
of which we owe our lives s. I. GRAVES.
Capt. Lennon and First Officer Marshall
corroborated Capt. Graves statement to
the PosT-INTELLIGENCNR correspondent
this evening. They said that if the
weather moderated portion of the cargo
could be saved and the steamer might be
stripped of her movable property. The
present northeast storm which is prevail
ing in the Straits does not materially
affect the Michigan and she is resting
quite easily. They further said that Capt.
Graves was of the opinion that neither
the vessel or cargo was insured.
Following is list of the crew which
arrived this morning: George Marshall,
first officer; Watchman Benders, Carpen.
ter Rason, Seamen Henning, Paul Janke,
E. Arscey, Chapman, Lawrence Bennett.
?. Cline, 2. Moore, G. q. Richardson, J.
H. Hooperson, Pat Cavenor and Thomas
DIXON.
The United States revenue cutter Oliver
Wocott came down from Hood canal
early this morning and left for the scere
of the wreck.
Waldo Whippie Will Recover.
BUTTE, Jan. 26-lSpecial. Waldo Whip
pie, who was shot by Charles Buise, will
recover Whipple received two bullet
wounds, both In the back. The TACT that
Buise was shot in the back of the head
gave rise to the belief that he did not Kill