The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-22
WRECK OF j. C. FORD.
A Coasting Schooner Goes Down
OF Gray's Harbor.
CREW SAVED IN NICK OF TIME.
The Vessels Cargo Of Lime On Fire
Drifting Raddsrlsss fer Thirsy-six
Hours In . Storm.

Verona. Feb. M.-[Special. Little en-
couragement to sealers is contained in the
report of the schooner Brenda, which re-
turned to port in distress this afternoon,
bringing the shipwrecked crew Of the San
Francisco coasting schooner J. c. Ford.
The Brenda, since January rs. secured five
seals 1t an outlay close on to 5000. A
series of gales prevented the lowering Of
the boats, though seals were plentiful on
all hands. But it il an i'll wind that
blows good to mono and the same gale
which destroyed the Brenda's chances
among the seals. carried her to Gray's
harbor in time to save the lives of the
crew Of the Ford only . few hours before
she disappeared beneath the waves.
The Ford was commanded by Capt.
Charles Brown, . veteran navigator of
the coast waters, and left San Francisco
on February 8. with q mixed cargo Of
lime and machinery. stiffened with sand
ballast. for Gray's harbor, where q return
cargo Of lumber was to beloaded. Her pass
age up was favorable, fair weather prevail
ing until February II when. being off the
midchannel buoy. the captain decided to
run into Gray's Harbor. Soon afterward
the sky became overcast and q series of
squalls came up, driving the schooner, q
three-master Of 232 tons, on to the South
spit She got of. but not without the loss
OF her rudder and long strip of her keel,
extending clear to the mainmast. I'm
mediately the ship began to take water
and while one squad of the crew of eight
worked the pumps, the others
were employed in keeping the
schooner off shore by manipu-
lating her sails. the steering gear being
entirely destroyed. The small boat was
provisioned in anticipation of the worst,
though its chances in the sea then rum
ming would have been slim, and for two
days the little band worked like heroes.
while the water steadily gained on them,
the pumps becoming plugged and the YES
sci hourly becoming more unmanageable.
On Friday morning . new terror pre-
sented itself. The lime caught fire and
added to the horror Of the situation. The
shore was fully thirty miles distant and
the rough waters promised immediate de-
struction to any small boat entrusted to
them. Signals of distress were displayed
night and day and the captain and crew
resigned themselves to the agony of wait
ing. So all day Friday and Friday night
passed.
Early on Saturday morning the signals
of distress were seen by the Brenda's look
out, and the sealer promptly bore down to
the rescue, and succeeded not only in
safely transferring Capt. Brown and his
men to the schooner, but also in removing
property to the value of about $1,000 be-
fore the end of the Ford came, two hours
later. From the deck of the sealer Capt.
Brown saw his ship give her last lurch
into the sea.
Capt. Brown and his crew will 60 from
here to San Francisco by the next steamer.
The schooner J. c. Ford was built in San Fran
cisco in 1881 She piled between San Francisco
and Puget sound in the lumber trade for several
years under command OF Capt Mercer. She usu.
ally loaded In Seattle. Last year E. Slade OF the
Slade Lumber Comp any, purchased the vessel
from the Mendocino Lumber Company, and
Capt Brown, who 10 q member OF the company,
assumed command. The Ford has been running
between San Francisco and Grays Harbor
for the last few tripA Her dimen.
sions are ~ follows: Length 123 feet,
breadth 81 feet, depth 10 feet, and 2Sl net tons
The only insurance on the vessel was carried BY
Capt Brown on his one-eighth interest. the
insurance amounting to $2,500 The schooner
was classed high and valued at 3l5,0O0l