The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-26
ASHORE IN A FOG.
The Steamer Michigan on
the Rocks.
LOST OFF BONlLLA POINT.
The Crew and Captain Escape to the
ShOre-The Vessel a Total
Wreck.
Special to THE MORNING CALL

PORT TOWNSEND, Jan. 25-The steam
ship Michigan, Captain S. T. Graves, four
days out from San Francisco. went ashore
off Vancouver Island, thirty miles north OF
Bouila Point, Saturday night. and is total
loss When the accident occurred the
weather was thick and heavy westerly sea
was running. The Michigan ran on the
rocks and stove her keel in. The crew es-
capped in the ships boats with their personal
effects
AS soon as the weather moderated Captain
Graves crossed the straits to Neah Bay in
an open boat and wired this city for assist
ance. The tug discovery left this morning
and the tugs Sea Lion and Tacoma this
evening from Neah Bay for the wreck.
The Michigan sailed from San Francisco
nine days ago with general cargo. The
crew is expected TO arrive here tomorrow
Oil tugs, when full particulars will be OBJ
tanned.
TACOMA, Jan %. "A Neah Bay special to
the Ledger gives the following additional
particulars of the wreck Of the steamer
Michigan off Bonlla Point: The vessel went
ashore last Saturday night during dense
fog at a point thirty miles from Bonilla
Point
Fears were entertained for the vessels
safety. as she lett San Francisco last
Wednesday. but owing to the isolated loca-
ton Of the wreck the news of the disaster
did not reach here till noon to-day. The
dispatch says the vessel is hard fast on the
rocks Several holes were stove in her bot
tom and she will prove a total loss.
It is believed that nothing of the wrecked
steamer will be left. as the wind is blowing
fifty miles an hour, making it impossible to
approach the vessel. The tugs Sea Lion
and Pioneer have been dispatched to the
scene to render any assistance necessary
The Michigan is a screw steamer. wooden,
and was built at Skamawatta River in 1858.
She was owned by William NJ. and George
L. Colwell and j. b. Montgomery, the first
named being managing owner. She has
been for some time running under a charter
of the George Det.ick & Co. steamship line.
plying between Tacoma and San Francisco.
making alternate trips to Portland, with
the same sound destination.
The vessel must have run by the Tato0sh
fog whistle aud ON to the reef at the mouth
Of the Kitinat River before her position was
discovered. The vessel was under the
command of an old and experienced nayi-
gator, Captain S. p. Graves, with a crew Of
twenty-seven men.
1HC pUilb " HUG l16 VESSEL StIuch ID one
of the most dangerous in the Northwest.
and is generally feared by shipping men,
particularly 80 in foggy weather. when the
only way incoming vessels can get their
bearings is by the fog whistle, without
which vessels continue their northwsId
course.
The steamer was valued at $4,000 and
carries an insurance of $4,000, placed with
Portland and San Francisco companies
The Michigan gained a great deal OF
notorIety last fall when a local customs
force under Collector WATSON seized her for
smuggling opium.
The steamer left here on the 18th inst
for Port Townsend. carrying a general
cargo. She was dispatched by the George
Derrick Company.
The Michigan was built In 1888 at Ska
mokawa, Wash. and was owned by g. l..
Coiwel. Astoria, Oregon. Her dimensions
are as follows Length. 1888; breadth,
%; depth, 1877.