The morning call., 1893-03-07
IN KISSING SEAS.
Terrible Experience of the
AdoIp Obrig.
THE OLD KENsINGToNs TRIP.
The Battered Vessels Now Safe in
Port-Voyage of the |. F. Chap
man-Water Front Notes.

The American bark Adolph Obrig ar
rived yesterday morning, $50 days from
New York, after experiencing most tenn
pestuouS voyage.
The second mate and two men were lost
overheard. and when the 0brig put Into
Port Stanley for repairs she was deserted by
eight of her crew.
Captain Carleton went to Valparaiso in
steamer and secured enough men to bring
his vessel to this port, after encountering
terrific storms on putting to sea second
time.
From the beginning of her voyage the
Obrig met with trouble. She was driven
back to Staten Island three times by adj
verse winds before getting on her way.
July IT, off Cape Horn. heavy storm
struck her, wrecking the rigging and send
ing mountainous seas over her decks.
The storm lasted two days On the morn
ing of the second John c. Stewart, seaman,
native of New York and % years old. W as
standing on the main deck when huge
wave caught him and carried him over the
stern into the sea.
He disappeared instantly under the very
eyes Of his terrified companions
Ten days later Second Officer r. Gleason
was thrown to the deck by sweeping wave g,
and when a sailor, Henry Newburg, at
tempted to rescue him. both were borne
overheard by terrific sea and Immediately
lost to sight.
Gleason was a native of Jersey City, IS
years of age. Newburg came from Massa-
chuSetts and was "a years old.
BY this time nearly all OF the sails were
blown away, aid the cargo began TO go
adrift. The rudder head was sprung and the
vessel was almost unmanageabie. All of
q
smashed.
When the gale subsidized the Obrig was
headed for Port Stanley, where she arr lived
August 9. Here the DESERVING began, and
in few days Captain Carleton had only thu
first mate and two Chinese left.
On one occasion, seeing two men leaving,
Chief Officer Mark Kirby drew revolver
and fired at them. One of them fell, but
was helped into q wagon by the other, and
managed TO escape. Kirby was tried for
the shooting and acquitted.
Captain Carleton next went to Valparaiso
and secured crew, and on December l an
| other and more successful start was made
for San Francisco.
a survey of The vessels cargo will be
made by the port wardens
The British ship Old Kensington, Cap
tain McKechnle. arrived from London via
Port Stanley on the 9TH. She was almost
exactly year on the way, having left Lon
don March %. 1892, and been DELAYED six
months aud q half at Port Stanley, Falkland
Islands, whore she stopped for repairs.
She reports having encountered a heavy
gale on MAY 10 in latitude IS deg. south,
longitude 20 deg west. which carried away
her lower forotOpsail yard and did further
damage
After much trouble the ship was made
snug for the night, but the gale increased
and in the morning a tremendous sea was
running and the vessel was laboTiug heavily
and shipping immense quantities Of water.
At O'Clock the following morning the fore
topmast carried away at the cap and fell to
the deck, with the yards and mast's rig
Ring, bringing down the foreyard and com
petely smashing the No. 2 lifebOat aud the
topgallant rail and bulwarks.
The tangled mass of wreckage went over
the side and was washed away by heavy
sea.
The weather was bitterly cold and tn
decks were flooded All hands were ordered
on deck and set to work with axes and SAWS
to clear away the debris and save the ship.
The upper rigging was hanging and beating
about in q disabled condition, and men
were sent aloft to cut away the main royal
mast.
The royal mast and yard was hanging by
the halyards and with the violent rolling
OF the ship had a great swing, and was
striking the topsaii yards aud mast with
terrific force, sending fire from the yards.
tearing the sails from the gaskets, and
blowing them to pieces
After hard work the forward wrecks age
abated by this time, and the ship wore
round to tue eastward and ran for Port
Stanley.
An investigation discovered break in
the iron casting of the main yentilator, and
through this opening the sea was pouring
and the ship was making water fast The
damage was repaired, the vessel pumped
dry, new maintopsail bent and things
looked brighter.
But the next day the worst came. A ter
rif ts mr. ufrr gfR.. III In hn- lie
abied condition 1t was impossible to heave
10 aud with frightful sea running the Old
Kensington ran dead before the storm.
The John Cook was passed beating under
storm sails, but it WAS impo ssible to signal
her. A fearful night was spent before the
hurricane, with high seas sweeping the
decks continually and the ship almost bury
ing herself in the waves Great damage
was done the vessel, her deck houses and
lockers being completely Quilted.
On May % the violence of the storm
abated, the ship having run 2S3 miles under
e maintopsail. Port Stanley was ] lched
May % without further mishap. and here tie
battered craft rested for six months and
over before she was entirely repaired and
fit TO put to sea.
The report of the accident was submitted
by Second Officer James Dewitt, who ap-
pended a voluminous account Of the good
time spent at Port Stanley and recounted
the many kndnesses shown the officers and
crew of the Old KensDgton by the island
authorities.
The American ship L F. Chapman, Cap
tain Thompson, arrived from New York
yesterday. October 26, In latitude 40 deg
north. longitude IS deg. west, j ohm Olsen,
a seaman, was washed overheard off the
after pumpkin and drowned. He was
native Of Norway and 81 years Of age.
The Friars Crag from Newcastle, n. S.
W., September q, for IquiQue, has not been
heard from since sailing.
The Cowyn, on the same voyage, sailed
December 3 and has not yet arrived.
The Theophane sailed from Newcastle
year ago for M0llendo and has never been
heard from since. underwriters are much
concerned over the probable loss of three
vessels in one year, on the safest Of all deep
water voyages
Steamship fares have been reduced be-
tween Eureka and San Francisco through
the efforts of Richard Sweasey of the
former place. The steamers Humboldt and
Pomona will issue cabin tickets for 81 30
instead OF $40, as heretofore.
Captain E. Rains, the coast pilot, has re-
signed his position on the steamer San
Mateo and returned to this city.
The steamer Mexico left Broadway No. 2
for San Diego and way ports yesterday
afternoon. Her crew worked all last night
transferring the Santa ROsa's cargo and pas
seDgers, as the Mexico takes the place of the
Santa Rosa, which was injured 10 collision
with the Flntshire on Sunday.
At the regular imOnthly meeting OF the
Pilot Commissioners yesterday Captain
john McCullock was appointed pilot for
the port OF San Francisco to fill vacancy
caused by the death of Pilot Thomas j.
knipe. McCullock has been master of
Spreckels' brig William G. Irwin for twelve
years. and is well known in Alameda and
San Francisco.
The rudder OF the bark Alden Besse,
while being repaired at the Oceanic dock,
slipped from It's supports and fell over
board. Alter considerable trouble 1t was
recovered and placed in position ON the
vessel.
The steamer City Of Sydney arrived from
Panama and way ports early yesterday.
She carried limited number OF passen-
| gers, 1851 packages OF merchandise and
treasure valued at S53 $50.
The ship William II. Macy. Captain