The herald., 1893-10-20
THE NEWBERN WRECK.
WILL THE INVESTIGATION SOLVE
THE MYSTERY2
Speculation Rife as to the Cause OF the
Disaster-Lights Said to Have Been
Seen nt Point Dune and = DIys-
terious Steamer in tho Ofang.

The wreck of the steamer Newbern
last week near Point Vincent remains
an unexplained mystery. Whether it
will be investigated to solution, and
whether that solution is likely to be of
sensational character, is q question
which time can only solve.
Meanwhile speculation is rife as to
the causes which led to the disaster, and
as to the peculiar destruction by FIRE of
that portion of the vessel which re-
mained above water.
There are q number of curiuos features
about the matter which, in default Of
any explanation to the contrary, give
reason for the supposition that the
wreck was possibly something more than
an accident.
The vessel was on the way from Mexi-
can ports to San Francisco. and was. in
command of an experienced and able
navigator. It's course should have been
to the west of Cstalina<island. Why
was the Newbern inside OF that place
1t ia said that the nights previous to the
one of the wreck were clear, and there
has been no claim advanced that the
weather in the day time was such as to
prevent the taking of an observation.
In fact, it would appear, at least from o
laymsn's point of view, that a skillful
commander, such as that OF the New bern
10 acknowledged to be, could have
cleared Catalina by dead reckoning in
the few days that had elapsed since his
Saving his last port, which was on the
west coast of Lower California. 49,
It's claimed that the ocean currents
peculiar to this coast must have carried
the vessel out OF her course and onto
Point Vincent. II this be so, the New
burn, it is presumable, must have got
some distance west and north OF Re-
dondo, and then have been drifted east
and south, for. according to the reports
of the wreck, she struck to the north.
ward of the point. This is, perhaps,
possible and correct. If 80, the theory
can be corroborsted by mariners famil-
lar with the coast; but 1t appears to be
open to question.
A coincidence, Of which the Herald
has been informed, is somewhat peril
nent to the matter. 1t is stated, that
for day or so before the wreck
steamer resembling the Newbern was
seen standing on and off from Point
Dune, and that on the night before the
disaster lights were displayed on the
bluffs at that point. What steamer was
that if not the Newborn? and why
were lights, presumably signals, shown
there? Are the custom house officials
cognizant of these statements, and did
they take any measures to ascertain
why the Newbern was close enough to
that locality romantically called Snug
glers' Cave, if it was not due to the fog
and the currents?
Tho II urDArn n Iao inf that nm
to midnight on the date of the wreck
there was no fog at Point Vincent, but
that it came in about that hour. Ac-
cording to the published accounts of the
affair, the Newbern went on the rocks
at o'clock, or three hours after the fog
came in. II this is correct it gives rise
to the presumption that the vessel was
uuiter vfU1O tho -h>>-4 haF----tha s,aiet
rolled in, or else came in with it. II
the ship had been cruising in the vicin'
ity for some purpose not known, 1T ls
possible that while laying to, the Jog
came on it, and in endeavoring to put
out, her nose was run on the reef.
The whole matter presents many
perplexing and suggestive phases,
but the climax is perhaps reached
in the burning OF the hull
on the rocks a day or two after the
wreck. How could it catch fire acci-
dentally, and if it was not an accidental
fire what reason could any one have for
setting it ablaze? The crew, it will be
remembered, found it difficult to sleep
that night on the hulk, perhaps because
it rolled too much, and sailors liking o
firm place for their repose, took small
boat, made it fast to the kelp near by
and peacefully slumbered until aroused
by the blaze of the burning wreck.
1t is an interesting incident. The
circumstances and features can be made
to fit almost any theory, and several
people are taking great interest in try
ing to find the solution.