The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-10-12
IN JUSTICE TO THE MEMORY OF
CAPT. SAWYER.
Poxr Towssrxp. Oct. 9, 1894.

PoKT TOWNSEND. Oct. g. 1894
To THE EDIToR: By brief but untrue
statement concerning the collision Of the
bark orpheus. commanded by Capt.
Charles A. Sawyer. and the steamer Pa
cifc, near Cape Flattery. nineteen years
ago, the Port Townsend Democrat cruelty
intensified the recent affection of Capt.
Sawyer's family. The paper has since
acknowledged its error by a published
apology. The Posr-ISTELLIeEScEs CORE
spondent says in his account Of the acct
dent that Capt Sawyer sailed away from
the sinking steamer knowing her cop6i-
ton. Lieut.. Harwood, temporarily in
command of the revenue cutter that went
to Barclay sound, where the Orpheus was
stranded, to take of the captain, his family
and the crew. told Mrs. Oliver r. Gerrish.
an old resident of Port Townsend, that
they knew nothing of the tate Of the
steamer until he told them while return
ing TO Port Townsend. and then. to
quote Lieut. Harwood's own words,
"Cap. Sawyer leaned his head on the
table and cried like . baby" Until
that moment those on the Orpheus be-
heved themselves 10 be the worst sufferers
from the collision. All who have described
the accident mention the surrounding
mist, and il is only reasonable TO suppose
that the momentum of the steamer would
carry her far enough into the fog to make
her invisible to those on the bark before
she sank
The statement that Capt Sawyer was
concealed for three weeks in the house Of
Collector Webster Is false. He and his
family were the guests of Collector and
Mrs. Webster during that time, but the
writer of this article was assured only
yesterday by Mrs. Webster that, although
far from we'll. Capt. Sawyer while enter
tanned at the collectors house was to be
seen every day on the streets attending to
business connected with the disposal of
the wreck ofthe opheus.
liz has been acknowledged by all con-
versant with the facts that the officers of
the steamer were intoxicated, and that,
according to nautical law, the steamer
should have changed her course to avoid
3 collision. A new light had Just been
established on the British side, of whose
existence Capt Sawyer was unadvised.
In the mist he supposed Ii to be the Cape
Fiattery light. and this accounts for the
stranding of the bark in Barclay sound.
Another ship, the Henry Buck. made the
same mistake on the same night, and very
narrowly escaped the same fate A. the
Orpheus
There are always some sailors in q crew
whose word cannot be relied upon, and q
few such testified against Capt Sawyer in
Victoria. but in an affidavit af,erward
taken by Judge Swan in Port Townsend,
and signed az the entire crew. Capt
Sawyer was completely sxoEerated.
The story OF his remorss is a fiction.
He was - man OF infinite jest" whose
original witticisms we're a source of con-
slant delight 10 his friends-a habit of
mind incompatible with remor<e, and con-
tinulng long after his Illness had become
of an alarming nature. To the friends who
best knew HIM he was tender
hearted and most helpful in times of sick
ness or trouble. His painful illness was
borne With heroic patience. Conscious to
the last, he awaited the end with perfect
compcsurs. his strong will combined with
strong affection making him brave and
calm for the comfort of his loved onss in
the very presence Of death.
AN ON EESTnFSr