The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-06-12
FOURTEEN SEAMEN MISSING,
Including Captain Thomas, the
Ships Commander.
WHERE IS THE CoLINTRAIvE2
A Story About Her Having Been
Sighted Off the FaraIlones About
Two Weeks Ago.

Two marine stories of considerable i'm
portance were circulated yesterday and
have created a great deal of discussion
along the water front and on Change.
Word has been received of the dismasting
of the British ship Cambrian Chief off the
South American coast The vessel was
deserted by part of her crew, fourteen Of
whom landed at Valparaiso on the 18th of
last month. Captain Thomas and seven
men are still missing, grave fears for their
welfare being entertained.
The Cambrian Chief was on her way
from Newcastle for CoQuimbo, whence she
was to sail for San Francisco.
The second startling piece of intelligence
is that the first officer of the British ship
Swanmore, that arrived here the week be-
fore last, reports having sighted the coal
ship Colintraive 100 miles northwest of the
Farall0nes just before the Swanmore ar
rived off this city.
The Colintraive is now Lightweight days
out from Newcastle. n. S. W. A small
amount of reinsurance has been paid on
her, but uD to yesterday no real anxiety
was felt for her. If 1t be true, however,
that the Swanmore really did sight ner in
the position mentioned it is not exaggerat-
ing to surmise that something serious has
happened to her.
From 100 miles northwest of the Fara-
llones ship could certainly have beaten TO
port or would have been spoken by this
time. 1t does not seem possible though,
on second thought, that anything could
have happened to a vessel so near port
without survivors of her crew getting
away from her in boats, landing and
spreading the news.
The Colintraive is one of H. Hogarths
ships and is an almost brand new vessel.
She was launched in 1892 from Port GIas-
gov, from Rogers e Co.'s yard. Her
length is 265 feet, breadth 40 feet and depth
of hold % feet.
Returning to the story of the Cambri an
Chieftain, the Valparaiso mail advices say
that Captain Thomas wife and two chill.
dren were broug ht to that city on the
British ship Dee. Eleven of the wrecked
ships men accom- pauied the lady. She
told the authorities there that her hus-
band had remained on board Of the Chief
tain. together with seven men who were
unable TO get away in the boats.
When the first boatload of survivors was
picked up by the Dee five of the latter
crew volunteered to pull southwark in
search for the balance of the Chieftain's
men. Night came on and all trace of the
rescue party was lost sight of. The Dee
was obliged to take advantage of fresh
ening breeze and put into Valparaiso with
those who hac been saved.
Captain Thomas is said to have brought
his vessel through terrible gale just be-
fore she was visited by the hurricane that
dismantled her and threw her on her beam
ends. Her decks had been swept clean and
for several days had not been free of water
She was in badly used up condition when
her crew decided to leave her. and it S
thought that there is little hope of ever re-
covering her, unless it should so happen
that Captain Thomas succeeded in righting
her with the help of those who remained
on board and is now slowly working
toward the land.
Captain Thomas is very well known in
San Francisco. He came here sometime
ago In the ship Palgrave. the second largest
vessel that has ever come into San Fran
cisco Bay. On his first voyage in the Pal
grave the ship was dismasted, so it will
be seen that a certain amount of fatality
seems to-nave attended him.
The Cambrian Chieftain was an iron
bark of 1853 tons net. She was built at
Sunderland in 1888. Her length was go
feet, breadth 81 80 feet, depth of hold
% 5-10 feet.