The morning call., 1894-12-12
VESSELS IN THE STORMS.
Thrilling Experience of the Big
Steamer Oregon.
BUFFETED BY CONTRARY WINDS.
Rough Time of the Tug Fearless in
Towing the Norwegian Ship
Breidabiik.

PORTLAND, Dec. 11.-Last night the
steamship Oregon from San Francisco
arrived safely in port after the Mario west
escape from shipwreck the vessel has ever
experienced during her long career on the
Pacific Coast Thursday morning she left
San Francisco with only about $50 tons all
told, and was drawing only nine feet for
ward and sixteen feet ait. As the vessel
is in the freight service no passengers were
carried.
In coming up the coast Captain Pohlman
kept far out TO sea SO as to take no risks.
No very rough weather was encountered
until the lightship was sighted off the
mouth of the Colum ba River at 10 o'clock
Saturday night. The Oregon then began
TO beat off. Captain Pohlman intending to
cross the bar early Sunday morning. But
at IL o'clock the barometer began to fall.
Soon after a tremendous south west gale
set in. Captain Pohlman stood out to sea,
but the gale was so heavy that he could
make but little Roadway. The gale kept
increasing in violence until about o'clock
Sunday morning, when 1t was almost
hurricane. The Oregon could not face it
and began drifting toward the shore. So
light was the ship forward that she could
not be made 10 face the storm, but would
constantly pay off.
The vessel was SO light that the pipes
which supply the condenser with water
did not work well, and the engines could
not be worked effectively. The steamer
kept slowly drifting toward shore despite
every effort that could be made, until the
lighthouse station at Cape Mears, just
above Tillamook, was not more than SIX
miles away.
All day Sunday the Oregon made des-
perate fight against the fury of the storm,
but she continued to approach the line of
breakers. This struggle continued until
80 O'Clock Sunday evening, and. Just
When all on board had about abandoned
hope. suddenly the wind shifted one point
in favor OF the vessel. After hard battle
the steamer passed the danger and stood
far out to sea, but was not able to cross
the bar till yesterday morning. Captain
PGblman and all the crew say 1t is a mi
raculous escape. The captain to-day was
the recipient of many warm congratula-
lions.
ASTORIA, Or, Dee. 1.-THE Spreckels
tug Fearless of San Francisco is in, and re-
ports having brought the Norwegian ship
Breldahlik through one of the worst
storms that ever ragged on the Pacific
Coast. The Fearless came into port with
ner decks sprung and leaking badly. Her
compass cover was blown away by the ter
rifle force of the wind. and everything
movable on deck was washed overheard.
Sunday afternoon they were running be-
fore the wind, when a heavy sea came
over her stern, burying the tug SO that
only the plot-house was out of the water.
This sea sprang the heavy doors of the
house, and completely wrecked the hand
some private apartments of Mr.. Spreckels
by deluglDg the inside with water. A fter
the tug righted herself she was hove
round to the sea and steamed ahead
under slow bell. Another monster sea
went over her bows, and striking
the forward house. smashed the
lights and sprang the heavy steel walls so
that the water-closet frame. two inches
from the wall, was torn from its fasten-
iDgs. At times the pilot-house had foot
of water over its floor. The Breidablik
was nowhere in sight at this time, having
parted company with the tug for the second
time the night previous. The first time
they let go the ship was on Friday, when
the hawser had to DE cnt from the top OF
the tugs house. it being impossible to re-
main on deck. The ship was picked IN
early Monday morning off the mouth of
the river and towed in by the Fearless.
The big vessel was listing badly to the
starboard. and several times Captain Arne-
sen gave up all hope of saving his ship.
The tug lost $50 fathoms of 22-ncn haw-
ser. new. and second one is so badly
chafed that it will be total loss. They
cost about $500 each.
Captain Haskell will remain in port
until the weather moderaes. Fears are
entertained for the safely of several
vessels known to be due at this port.