The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-03-19
THB LIBELING OF The PU4BLA.
Peril 81 che Steamer when Picked Up
Previous Salvage suits.

Previous Salvage Suits.
Poxr TOWNSEND. March l5-fSpecial. +
The libeling of the big steamship City Of
Pueb!s. by the Puget Sound Tugboat Com
pany for 500 900. has occasioned much talk
lately in marine circles about the pay
ment Of big salvage claims in the North
west Pacific coast In recent years. Il. is
generally reported by the passengers on
the Puebls that Can't Dcbney offered Capt.
Baisy, of the tug Wanderer. $50. 900 to tow
his steamer to Port Townsend. The pass
engers also aver that tho Puebla had
drifted within seven miles OF the shore,
that the breakers could be plainly seen
and heard as they rolled up and broke on
the beach. Up to this time two steam
ships, the Costa Rica, Capt Mcintyre, and
Montserrat. Capt. Blackburn, for SIS. 900
and $4,000 respectfully, had each made
two unsuccessful attempts to tow the
Pnebla. which resulted in parting four
large hawscrs. A heavy sea was running
and light wind from the west placed the
disabled and helpless Puehla in q danger
Gus position. These are the facts as re-
lated by some OF the passengers on the
Puebia and the officers and crew Of the
Wanderer. Capt. Debney contradicts the
statements and says no arrangements with
reference to towage rates was discussed or
ageeed upon with either the Costa Rca,
Montserrat or Wanderer; that his vessel
Was moro than thirty miles from shore
the weather favorable and that tho Pueblo
was In no danger whatever. The owners
of the Puebla offered the Puget Sound
Tugboat Company $i.6oO for the hawsers.
which was refused. While towing the
disabled steamship the Wanderer lost her
pilot house and sustained other damages
to the amour. Of about 500.
A similar case occurred I'm 1893 when tho
big four-umsted British ship silverdale,
laden with lumber from Port Discovery
Tor Australia, got beeaimed of Tatoosh
Island and drifted to within ten fsthoms
of the rocks and dropped anchor. The sea
was perfectly smooth but the esat wind
would have driven the helpless ship TO
complete destruction. The tug Pioneer.
commanded by Capt Grant, now of the
tug Discovery. went TO the rescue and sue
ceeied in getting the Silverdaie away from
dangerous position just as breeze sprung
Cp. The Silyerdsle and her cargo was
worth about si2O. 900 and the Pioneer got
$1,000 for the towsge and that without a
lawsuit. Some two or three years ago the
@haleback steamer Charles W. Wetmore
| lost her radder out at sea in the vicinity of
the Columbia river bar, and was at the
mercy OF the elements when a British
tramp steamer came along and towed her
90 Astoria. The vessel ani cargo was ap-
praised at si2a.os The Wetmore was
iibelcd for $4,000 salvage and the court
awarded ST. 90 instead.
The ruebla is roughly valued at $3.50, 600
aud she had aboard gold and silver bull
| ion from Alaska 10 the amount az sso0. oDn
The cargo Vas valued at about S2n 400, and
there were nearly 30 passengers aboard
also. Marine men all over the coast will
watch the result OF the libel on the pueb.a
with much interest IA il Involves issues
that are of much valuable importance TO
| every shiposner in the world.