The morning call., 1894-05-27

Captain Griffith lost the Honduras. a
fine steamer chartered BY the Pacific Mall,
but sailing under the English flag. She
was engaged in the Central American
business and was caught like many another
steamer on the shore of Salvador early In
the seventies. The only loss was the
steamer. then valued at $3.50, 600.
The steamer George S. Wright Captain
Ainsey, was lost on February %, 1878.
near Cape Caution, B. Z. Not soul of
her crew was saved from the wreck. AT
the time fierce storms swept across the
Northern Pacific, and II is believed that
she was the victim of the elements. Only
yestiges of the wreck told her story. but
nothing was found to indicate the locality
of the wreck or the exact cause.
The Poetic Mail steamer Japan was
burned on December II, 1874. when forty
miles from Swallow and twelve miles from
the Chinese coast. She had S375,000 in
treasure on board, and a cargo worth
sos, 000 The ship herself was worth $780,
600. Captain Warsaw, now chief officer OF
the Marlposa, was in command. The
Chinese passengers on board became panic
stricken. They numb ered 424, and as they
were cut off from the boats by fire amid
ships, they jumped overheard with their
sacks of gold and Mexican dollars, and 400
sank never to rise. The crew and white
passengers escaped in boats. A court OF
inquiry in Japan censured the company
for not having a "6oat-statlOn GRILL. by
which order would be preserved; also Chief
Engineer John COsgrOve for not inspect
ing the coal-bunker. where the fire started
spontaneously.
Captain Saunders got a small steamer
the MoDtijo, in 1875, which ran between
Panama and Central American ports with
passengers and freight, but he cOllided
with QuibO Islands and lost his ship and
cargo OF cattle.
The Ventura, sailing for San Diego.
went ashore at Point Sur April 20, 1875,
near where the Los Angeles struck. All
on board we're saved, but the vessel and
cargo were lost. She was formerly the
United States war vessel Resaca, and cost
about $4,000.
On August % 1875, the steamer Eastport
from Coos Bay TO San Francisco went
ashore at A. NJ. north of Point Arena
lighthouse. A woman and TWO children
were dRwue6 and the vessel, valued at
$4,000. was a total loss. Captain Whit
ney was held responsible for the disaster
and his license was revoked.
When bound to this port from San
Diego in December, 1869. The Pacific. un-
der command of Captain Sherwood, col
lided with the steamer Orifiamme about
twelve miles south OF Santa Barbara and
had one wheel completely carried away.
The loss by this blunder was ST.. 800.
When in charge OF Captain Harrison, May
=, l., Il
entrance 10 Victoria harbor, and was dam
aged slightly.
The steamer Pacific was vessel that
could not keen out of trouble. She left
Victoria. 3. c., bound for this port en-
November 4, 1870. and at $3.50 P. NJ. COL
lided with tina ship Orpheus forty miles
south Of Cape Fiatierv. In a very short
time she sank beneath the waves. The
number of passengers and crew
aboard was estimated at 1877 aud
only two were savedLHenry jelly, a
passenger, AID Neil OHawley, the quar-
termaster. Captain Howell was in COM
mand, but il was shown that the collision
was caused by bad management on the
part of the ships master, who did not at
tempt to lay by or assist the steamer 10 any
way. The Pacific was valued at 100000
and the cargo at $4,000. both partly in
sured.
The General Barrios. a small Central
American steamer, was lost by bad sea-
manship at San Jose de Guatemala in 1876,
but the disaster was not accompanied by
loss of life.
The Montana. which seemed to be des-
tined to destruction, had an Ill-starred
career IN the last two years of her exist
euce. When sailing to Mexico in January,
1874, she was run aground at La PaZ but
got off, and after TepsiriDg went to sea
again. In July, 1876, she grounded at
Duxbury Reef. She broke her shaft in
August. 1876. On December Il following
she WAS totally destroyed by fire IN the
Gulf of California. She was insured for
SEQ. 600.
Sailing from Panama to San Francisco
on Nav 16 1877. the Pacific Mail steamer
City Of San Francisco. Captain James
Waddell, struck upon the Tartar shoal,
off the Mexican coast. near Acapulco. She
was run within ten miles of the shore in
a dangerous place, and sank imme-
diately after striking. Her crew of
100 men and her 1877 passengers were
magnificent vessel valued at SION, 600 was
lost. In connection with this wreck
Charles c. Bemis, United States SuDervis-
ing Inspector OF Steam Vessels, reports
The evidence is conclusive that nine
miles or even ten miles is not a safe dis
lance from land to round Tartar shoals,
and that the City OF San Francisco
WAS farther than nine miles from shore
when she struck, showing that all of
these masters of the Pacific Mail Steamship
COmpany's vessels have been sailing inside
and over this danger for years. The sin king
of this steamship has called dangerous
practice 10 my attention. This steamer
has seven iron bulk heads and t1Oodgate
10 each, and it has been customary in all
these ships belonging to this line to run
these flOodgates open. The practice is OBJ
jectionable and dangerous and should be
discontinued 1t is not impro liable that
the City of San Francisco might have been
brought to this port had these fOOdgates
been closed and the bulkheadS tight at the
time she struck"
Captain Waddell and many OF his men,
who were below, escaped through freight
port into the sea. AS the vessel beached
huge breakers rolled past her, sweeping
everything before them to the peach, and
those persons who retained strength when
cast on the shore halped to drag the ex-
hausted and dead from the surf.
Captain Waddell was suspended, but he
had his license restored.
Captain Howard was in command of the
Georgia of the Pacific Mail line when
she ran upon the shore of Costa Rica
while bound into Punta Arenas Sep
TENDER %, 1873. The passengers and crew
went ashore, while the Georgia went To
pieces where she lay. Her loss was $780,
co., Captain Towards license was sus.
pended for two years.
On April 10. 1879, the steamship Great
Republic, with a crew Of 81, and $40 pas.
sengeTs bound to Portland frcm San Fran
cisco, under command of Captain James
Carroll. grounded on Sand Island, about
five miles inside of the Columbia River
bar In getting the passengers off the last
boat to leave the steamer capsiZed. The
first and second officers, the boatswain,
carpenter and ten men were drowned
| The steamer went 10 pieces. She was val.
urd at S73, 900. and carried q cargo worth
| 500, 600. The Great Republic was in charge
OF a pilot when she struck. and he va;
suspended for twelve months.
The Victoria was lost off Point OrforC
| on November %, 1888. She was collier
| with Messenger accommodations char