The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-12-11
THE W. L. BEEBE LOST.
Disabled by the Sea in Crossing
San Francisco Bar.
DRIVEN ON THE OCEAN BEACH.
Grew saved with Dimculty - The
Schooner Was Buiif IN Seattle and
Carried Lumber From Biaksiey.

SAN FRAsorsco. Dec. io-The three
masted schooner William l. Beebe, lum-
Der laden and eleven days out from Port
Blaks!ey, Wash, for San Francisco, was
wrecked in attempting 10 make port this
morning. The vessel is going TO pieces on
the ocean beach at point about three
miles below the Cliff house. The nine
members of her crew were rescued after
enduring terrible hardships. The schooner
foundered IN the hesvy sea that was
breaking on the bar when she attempted
TO pass in. Terrific seas broke over the
vessel, carrying away her wheel and steer
ing gear and her mizzen rigging, and
flooding her cabin. She was soon swamped
and swept back over the bar. only TO drift
south ward and be thrown by the heavy
seas upon the ocean beach. 1t was
Just after daylight that she attempted
to cross the bar. About 8 O'Clock she
struck and began pounding 30 pieces in the
breakers. Long before. however. her crew
had been driven into the rigging, where,
drsnched to the skin and all but frozen by
the chilling breeze. they chung on for life.
Two of the poor fellows. who had been
thrown violently against the deokhouse
and we're badly injured by the wave in
which the schooner foundered. would have
fallen and been drowned but for the assist
snce Of their mates. The lifs-saying crews
from Golden Gate park and oceanside
went to the rescue, but long time elapsed
before life line could be got through the
seething surf in which the sailors were
momentarily threatened with death.
A lie line was az last fred out to the
shipwrecked vessel, and when il had been
made fast TO the foremost the heavy work
of getting the men ashore was begun.
That was at 10 q. NJ, and il took just half
an hour for the basket 20 travel back and
forth and land the nine men on the beach.
Capt Raynor vas the last man TO leave
the vessel. Every one of the men in COM
ing ashore was caught several times in the
breakers and completely submerged.
Four or FIVE of the life-saying men would
rush out into water clear up to their
shoulders, and as soon as the man in the
basket came within reach they would seize
him and carry him, half drowned, to the
dry sand.
The nine shipwrecked men we're in pitt
able condition when they got ashore. They
had been hanging IN the rigging for nearly
three hours, and were almost dead from
cold. Some of them had been unable to
get quite high enough out of the reach of
the combing waves, and as the water
dashed over them they several times were
nearly washed off INTO the sea. Capt
Raynor was absolutely helpless when
taken out of the basket. he was carried
to buggy and hurriedly brought TO the
city. Soon, however, he regained the use
of his numbed limbs. The other members
of the crew were taken TO the 0ceanside
life-saving station and the ooesnside hotel,
where they were given stimulants and
made comfortable.
Capt. Raynor states that it was upon the
advice of a pilot. whom he spoke just
after daylight and who told him that the
bar was safe and not breaking that he at
tempted TO pass in. The tar. however,
was breaking heavily. Capt Raynor to-
night said: lyon can imagine the fearful
force Of the first sea that struck Us when |
tell you that il carried away 10000 feet OF
lumber on the schooner's deck"
Capt Raynor, while thankful for the
rescue of the crew and himself. says he is
doubly thankful that his wife did not &C
company him. She remained In the north.
Had she been on board and in the cabin.
as she most likely would have BEEN at that
hour in the morning, she would probably
have drowned, for the trst sea not only
smashed In the CABIN but nLed II, ana had
any one been in it he could not have
escaped. The ships dog. which was in
the cabin, has not been seen.
The total loss on the vessel and her
cargo is estimated at about $40, 600. The
schooner was valued at about SIS. 600 She
was insured for 5000. Much OF the lum-
Der NAV be saved. \ large quantity OF il
had washed ashore by 10 O'Clock. and was
10
either side OF the vessel. The Bseee was
owned by Capt J. J. Smith. of the Golden
Shore market. In this city, aud was built
in Seattle IN 1875 by Hall Bros.
The schooner J. q. Wall arrived from
Humboldt this afternoon in disabled
condition. the storm having badly dam
aged her And injured several sailors
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