The morning call., 1894-02-08
SHE WAS BLOWN TO PIECES.
One Owner and a Crew of Eight
Were Killed.
MYSTERIOUS EXPLOSION AT SEA.
Details of the Disaster Not Known,
but WreCkage From the Vessel
Washes Ashore.

VICTORIA, b. c., Feb. IA mysterious
explosion, the cause of which no one can
understand, on Sunday last, scattered into
atoms the Nanaimo tugboat Estelle, with
the single exception of the Lorne the
hnest towboat north of San Francisco.
On Thursday the Estelle changed hands,
Norman McDOugall, brother-iD-law of An
drew Haslam. Mp, for whom the steamer
was Quit three years ago, purchasing a
half-lnterest and paving therefor So, Goo
captain James Christensen was given
command, and on Friday the steamer left
on her first trip with the new skipper for
the owners logging camp above Seymour
Narrows. The crew numbered eight men,
exclusive of Mr.. McDougall, who went
along to superintend the distribution of
the stores with which the steamer was
loaded. The Eselle was due back at
Nanaimo Saturday, and the owners were
wondering what was OBTAINING her. when
the news came by wire from Union that
she had gone TO pieces, all aboard probably
being lost.
Indians are believed to have been wit
nesses to the explosion. which occurred
when the steamer was between the mouth
OF Campbell River and Cape Nudge. the
most southern point of Valdes Island, and
between which and Vancouver Island runs
the treacherous channel, famous for tide
rips, in which the steamer Standard was
lost three years ago. Yesterday confirm
alton of the Indians tale was obtained in
The wreckage, which was positively identi-
fed as that of the Estele. The wreckage
f1oated ashore mile or more up Campbell
Rivar Eirst ho
picked up and life belts bearing the name
"Estelle," and then several sacks of chop
per feed which were included in the cargo.
No bodies were recovered and one party
being left to search for them, others went
10 the logging camp and to Union with the
news. AS soon as it reached him Haslanl,
who was here on his way to San Francisco,
chartered the steamer Brunette, with
which he leaves for the scene of the disas-
ter tomorrow. He does not expect to be
able to do any good, but goes in the forlorn
hope and in the expectation of securing
further word as to how the accident Oc-
cured, which at presen. is mystery, the
Estelle being a thorough sea boat and
exceptionally strong. Her engines were
of Doty (Toronto) make aud were officially
tested last September and passed as quite
satisfactory. The boiler was l ronouneed
safe up to $50 rounds, and the steamer
was classed as No l for eight years.
The steamer was built under Mr.. Has
lam's personal direction at Nanaimo and
was valued at $4,000, being insured at
twO-thirds of that valuation in a California
company. Captain Christensen, the pres
ent commander, until a few weeks ago
was in charge of the steamer Active and
was brought up on the waters of this
province. being the son of the oldest pilot
in the service, and was torn here Chief
Engineer Whitelaw bad been three months
with the steamer and leaves widow and
family living here. Douglas and Marshall,
two others aboard, also leave families
here. Mrs. Haslam, whose brother, Nor
man McDOugall. is one of the lost. is at
present in San Francisco, and her hus-
band at the time the news was received
was on his way to join her.