The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-02-23
THREE SEA YARNS.
Of Steamer, Tugboat and
Schooner.
GALES, SNOW AND SQUALLS.
A High Sea, a Long Tow and a
Lost Deckload
CAUSED CONSIDERABLE CARE
And Rendered the Voyages of the
Oceanic, Fearless and Schnauer
Exciting.

Three stories of rough weather, great
seas and tremendous gales were going the
rounds of the water front yesterday. First
was the experience of the Oceanic when
three days out from Yokohama, second
the cruise of the Fearless to Astoria with
The ship Hawaiian Isles in tow, and lastly
the voyage of the schooner Ida Schnauer
from Grays Harbor to this city.
On the evening of February 8, when the
Oceanic was fighting her way through a
strong northeast gale. an immense sea
boarded her on the port side and swept
along the main deck, washing everything
overheard that was not securely dashed
down. This sea was the forerunner of a
series of other and higher waves. which
stove In two lifeboats and tore another
boat from its davits. landing it on deck.
The wind blew perfect hurricane. max
ing disagreeable music for the steamers
passengers, many of whom considered it
their death dirge as they tolled about in
the agOniZng throes of seasirknsss. Heavy
weather continued through the early part Of
the day OF the 9Th. but the storm moderated
toward the end of the afternoon. The passen-
gers were badly frightened at times throughout
the blow, but the officers of the Oceanic sue
ceeded in allaying their fears.
Captain Dan Haskell OF the Fearless brought
his tug into port yesterday morning after a run
OF forIy'fOnr hours from Astoria. The Fearless
Started north with the ship Hawaiian Isles In
tow In the early part OF last week.
AS before mentioned In these columns the
Fearless reached The vicinity of the Columbia
River bar just as an S5-knOt gale swooped down
on the Oregon coast. just before dark on Sat
uTday night last Haskell was giving signals 10
the ship 10 steer In such way as 10 keep her
from wallowing In the trough of the sea- wheh
suddenly the chain fastenings to the towlne
slipped from the Hawaiian Isles and she was
cast adrlft. To put another cable on board the
ship, with hurricane blowing and a tremen-
dous sea running. 1t can be Imagined was
stnpendous task. The Fearless was rolling her
guards under and blowing throu5h every sea
like submarine toTpedo-boa In the mean
while the Hawaiian Isles was dipping until her
lower yards struck the surges. When the Fear
less would roll over IN their direction the crew
OF the Hawaiian Isles declared they could
see through the tugs smokestack into her
engine-room. To add TO the confusion Steward
Murphy OF the Fearless stuck his head out OF
the galley door just as sea was rushing like
an avalanche upon the vessels quarter. The
big wave hit tie door and the door hit Murphy
" hen the cook recovered consciousness he dis
covered that his shoulder blade had been frac-
tuIed and his head severely cut. After several
unsuccessful attempts thr Fearless hooked on
10 tue ship again and started of for Astoria.
The Columbia River bar was reached on Sun.
day night at 10 O'clock. a heavy snowstorm
SET in, covering The lug to depth Of several
inches with layer OF white particles. Captain
Haskell could not see his "tow," so thick was
The atmosphere with flying fakes, but had TO
judge OF the position OF the Hawaiian Isles by
the lay of the tow line. The Fearless was slowed
down and rode out the Tempest until morning
sharp lockout was kept for pilot as soon
as day broke, but pilots were as scarce as
bright days are in Portland. Captain Haskell
then decided to take bis bearings on the Column
bla River hight ship and steer in himself He
signaled to his engineer TO go ahead, and then
picked up the channel bouys until Sand Island
was reached.
Sand Island lies 10 smooth water, Near this
comparatively secure haven was observed a
tug. and from the decks OF the tug arose the
stentoran voice OF n pilot. Captain Haskell
permitted him to take tie Fearless and the
Hawaiian Isles TO Astoria.
During her trip back TO this port the Fearless
had no exciting adventures.
The Ida SchnaueT arrived at Grays Harbor
on the 14ih from Apia, where she had been
loading wreckage from the remains of the
United States ships Trenton and Vandalia
She TOOK on forty tons OF material. including
4ion anchor that once belonged to the
Trenton. At Grays' HarbOr the schooner was
capped of with dec load OF lumber
On the 14tb, at noon, the schooner put out from
Grays Harbor for San Francisco but encoun-
tel ed a southwest gale that pretty near took
the sticks out of her and buried her from fore
castle head to poopdeck 10 waves that were
persistenfly aggressive. Captain Madison he
came serious. He wished himself and his
vessel back in port again. Suddenly squat
struck the schooner and threw her on her
beams end. Officers and men thought she
would surely be lost, for the wind blew unceas.
ingly and there seemed no chance OF r1shtng
her again. Captain Madison gave orders TO chi
away the deckload lashings. which was done
Immediately. Wave after wav boarded the
vessel and her crew had 10 look lively to keen
out OF the way OF flying lumber and save them
selves from being washed overheard. FORTH
nately, however. tue storm moderated and by a
miracle the Ida Schnauer came on an even keel
again.
She arrived here yesterday forenoon.