The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1894-12-20
SHATTERED BY STORM
The Iron Ship Scottish
Dale Picked up at Sea.
MASTS AND SAILS GONE.
In Their Desire to Fpca"e the crew was
About to Mutiny.

Port Townsend, Dec. 12.-After a
terriable experience off the Oregon and
Washington coast in hurricane, the
British ship Scottish Dale, of Liverpool,
apt. Timothy Mccarthy, from Sal
francisco, bound to Portland to loao
grain for Europe, arrived in port to-
night, partly dismantled. Her rigging
was complete wreck, the sails were
torn into shreds, four seamen inca
,aclateu from duty, and tile " hole sill
presented about as forlorn a condition
as can be imagined. One seaman, Jas.
Kerr, son vi tne captain OF the Scottish
Uale, was drowned. The officers aho
crew, excepting the steward and one
man, mutined and attempted to take
the command of the vessel away from
the captain. The latter nearly Drained
one of the mutineers with his speaking
trumpet, and with the assistance OF
brace of revolvers enforced discipline.
While all of this was going on, gale of
wind was blowing seventy miles an
hour, the ship was near land and i'll all
extremely ptrilous position. The crew
we're panic stricken and wanted to
abandon the vessel and let her drift Oil
the rocks.
The scottish Dale sailed from San
Francisco December 2, and Oh the tbird
lay out was abrest of the Columbia
river, wien heavy snowstorm set III.
Twice the ship got inside of the ligl t.
ship when thick weather came on and
forced her to seek the open sea. Once
she came near getting Oh shore. Thurs
day and Friday strong winds turned
into succession OF heavy gales, and the
seas were running mountain high. Fri
day night the gale became more violent,
int rspersed with bursting squalls, and
carried away the crossjack yard, and an
.lour later tne main upper topsaii Went
over the side. The ship labored and
strained heavily all Saturday. Sunda.
noon the vessel got into the center OF
the storm and the wind died away, bui
the seas were much more severe. With
,ut moments warming the vessei
Iurched to s'arboard, and nearly 1000
tons of ballast followed. She was so
badly listed that the crew could not
crawl aloL the decks without lying
mold of stationary ojects. The heavy
seas swept the decks fore and aft. The
port anchor and 80 fathoms of chain
were dropped over as drag to keep
her head to the wind, and all hands
began to trim ballast. Sunday night
the gale began again, and the barometer
dropped to $3.50. The fore-top-gallant
yard and every stitch of canvass was
carried away. At daylight Monday,
Port Candy was less than ten miles
distant. In clearing the wreckage the
boatman aud two hands were disabled
by falling yards.
The crew became disheartened and
wanted to launch the boats and aban-
don the ship. Captain Mccarthy armed
himself with two revolvers and drove
the men forward. They threatened to
refuse to do their duty, when down
came the fore and upper topsail yards,
which brought all hands to their senses.
The vessel was headed toward the
sound, but could not make the cape,
and began to drift toward the rocks Oh
Vancouver island. The starboard life
boat was launched and seaman Kerr
accidently drowned by catching hold
of loose line.
Yesterday afternoon the steamer
Bertha, from Unalaska, came along
and asked the modest sum of SIS, OOU
to tow her into port The offer was
declined, but she took the disabled ship
in tow, and after "a hours brought her
into port. When taken in tow the ship
was less than five miles from shore. |
with heavy sea carrying her nearer
certain destruction every hour. The
ships hull is uninjured. The Scottish |
Dale was built i'm 1883 at Southampton. |
and is owned by w. III. Ross s. Co,
owners of the Scottish line of Dale ships.
The vessel is worth S125,OOO. The
damage outside of salvage, will amount
to $4,000. She is under charter to
Meyer, Wilson & Co., to load grain for
Liverpool.