The record-union., 1894-12-28
cident.

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
SAN Francisco, Dec. 27.-It is now
twenty-one days since the steam colliers
Montserrat and keweenaw sailed from
Vancouver Island. Nearly all sea-faring
men believe that the two vessels and
their crews, numbering nearly sixty
men. were lost in the recent gale, which
broke in all its fury on the night the col
liers put to sea. The United States gun
boat Bennington went to sea this even
ing, under instructions to proceed north
ward and make a thorough search for the
missing vessels. The United States reve-
nue. cutter Grant, which was dispatched
from Port Townsend on similar errand
several days, is still at sea. Those most
Interested in the fate OF the two colliers
were somewhat discouraged to-day by a
vague rumor that comes from an Indian
camp on Amphritrite Point, on the west
coast of Vancouver Island. The islanders
say that on the night of December 18th
their attention was attracted by rockets
at sea, and dimly through the darkness
they saw a big black steamer founder
about q mile of shore. The vessel lay
helpless in the sea, and dritted northward
out OF their sight. II the story of the In
dians be correct, and the disabled craft
was either OF the missing steamers, she
must have been drifting off Flattery for
nearly a week. The brig Courtney Ford,
which put in here in distress, reports
that on the night of December 7th she
sighted the Keweenaw, near Cape Flat
terry, just as the storm was coming on.
The keweeuaw had slowed down, seem
ingly somewhat disabled, and was slowly
putting out TO sea.
Nothing has yet been heard from the
IN lrL hnr mi two -txNrn low
from this port Tor Puget Sound, or the
bark Columbia, now out twenty-one
days from Port Blakeley with lumber tor
this port.
The known record of the storm to date
is that TOUR sailing vessels were wreck ed
or abandoned, one dismantled and sew
eral badly damaged. The crew of six
men from the wrecked schooner Garcia
are still missing.
Anxiety IS again beginning to be felt
for the safety OF the schooner John f.
Miller and her crew, which left Portland
twenty -four days ago for this port. She
was sighted of Cape Mendocino few
days alter the storm had spent itself, but
she was then somewhat disabled, but
able TO take care of herself On Christ
mas Day she was seen again off the Far
aiIOnes, but she then appeared as though
she haG lost her sails. Since then strong
northeast wind mas been blowing, and the
schooner has by this time been driven
far out at sea, and IE Is impOSsi bic to tell
whether she will he able 10 work back
towards the land in her disabled condi-
ton. The small coasLlng schooners sell
dom carry more than fifteen days proyi-
sions. AS soon as word was brought
ashore that the John L. Miller was off the
taralIones tug was sent TO her relief
with an extra supply OF provisions on
board, but il was two days after she had
been seen, and when the tug reached the
vicinity the schooner was nowhere in
sight. The east winds had blown her
away from the land, and the crew by this
time are in all probability feeling the
pangs OF hunger
The coal-laden bark Sea King, which
was also out in the storm, and was re-
ported on Christmas Day a. being ten
miles north OF Point Reyes, has also
been driven out TO sea by the strong
winds from the east. Tugs have been
out searching for her since the news of
her proximity to port reached here, but
no trace of her can be found 1t is not
thought she will be short OF provisions.
and no uneaSiness is telt for the Sea King.
on that account.
The ship j. b. Brown, another Of the
overdue fleet. was reported on Sunday
last about $50 miles north of Mendocino,
and it was thought she, like the schooner
John +. Miller and the bark Sea King,
would have been III port to-day, but none
have appeared.