The record-union., 1894-12-12
Special to the RECoRD-UNroS.

PORTLAND. Dec. u.-Last night the
steamship Oregon, from San Francisco,
arrived safely in port after the narrowest
escape from shipwreck the vessel has
ever experienced during her long career
on the Pacific Coast. Thursday morning
she left San Francisco with only about
100 tons all told, and was drawing only
nine feet forward and sixteen feet ait.
AS the vessel is in the freight service no
passengers were carried.
In coming up the coast Captain Pohle-
man kept far out to sea, so as to take no
risks. No very rough weather was en-
countered until the light ship was sighted
Oft the mouth of the Columbia at 10
o'clock Saturday night. The Oregon
then began to beat Oft, Captain Policeman
intending to cross the bar early Sunday
morning. But at ii O'Clock the barometer
began to fall Soon after tremendous
southwest gale set in. Captain Policeman
stood out TO sea, but the gale was so heavy
that he could make but little headway.
The gale kept increasing in violence
until about o'clock Sunday morning
when 1t was almost hurricane. The
Oregon could not lace it, and began DRIFT
ing toward the shore. SO light was the
ship forward that she could not be made
Io lace the storm, but would constantly
play off. The vessel was so light that the
pipes which supply the condenser with
water did not work well, and the engines
could not be worked effectively. The
steamer kept slowly drifting toward
shore, despite every effort that could be
made, until The lighthouse station at Cape
Mears, just above Tillamook, was not
more than six miles away.
All day Sunday the Oregon made a
desperate fight against the fury of the
storm. but she continued to approach the
line OF breakers. This struggle continued
until 5:3O o'clock Sunday evening. and
just when all on board had about aban-
dCned hope, suddenly the wind shifted
one point i'll favor OF the vessel. After a
hard fight the steamer passed the danger
and stood far out at sea, but was unable
to Grass the bar until yesterday morning.
Captain Policeman and all the crew say
1t was miraculous escape. The Captain
to-day was the recipient OF many warm
congratulations.
Mail advlces from Astoria state that the
storm OF Sunday was very severe in that
vicinity, and the tide was higher than it
has been known for years. A number OF
vessels broke from their moorIngs, but
no serious damage resulted. Two pile
drivers broke loose, and one of them
them sank. The other was badly dam
aged. The water mains were damaged so
the water supply OF the city was shut off
| tor some time. Havoc was made among
the net racks at most of the canneries, as
they were blown down into the water
Much inconvenience and considerable
expense Will result to the owners.
TUGS ROUGH VOYAGE.
ASTORIA, Dec. 1.-THE SpreckeIs ting
Fearless OF San Francisco is i'll port, hav-
ing brought the \ Orwgeian ship Breida-
blk through one one Of the worst storms
that ever ragged on the Pacific Coast. The
Fearless came into port with her decks
sprung and leaking badly. Her compass
cover was blown away by the terrific
force of the wind and everything NOV
able on deck was washed overheard
Sunday afternoon they were running
before the wind, when heavy sea came
over the stern, burrying the tug so that
only the pllot-nouse was out OF the water.
This sea sprung the heavy doors to the
house, and completely wrecked the hand
some private apartments OF Mr.. Spreck-
els by deluglng the inside with water.
After the tug righted itself she was hove
round to the sea and steamed ahead uu-
a slow bell. Another monster sea went
over her bows, striking the forward
house, smashed the headlights and sprung
the heavy steel walls so that a closet
frame, two inches from the wall, was
torn from its fastenings. At times the
pilot-nouse had a foot OF water over its
floor.
The Breidbiik was nowhere in sight at
this time, having parted company with
her Tor the second time the night pre-
Vious. The first time they let 90 the shin
was on Friday, whom the hawser had TO
be cut from the top OF the tugs house. il
being impossible TO remain on deck. The
ship was picked up early Monday morn
ing OIL the mouth OF the river and toWed
in by the Fearless. The big vessel was
listing badly TO the starboard and several
times Captain Arnesen gave up all hope
OF saving his ship. The tug lost 100
second one is so badly chaied that it will
be total loss. They cost about $500
each.
Captain Haskell will remain in port
until the weather moderates
Fears are entertained for the safety of
several vessels known to be due at this
port.
THE FARALLoN ENCOUNTERS THE
STORM.
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 1.-THE steamer
FarallOn arrived from Port Angeles to-
day and reports very rough experience
during the recent storm which she en-
countered on the Sth. Several of her sail
ors were injured and one passenger was
killed. Early on Saturday morning a
heavy sea broke on deck. As it heaVed
up over the bulwarks one of the steerage
passengers, named Frank Heyman, came
out from the companion way TO the deck,
The mountain of water caught him with
full force and washed him against the
coming of the hatch, and then dashed
him against the pilot house. His skull
was crushed and he was injured severely
internally. That evening he died. The
next morning the body was dropped into
n I
boarded the vessel at Tacoma.
~ SMALL CYCLONE.