The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-28
JUST MISSED A FORTUNE,
The Costa RIGA Reached the
Strathnevis Ten Minutes
Too Late.
CAPTURED BY THE MINEOLA.
Narrow Escape of the American Ship
Wachusett in the Same
Gale.
CAPTURED BY THE MINEoLA.

Two steamers arrived from Puget Sound
ports Yesterday. and both brought news
of the British steamer Strathnevis. They
were the Umatilla and Costa Rica,
and both Captains Hunter and Mcintyre
confirm the reports of heavy weather re-
ported by all the incoming sailing vessels.
The Costa RIGA was only few minutes
behind the Mineola in reaching the
Strathnevis. but it was sufficient to lose
her the tow and the consequent salvage.
Captain Mcintyre says the big steamer was
not in particularly dangerous position.
The sea was going down, and her anchors
would have held until assistance came.
'sWe were on our way to San Francisco
when we saw the Strathnevis at anchor off
Destruction Island" said Captain McIn-
tyre yesterday. I'VE were on the look
out for her, and when we saw the distress
signals flying l headed for the derelict.
The Mineoa also saw the signals and
made for the anchored steamer. 1t had
been blowing hard, and there was nasty
cross-sea. The wind died out, however, and
there was norhlng to fear except the heavy
seas These did moi seem to have any Ell
feet on the Strathnevis, and she rode at
her anchors in safety.
1.-THE Mineola got to the Strathnevis first
and her captain secured the tow. AS to
the Miowera, | think she is now we'll on
her way to Honolulu. The wind and sea
were going down, and Captain Stott would
know that the Strathnevls was practically
safe before he would continue h9 voyage.
Finding that the steamer was at anchor
and that he could do nothing more for her,
he stood on his course, and is now prob
ably making up for lost time. AS said
before, the wind had died out, and there
was nothing to contend with but the heavy
cross sea, and that would be nothing to
stanch vessel like the Miowera."
| The Umatilla passed the Mlneola and
! the StrathneviS as they were making the
| Straits OF San Juan del Fuca. Both steam
! erS were making good weather OF 1T, and
| Captain Hunter says the big derellct mad
| apparently nothing the matter with her.
The UmatiIla brings the news OF the
narrow escape of the American ship Wa
chusett. She left Nanaimo, B. c., with
cargo of coal for this port, and all went
well until the vessel was eighty miles
south of Cape FlatterY. Like all the other
vessels that have come in from the Sound,
she encountered the heavy cross-sea raised
| by the southeast and southwest gales and
came near going to the bottom. She was
lodging aloneflTder lower topsails when
heavy sea strSl her and threw her on
her beam ends The cargo shifted, and
soon the good ship had seyen-foot list to
port. The crew thought she was going
down and a rush was made for the boats.
The captain drove them back and made
them work the ship. She was finally got
about. and passing through the straits
Port Angeles was reached. An examina-
ton showed the Wachusett was strained
in every Joint, and that her cargo will
have to be discharged and the ship re-
caked from stem to stern before she can
again venture to sea.
The Umatilla was at sea on Christmas
day and the chief steward prepared an
excellent dinner. The cross-seas that
raised trouble with all the coasters had
their effect on the steamers passengers.
Out of the IT'S people on board only six
passengers showed up at the dinner table,
and In consequence the turkey, sucking
pig and other delicacies went TO satisfy the
appetites of the forecastle hands and the
firemen. Its an i'll wind that blows no
body good