The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-12-18
Exciting History Of the Ship
Clan Mackenzie.
WELL KNOWN IN ASTORIA
Her Skipper is Young Man, But
He Has Had More Experience :
Than Many Older Captains.

The San Francisco Chronicle has the
following description of the Clan McKen-
zle and her career which will be read
with the greatest interest by all Asto-
rians:
'The British ship Clan Mackenzie now
discharging at Union-street wharf, has
had remarkable career, and the captain
is able to keep tag with his vessel. To
begin with he is the youngest master in
comamnd of a British vessel in San Fran
cisco, and yet he has been through dam
gers that would cause the bravest man to
q all. Captain Iddes has watched his ves-
sci cut down, and jumped to save MS life
as she sank under his feet. In Rio
Janeiro he saw his superior officer and
half the crew die of yellow fever and
then undsmayed he took command and
carried The ship to her destination.
I'm 1889 the Clan Mackenzie was in
Portland, Or. G. Iddes was third mate.
He had served his apprenticeship in the
"Clan" line, and on passing his examina-
tion had been given his commission. The
Clan Mackenzie was almost ready forSea,
and was in the stream prepared to receive
the last few tons of her cargo. While
lying at anchor one Of the river steamers
ran her down, and the Clan Mackenzie
attempts to raise her were made but all
failed Finally T. P. H. Whitelaw was
brought from San Francisco, and he rails
ed the ship, but his efforts cost the in
surance company $195OO, and the subse-
quent repairs $4,000.
When the Clan Mackenzie was cut down
two of the crew were killed and one SER
icusly injured. A number of the men
went down with the ship, but managed
to reach the surface again, and were pick
ed up by boats that put off from the
shore. Third Mate Iddes was instrument
tai in saving the lives of several of the
men, and when the ship finally reached
England he was made chief officer of the
Clan Graham.
When the Clan Graham left Liverpool
for Newcastle, N. S. w, via Rio Janeiro,
Captain r. wilson was in command. At
the latter port almost the entire crew
was taken down with yellow fever. Iddes
attended to his ship, nursed the captain
and saw that the sick men got every at
tention. Captain Wilson died and was
buried at Rio. One half the crew sue
cumbed to the scourge also, and finally
the young mate was taken with the
plague. For days he hung between life
and death, but finally recovered. Then
he took command of the ship, and after
filling the vacancies caused hy death he
sailed for Newcastle. From Australia
he brought the Clan Graham to San
Francisco and thence to England. The
owners were so pleased with the manner
in which he had handled their affairs
that they at once made him master of the
Clan Mackenzie, the ship in which he was
third mate only six years ago.
Captain Kinds, of the Clan Galbrai.h,
now lying at Howard No. 2, was the pre-
decessor of Captain Iddes in the Clan
Mackenzie.
The Clan Mackenzie has been in many
a heavy storm and has been dismasted
and on several occasions given up for lost.
She always turns up in safety, however,
and as q general rule makes far better
passages than some of the clippers. Dur
ing this year only two vessels have made
the passage from England to San Fran
cisco in 10 days, and these two are the
Penmore and the Clan Mackenzie.
The Clan Mackenzie is 1851 tons net
burden, 259 feet inches long, 3S feet
inches broad and % feet l inch depth of
hold. She was built in Glasgow in 1882
but was practically made a new ship in
1889, when repaired at Portland. The
officers are First Mate Mcmahon, Second
Mate Merry Third Mate Vaughn. When
the vessel was in the Bristol channel
Second Mate Sladdin fell down the fore
hatch and was internally injured. He
was sent ashore in tug and Third Mate
Merry was promoted. Vaughn was the
eldest of the apprentice boys, so Captain
lddes made him third matg Now Vaughn
says he is going to work hard, and six
years hence he hopes to emulate the old
man and be master of ship"