The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-02-19

than a minute in the storm which over
turned the Ocean Spray. The schooner
was not in collision with any other vessel,
nor is there any evidence of her having
struck anything. Her rails and bulwarks
are intact, you see, and there is no hole in
her bottom.
1.-THE wreck is one of the most remarkable
ever known on the coast, and how it oc-
CURED will never be known. Both anchors
are gone and only portion of the port
chain is left. The starboard chain is en-
tlrely gone. The port windlass has been
broken in half and we found the port bit
damned up against the forecastle head.
All sail was set when the vessel went over,
and strange thing in connection with this
is that the wheel was dashed. Her anchors
may have been carried away when we
were towing the Spray across the bar but
if such were the case We did not notice a
strain coming in"
The cabin of the Ocean Spray presents
the appearance of an old curiosity shop.
1t is Uttered with broken chairs, tables and
other furniture piled up in a Confused
mass. The stove was found iammed into
one corner with an unbroken lamp CHM
ney on top of it. The bulwark which
separated the cabin and galley was COM
pletely torn away, and provisions, paint,
rubber boots, bedding and all sorts of
articles were heaped up on the floor.
A small '.peep o. day. clock, the hands
of which pointed to the hour of II :33, was
picked up by Captain Harvey. This silent
witness bore mute testimony to the time
at which the Ocean Spray was overturned,
but whether it was in the morning or night
IS matter of conjecture. The two side
lights of the vessel were afterward found
in the cabin, and from this it is argued
that the mishap occurred in broad day
light.
fCbara uaro fx,o man ~, tbo ,oIooror
all told, but it is more than likely that the
names of the two forward hands will
never be learned. They went aboard a
few moments before the vessel sailed, and
although they were well known by sight
In the neighborhood of Iversen's wood
yard, no one could be found yesterday
who knew them by name. Captain
Omundsen had only been master of the
vessel for few trips, having served his
apprenticeship as mate on several of
Iversen's vessels. Many theories are ad-
vanced to account for the Spray turning
over, and not a few seafaring men lay the
blame to bad seamanship.
BY some it is thought that the Ocean
Spray struck on Sanders reef as she was
getting away from Iversens Landing.
Herman Merx, well-known towboat man,
is OF the opinion that the vessel went out
on the starboard tack and just grazed the
rock, giving the schooner a tilt that left
ner at the mercy OF the wind and waves.
In this position, he says, it would have
been an easy matter to upset the vessel.
Another theory is to the effect that after
the Ocean Spray left Iversens Landing she
lost her headgear and put for San Fran
cisco with all her canvas spread. A puff
OF wind caught her and turned her turtle.
The generally accepted opinion regarding
the, crew is that they launched the boat
and that the latter was swamped. This ar
gument is based on the fact that there was
no portion of the boats painter left on
deck. A tug was to tow the disabled
schooner alongside Vallejo-street wharf at
an early hour this morning.