New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-27
SAFE AFTER MANY PERILS.
THE STEAMER sTRATHNEvrs IN PORT.
DRIFTING HELPLESS FOR TWO MoNTHs-sAvED
ONCE FROM GOING ON THE ROCKS BY
THE WIND CHANGING-EFFORTs
TO TOW HER


TO TOW HER
Port Townsend Wash. Dec 26-The North
ern Pacific steamship Strathnevis Is now in
this harbor looking externally little the worse
for wear. as result Of her two months battle
with the wind and waves Of the Pacific Ocean.
but the story told by her commander, Cap
tain James Pattie, sounds more like q romance
than reality.
The Strathnevis was disab bed on the morning
of October 20, when the shaft broke. and the
big steamer was at once helpless Northerly
gales were blowing at the time. and the limited
amount of canvas aboard was quickly spread.
the vessel then heading for south and west.
Slow progress was made. however. and in two
days sailing but 1l5 miles were covered.
Whenever the breeze stiffened up advantage OF
IT taken. and the vessel was steered IN an
easterly direction. the captain heading for the
American coast. 1t was not until November 19
that & vessel was sighted that being the John
Candles, already reported After she had
passed on there was weary time of 1t riding
billows til Wednesday morning. December Is.
when the Canadan-Australian liner Mowera
hove in sight on her way westward. and at once
approached the disabled vessel, giving her a
line with little difficulty. The steamer headed
for Cape Flattery. After twelve hours the
hawser parted. and. on account Of the gale and
heavy running at the time, 1t was thirty
six hours before another hawser was made fast.
This one lasted just thirty minutes before 1t.
too. gave way. But within short time two
hawsers were connected with the steamer and
once NOR. they headed for the cape. At l
o'clock last Monday morning, when just 1fteen
miles off Cape Fattery. the Mioweras two haw-
sers parted and in the terrible that was
a ,od hot ho ir1n
again to get hold of the disabled steamer. and
accordingly, 1t was arranged that the Miowera
was to stand by and save life when the Strath-
nevis went ashore. as 1t seemed certain she
would do in a very short time.
When the squall had passed at o'clock In the
morning the Miowera was nowhere TO be seen
and there was great CONSERVATION on board the
Stra:hnevis. The captain did not think so Sc
riousy Of the disappearance OF the other vessei,
because Captain Scott had told him his steamer
would be able to tow him only three days owing
10 his limited coal supply BY noon on Monday
the Strathnevis was thirty miles off Destruction
Island making slowly but surely for the rocky
shore and II seemed to all on board the steamer
that their doom was sealed. AS they approacned
nearer the shore. with the wind behind tneih' al
hands began making final prepara tons for the
expected dashirg of the steamer TO pieces on the
rocks. but when within seven miles Of the island
the wind shifted to the north and, to the delight
of ALL the anchor. which was let go. held iast
and last anchor on board was sent down with
what proved better success. for II held fast.
About o'clock Tuesday morning Purser NC
Donald and Third Officer Baynes and three JAP
anese sailors sent off to the island In a boa e.
with the hope that they might reach a telegraph
station and telegraph for assistance. The men
are still, on the island
About noon the same day the collier Mineola
Captain Pilsbury, hove in sight and bore down
on the Strathnevis soon getting hawser on
board and heading for land
When the Strathnevis arrived here last evening
the wires were down and there seemed no way OF
sending the news out. Captain J. b. Libby. mana
ger of the Puget Sound Tugboat Company, volun-
teered TO send the United Press dispatch TO Seat
tie by the tug Tye. and by this means the news
was given to the world twelve hours earlier than
II could otherwise have been.
There are thirty-seven members OF the crew OF
the Strathnevis and she has 16S Chinese and Japa-
nese passengers board. Among the Chinese
are several wealthy merchants who had started
home to purchase Christmas goods for the Paclllc
Coast trade. There also five japanese Yale
College students on board who had started nome
10 spend Christmas. Captain Pattie says that 10
the Chinese merchants and japanese students on
board he is Indebted for the general discipline
and order on the steamer, one merchant In par,
ticular taking charge OF and exercising wonderful
control over all his felow-countrymen. There was
nlenty Of food on boarc and at no time was there
any danger Of going dry. The Mineola VIII prop
ably put in claim for salvage OF $lOO,Ooo.