The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-13
LOSS OF THE JANET CoWAN.
MIDWINTER WRECK AND PERIL
ON VANCOUVER ISLAND.

ON VANCOUVER ISLAND.
Terrible suRerings of the Crew on Its
Rocky and DesOIate ShOres-Capt.
Thompson and Three Sailors Fro
zen StiR While Searching for shell
ter-AdventuFes of the Remainder
of the Crew and Rescue of All Hut
Five by "A Tug BOat-A Vessel VIII
BE Despatched to Their Assistance
nt Once.
Port Townsend, Wash, Jan. 12.-The
British bark janet Cowan, Capt. ThOmp-
son, bound from Cape Town. South Africa,
to Vancouver. B. c., was wrecked on
Dec. 81 last near Carmanah, on the west
coast of Vancouver Island. The second
mate and two sailors jumped overheard
when the vessel struck upon the rocks
and We're drowned. and the brave old
skipper. together with three of his crew,
were frozen to death while endeavoring
to find shelter on the rocky shore. The
Janet Cowan is a Clyde built vessel,
owned by Shakland & Co., and valued at
Sl27, ,OOO She left Cape Town Sept Il, for
Vancouver, under charter to load lumber
at South African ports. Her voyage was
ed Cape Flattery, and encountered a
heavy gale. A terrible wind drove the
vessel toward the dreaded west coast of
Vancouver Island, and despite all efforts
of the crew, she struck reef about
twelve miles west of Carmanah light
house. on the night Of Dec. 81. Directly
the vessel grounded, Second Mate Howell
and two apprentice lads named Steele
and Logan jumped overheard and per-
ished while endeavoring to reach land.
AS soon as it became ap-
parent that the ship was doomed, the men
set about to reach the shore, an ex-
tremely difficult task, on account of
the terrible surf. Finally after several
attempts, a sailor named Chamberlain
succeeded in swimming ashore with a
rope and later on breeches buoy was
rigged upon which the remainder of the
crew reached the shore in safety. They
were almost entirely nude and badly
frozen. Inc landing was eHecIed at the
bottom of a snow covered clift over the
top of which lay the only means of escape.
A sailor scaled the cliff and by means of
a rope, his companions followed him to
the table land above. Here a telegraph
line was found and the party divided, half
following the wire in either direction.
The little band who faced westward soon
encountered a river which barred further
progress in that direction. In retracng
their steps, they followed the line east
ward until they discovered the bodies of
Capt. Thompson and three sailors frozen
stin and almost covered with snow. Fear
ing similar fate, the famished and half
frozen seamen. at once headed for their
vessels. On res3ehing the Cliff they found
the sea much ca1mer and securing life
boat which had drifted ashore, the deci-
mated party returned to the ship. While
attempting to prevent the sailors from
pillaging the captains cabin, the first mate
fell through a hatchway, and broke his
leg. After looting the bark of three
months provisions, the men landed on the
beach, where for twelve days they suf-
fered in the snow until the arrival of the
tug Tyree yesterday morning. The first
mate and thirteen men were brought to
this city to-day, and are now in charge
of the British consul. The fourteen sur
Vivors now in Port Townsend are: First
Mate Regnall and Sailors Hunt, Moran,
Smith, Olsen, Kerr, Cox, Chamberlain,
Cumberliss, Cousin, Heath, Rosario, Car
penter and Wilson. All are more or less
the crew were on the top
of the bluff when the rescue was
effected and either refused to leave or could
not understand the signals from the tug
boat. A rising storm forced the Tyree to
leave them to their fate. and it is possi-
BILE that all may perish from exposure. A
vessel will be sent to their relief at once.
Canso, N. s., JAM 12.-The gov
ernment steamer Newfeld arrived at
noon to-day to convey to Hall
fax the seamen of the steamer
Ealing. Three of the crew are still in a
critical condition. The survivors now say
there We're only seventeen men in the
large boat and that seven died. instead of
nine, as at first reported The small boat,
which is said to have been well pro-
visioned, but had no sail, contained seven
men, instead of six.
At o'clock last evening a boat was
sighted outside, acting in a strange man
ner, and several boats put out for her
None succeeded in finding her. The neigh
boring islands and reefs were searched
but no tidings of the boat could be found
The steamer Newfield will sail for Green
Island tomorrow morning, in search of
the missing boat, and will then proceed
to sea, sailing in zig-zag course and re-
turning to Canso in the evening.
Cape Henry, Va, Jan. 12.-An unknown
steamer struck on the reef off New Inlet
life saving station, North Carolina, about
o'clock tonight. The life saving crew
from that station has gone to her as.
sistance. Full particulars will follow on
their reslrn to the beach.
London, Jan. 12-The Cunard line steam
er Cephalonia, which struck a rock off the
South Stack while bound from Boston for
Liverpool, and was later beached at the
upper end of New Harbor near Holyhead,
was gotten afloat this morning by means
of pontoons and tugs.
Nantucket, Mass, Jan. 12.-Wreckage,
consisting of fruit barrels, butter tubs
and various fruits continues coming
Nothing has been found that definitely
explains its presence in these waters.
THE SUFFERING ARMENIANs.