The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-31
Narrow Escape Of the Ship
Wachusett During the Re-
cent Gales.
THROWN ON HER BEAM ENDS.
Extra Hands Had to Be Shipped in
Order to Keep the Pumps
Going.

| The vessels that suffered during the re-
cent storms seem to be without numbe
Every new arrival has fresh chapter of
accidents to recount, but luckily the loss
of life has been very slight. The ship Wa
chusett, which got in from Nanaimo, B. c.,
yesterday, made the following meager re-
port:
Sailed from Nanaimo December Is, 1895.
Put into ClallaIn Bay on December IA. Sailed
from Clallam Bay Decem Der IT..
On December 10, about eighty miles south
west OF Cape Flattery, had heavy southwest
gales and very heavy southwest squalls, throw
ing the ship on her beam ends and shifting the
cargo to starboard, giving the vessel a six-foot
list.
Vessel leaking badly and had six feet of
water in the hold. The waves stove in poop
bulwarks and Quilted the galley and forecastle,
the sailors losing all their effects, and washing
overheard everything movable on deck.
Put into Port Angeles on December % and
lightered 200 tons OF cargo. Made temporary
repairs and shipped an extra crew to man the
vessel and sailed again from Port Angeles on
January Ia. Then had q succession of south
east to south-southwest gales for seven days.
The ship was leaking badly during the entire
passage.
Captain Williams, who took the Wachu-
sett to Puget Sound, did not bring her
home. He did not like the way things
were going and resigned his command to
the vessel and her cargo from the start.
After leaving Nanaimo the crew discovered
that the ship was leaking and they re-
fused point blank to take her out through
the Straits of San Juan de Fuca. Four
days later the captain put into Clallam
Bay and discharged the crew. Once ashore
the men expressed themselves plainly
about the "leaky old box" that they had
just left.
Captain Watts secured new crew and
made another start for San Francisco. The
ship had barely made her otfing when it
began to blow, and it did not take long to
have the Wachusett in distress. She was
thrown on her beam ends, and not one of
the crew expected her to right again.
Everything was awaSh, but the sailors
stuck to their posts and finally the ship
was got about and headed for the Sound
again. Port Angeles was reached and the
necessary repairs made.
When another start was about to be
made the second crew rebeled. on the
ground that the pumps would have to be
kept going all the way to San Francisco,
and that they could not stand the strain
| Captain Watts agreed to their demands
and shipped extra men. 1t was wise
course. as during the run OF sixteen days
the pumps were going all the time, and
are still, as the vessel Is taking water rap
| idly.
1--WE had terrible time OF it," said one
of the sailors yesterday. when the squat
struck us and the waves came breaking
aboard thought it was all over with us.
We managed to pull through, but never
want to go to sea again in the Wachusett.
After leaving Port Angeles we had not
much time to think about danger, as
every watch had to take its turn at the
pumps. 1t was joyful hour when we
sighted the Golden Gate, l can tell you.r
WQnhnSatt 90 RI no
after dlscharging her cargo of coal.
The Pacific Mail Company's Rio &c jan
Giro arrived from Hongkong via Yoke
hama yesterday. She was delayed cou-
pie of hours owing to a blunder made by
| Captain Russell When the steamer was
passing Fort Point Quarantine Officer
Chalmers started out to meet her. Instead
OF slowing down the big liner was kept
| under full head of steam, and after q
vain attempt to catch her the doctor got
angry and went to the steamer Yelling
| ton, which was passing in from British
| Columbia. After passing upon her bill of
health DIR. Chalmers went to the Rio de
! Janeiro.
The only cabin passengers by the Rio
were Kenead Buxton, NJ. Fun ,kotashi
and wife, Rev. H. B. Price and J. K.
Eveleth. NJ. Fumakotashi is the new
Vice-Consul from Japan TO San Francisco.
! he was recently married to the daughter
of one of the major-generals who con-
Quoted the war against China.
! The Eastern mails that came by the
steamer missed the overland train and
will have to wait for to-day s express, thus
losing twenty-four. hours. There is on
board 474 cases of opium, the duty on
which will net Uncle Sam $4,000.
| The British ship Craigmulien, which
was 215 days out from Singapore for Pisco,
! Peru, has arrived in safety. She was
posted as long overdue, and 80 per cent
reinsurance was paid on her. The British
ship Lord Brassey, from Hongkong for
| Puget Sound. has been posted as missing,
and the reinsurance on her will have to be
paid.
The Pacific Coast Steamship Company
will run a special boat to Mexican ports
| this month. There was SO much freight
offering that the Willamette Valley could
not handle it all, so the Coos Bay has been
added to the route. Should the business
continue as at present the arrangement
will be made permanent.