The San Francisco call., 1896-03-27

months of 1896. Half a dozen vessels are
missing, collisions have been numerous
and fatalities frequent. Sealing schooners
have gone on the rocks, mail steamers
have broken down and others have run
short of coal, while deep-water ships have
on two occasions been compelled to race
for the nearest friendly port with their
cargoes on fire.
News of the latest disaster reached San
Francisco yesterday morning on the
schooner Bender Brothers. The Christina
Steffens and the Helen Merriam were in
collision off Timber Cove, and as a result
the latter is now at the bottom of the
ocean or floating around, a de-elict. Cap
tain Fred W. Gruggel and the crew were
taken off by the other schooner, but they
had a narrow escape. The Steffens struck
the Merriam near the fore rigging on the
port side and the foremast went by the
board. In it's fall the stays brought the
aftermast down also, and then the bow
spirit of the Steffens raked her fore and aft.
The Merriam was bound for Puget Sound
and had a quantity of hay aboard. A
strong southeast gale was blowing and the
schooner was bowling along with her sails
wing and wing and making steamboat
time. Early on Sunday morning she was
off Timber Cove and it was there her
voyage ended.
The Christina Steffens was bound for
Timber Cove, but owing to the heavy
weather she could not make port. The
schooner was closehauled and was stand
ing on and off awaiting the abatement Of
the gale. A heavy fog hung over the
ocean and the lookout could not see 100
yards ahead. Without moments warn
ing the Steffens crashed into the Merriam,
ana the crew of the latter made rush
for the boat, as she crash of falling timbers
and the roar of rushing waters gave the
impression that the vessel had been al
most cut in two. Every body escaped, but
the men lost most of their belongings.
The next morning there was no sign of
the Merriam, and Captain Gruggel came
to the conclusion that she had gone down.
The Steffens accordingly headed for Tim
ber Cove, but on the way the Bender
Brothers was met coming out and Captain
Gruggel and two of his men were trans
ferred to her and came to San Francisco.
'The collision took place about A. NJ.
last Sunday" said Captain Gruggel yes
we WcIc DOuHQ lOI NcudlCi III
Bay, and as it was blowing almost gale
from the southeast we were rushing along
at great rate. The Steffens had no lights,
but ours were burning brightly and Cap
tain Johnson acknowledges having seen
them before he ran into us. / had been on
watch all night and had only gone below
a short time when the collision occurred.
The Steffens struck the Merriam forward
OF the fore rigging on the port SIDE and
carried away both masts. Our bulwarks
were all smashed up, and the Christina
Steffens lost her martingale, some of her
headgear and had her iib torn. We aban-
doned the vessel, and at daybreak she was
gone. Some of my crew went into Timber
Cove on the Steffens. but came to San
Francisco on the Bender Brothers"
The only insurance on the Helen Mer.
riam was $1,000, which was placed on her to
secure an advance male to Captain
Gruggel by his agent. Unless the Steffens is
proved to be in the wrong, the master
will, therefore, be heavy loser. Captain
Gruggel was formerly master of the S.
Danielson, but about eighteen months ago
he gave her up and purchased the Helen
Merriam.
The Christina Steffens is little over 20