The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-13
TALk, WITH THE RESCUED.
some Thrilling stories OF Their Es-
cape From the Wrecked Vessel.

cape From the Wrecked Vessel.
Port Townsend. Jan. 12-Special.-A
story has leaked out tonight that there
was serious disagreement during the end
OF the voyage Of the British bark Janet
Cowan. between Capt. Thompson and
Mate Legal. and L the words OF the sur
viyCrs now here are to be accepted as
reliable. and they seem TO be 50. II is a.
together probable that the accident 10
tn vessel might have been avoided. Con-
siderable resentment toward Capt. TAonp-
son was expressed more or less openly
among the crew when they first landed
from tie vessel, out after his death II
was agreed that this feeling should be
buried with MIN. However. the story
was given out tonight by James Cox.
yCUng man who is the son Of weA-to-do
parents. residing at southampton. and
who came over Oh The Cowan as pass
ger.
His statement that Capt. Thompson
was drinking hard on the voyage y cor
r0borated by three members OF the crew.
Cox says IN addition that the captain vas
vindictive and obstinate, and that he re-
peatedly did as nearly as possible Just
the opposite of what was advised by the
mate. This he declares. was the cause
of the loss Of the ship, for when they
were attempting 20 enter the straits, with
a southwest wind behind them. Thompson
was advised by the mate 10 stand IN as
close as possible 10 the American shore.
Instead ne buntly told the mate that he
was the master OF the vessel himself,
and knew what he was about. Cox says
that this impressed him the more because
he knew that Mate Legal had brought the
vessel here before. whereas II was capt
Thompson's first trip TO these waters. just
as they were trying to beat in two sail
ing vessels were sighted ahead coming n,
and the mate advised the captain 10 tack
ship to southwark and follow The schooner
just ahead Of Kim. He says the captain
obstnately refused 10 90 so, but kept n
close 10 the Vancouver shore.
Mate LeralI was aroused at the hospital
tonight and asked to corroborate the ABOVE
but he would only say that he could nave
brought the vessel safely in had he been IN
charge. He regretted that the story about
Capt Thompson's drinking had gotten our,
but did not deny the truth of 1t.
Capt Cove. OF the tug Tyee. which
brought the sailors here. says the vessel
was surely not well handled. even though
there was terrible storm But ne says
there was some extenuation IN the fact
that the Cowan was very light. her ton
mage was over 800 tons. and she had less
than 100 tons OF ballast In. She was con-
seuuently SO light that she would not an
swer her helm. otherwise she could have
been safely brought about even after the
rocks We're sighted ahead on the night she
went ashore. Cove says that her position
could not have been better selected, ana
that if she had struck thirty yards on eth
er side OF her present position 1t would
have been impossible for the crew to have
reached shore before the vessel was
smashd 10 pieces.
Mate Legal still insists that there are
eleven men left behind but ii seems that
his condition was such that the others ala
not tell him of the death OF the last two,
the cook and the donkeyman. There are
now nine remaining behind. as follows: 7.
Dugan, j. Hanley. j Marshall, F. Cham
berlain and G. Campshell. able seamen; X.
Herrie and w. Walker. ordinary seamen.
and J. TAYLOR. steward. The tug Pioneer
has been sent to their rescue, and VIII ar
rive here with them Tuesday morning.
The survivors here are being cared for by
British Consul Klocker and the managers
of the local seamen's bethel. Six OF them
were seen at the latter place this evening,
and practically cOrroborated all that had
been said by Cox regarding the drinking
of Capt. Thompson and his disagreement
with Mate Legal. They say the ship was
too light for such a voyage and that she
was tossed about like a cork when off the
cape Several sailing vessels We're sighted
By them while on shore, and although
every effort was made TO hail them none
was successful They saved the foghorn
from the Cowan and kept it going almost
continuously, but without avail. When
the tent caught fire yesterday morning
Mate Legal urged the others to leave him
TO die and look out for themselves. but they
rigged up a stretcher and got him safely
down over the bluff to the beach. when the
tug coming 10 their rescue was sighted
The men on shore Rugged each other for
joy at the sight OF her. and were soon on
board
Cox. the passenger. gives vivid descriD-
ton Of the landing from the vessel on the
night Of the disaster. Chamberlain. the
man who tried 70 take the lead line ashore.
was given Up for lost. and a boat that
was sent out an hour later with four men
capsiZci Ia the surf and there was VIII
scramble for Ife. They then rugged up a
hoatswa'n's chair on a line from The mlz-
zeumast 20 shore It was pretty steep
grade and as eacn man shot down the linel
he was told 20 hold on fast Cox says that
when his turn came. the third man from
the last DE Clenchei his teeth and slid but
when near the shore the huge breakers
we're continually washing over the line, and
lt seemed an age while passing them, AMI
IL required the muscle OF an athlete 10 hold
on 90 the line.
cox also tells pathetic story about
Logan. the lS-vear-old apprentice who was
very much excited and In pteous tones
begged fer a life prtserver cox gave MIN
aac fastened i around his waist ana
Logan Their disappeared aft, never being
seen afterwards.