The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1896-01-18
Terrible Suffering Of a Ship
wrecked Crew.
THE JEANETTE C0WAN LOST
The Captain and Several Men Psrisheo
Before the Crew Was Rescued
by Tug.

Seattle. Wash, JAM 12.-Ten days OF
suffering from cold and prlVatlon on d
rocky bluff during which time seven
sailors, including the captain and mate
met their death, and the other mate
and seamen met with serious accidents
tells the tale Of the Wrecking OF the
big four-masted ship Jeanette CoWan
on Vancouver island.
This frightful news was brought to
this city this afternoon by the tug
Tyee, which had but few hours before
landed IA members Of the Inflated crew
at Port Townsend. The officers of the
tug tell narrowing story of the wreck
and it's surroundings as found by them
The vessel struck New Years day.
Captain Thompson died several days
after the ship struck the reef and the
cook and an able seaman and the man
that ran the donkey engine died the fol-
lowing day, the latter becoming violent
ly insane. The other three men that
lost their lives were the second mate
and two apprentice boys.
Nine members of the crew were left
on the shore in a cabin about a mile
j
on the reef.
The tug Tyee first sighted the
wrecked ship on Saturday afternoon.
She was plainly outlined on the shore
of Vancouver island and could not be
mistaken. No sign of the crew could
be seen on the wreck nor on shore. The
sea was running pretty high at the time
the tug hove to, but two boats were low
cred and start made for the ship,
which was standing up majestically
her lower top-sail set ana head on
straight to the westward
The stern was high in the air and the
rudder broke square in two. A portion
OF the crew could be seen on top of a
nigh bluff, on which tent had been
pitched. A sight met the gaze of the
rescuers that will not be forgotten for
years to come. Seated about fire were
Is men, all wearing an expression of
utter hOpeleSSneSS and misery. First
Mate Charles Legal, who was dashed
TO the boatswain's chair suffering from
fractured leg, told Mate Hall of the
Tyee the story of the disaster.
He said the Cowan came from Cane
IoWn, South Africa, from Royal Roads
3. c., and was 10S days out when she
reached Cape F'lattery on December
-. Ihere was terrible storm off the
cape and the vessel stood off the cane
Two days before trying to come in.
1hen she was driven quickly to the
northward by strong southwest wind
ana sought shelter in the treacherous
waters OF Barclay Sound to avoid beino
urlVen ashore on some more exposed
point. The sound afforded but littlo
shelter and she was driven on the roo1-s
at high tide.
rms was at o'clock on the morn;n o
Oh december 81 and snow storm wa :
coming on. The ship seemed to he
breaking IN two and it was decided ~
leaVe her at once and with the aid Of
line made fast ashore the entire oraJ,
was taken off. = = "
The survivors Of the wrecked x,o.o,
are: Mate Legal, Hunt (colorod1
o In Nrlsh), Wilson (Swede), Ker,
lScotch, Knox native of Cape Town,
chamberlain from London. Cumbarlo &c
lIoili greece, Cousin from Eno,ana
fieatn Russian), Rosano (Mani1o1
land. oii VI scot
captain Thompson died three dove
oeIore the arrival Of the Tvee 49,.
exposure, and the three others -, ~
saeA. aay from the same cause. The
second mate and two apprentice hone
met their death while trying to ny; 10y
lano IN small boat the night ~ ~
struck ene the ship