The Hawaiian gazette., 1896-01-07

steamship Strathnevis, which sailed
from Tacoma October 18th for the
Orient and was about given up for
lost, arrived in port at 10 o'clock last
night in tow OF the steamer Mineola.
The officers report remarkable voy-
age, one filled with dangers and pri-
yations, and On Monday afternoon
lost all nope OF saving the vessel was
abandoned and life RATS and boats
were manned and preparations made
for leaving the vessel, as she was in
imminent danger of drifting ashore on
Destruction island, where certain
death stared them in the face.
The log of the Strathnevis tells a
story that is seldom duplicated in the
annals of maritime history, and more
especially in the North Pacific Ocean.
Leaving Victoria October 18th with
ls5 passengers and forty-six officers
and crew, with a moderate sea run
ming, q speed Of ten knots was made
until October Goth, at 7:4O In the
morning, in latitude 49 deg. IA min.
north and longitude 164 deg. p min.
west. when the ship experienced
terrific shock, the crash sounding like
an explosion of cannon. The shaft
had snapped short off close to the pro-
peller, which dropped clear OF the ves-
sci and went to the bottom. A strong
northern gale was coming on and all
saiI was crowded on two small masts
without yards, schooner rugged. The
accident occurred about $50 miles
sonth OF Unalaska. Slowly the
gale carried the vessel to SOUTH
west and it was two days later
before she could make any progress
toward the east. From that time on,
after temporary yards OF frail nature
had been rigged, under q zigzag
course, she sailed slowly toward Cape
Flaftery until November 10Th, when
she fell in with the bark John Gam
bles. which was in latitude 49 deg. 3
min. n. and longitude 145 degrees W.,
which was the most northern point
reached. Southerly and easterly gales
were then met and many back sets
were encountered which lasted several
days at a time. On December 18th
she was sighted by the Royal Mail
steamer Miowera, bound from Van
couyer to Hawaii. and at noon was
taken in tow for Esquimalt. Every
day brought forth heavy gale or tre-
mendous ocean swells, and the Strath-
nevis would get into the trough OF the
seas and roll frightfuily. Unfortu-
pately the tow line OF the four inch
steel hawsers parted at o'clock next
morning, after covering 160 miles
This serious mishap was not success
fully overcome, owing to high seas
and boisterous weather, until Decem-
Der 20, all of which time the Miowera
remained close by, and then another
steel hawser and a twelve-lnch
MANILA rope was gotten aboard and
the Strathnevis was again taken I'D
tow. Matters progressed favoraoly
until last Monday evening, when
Tatoosh light was dozen miles dis
taut, and then the steamers ran into
a screecbing southwest gale accom-
panied by rain and thick weather.
In the midst of this storm both
hawsers snapped and the rescuing
steamer disappeared In the squall,
leaving the Strathnevis helpless and
before the wind and sea, drifting to
ward shore in the vicinity OF Destruc-
tion island.
A consultation was held by Captain
Pattie and his officers, and prepara-
tions were made to abandon the ship.
Life RATS and boats were provisioned
and all hands were preparing for the
worst. The gale continued aud the
rain fell in torrents. Through the
uproar preparations were made for the
last resort, when there came the
dreadful roar of the breakers bursting
over Destruction island.
At an opportune time the gale COM
menced to moderate and the seas slow
ly subsided. The shore was only a
few miles distant, and the lead noted
thirty.eight fathoms Of water.
At2 O'Clock yesterday morning the
port anchor was dropped, but it failed
to stop the progress OF the ship, and
she steadily drifted broadside on shore.
Slowly the chain swung her head out
10 STA, though the strain was so in
tepse that the windlass could not
check ii, aud the anchor and chain
ran out and went 10 the bottom.
Quickly all hands turned to and got
me starboard anchor down, which
held, aud the big steamship swung
her low out 10 sea, though chafing as
IL anxious to break away and drift OH
to the rocks to certain destruction.
Morning dawned, and not a sail or
yestige of smoke obscured the horizon.
Al 10 O'Clock, though dangerous sea
was running, Purser Mcdonald,
Second Officer Balm and three jap
snese sailors volunteered to make the
attempt to reach Destruction island
in a small boat in hopes OF telegraph
ing to Port Townsend for assistance.
At noon Tuesday the steamship
Mineola, Captain Pillsbury, from Ia
coma for San Francisco, came in sight
and offered its services. Sue was
closely followed by the steamer Costa
Rica. After agreeing to leave the
question of compensation to be deter.
mined by the courts the Mineola took
the Strathnevis in tow at o'clock,
intending to go to Victoris, but the
weather was not such to warrant yes-
sells going there. just after taking
her in tow the hawser parted and the
shin began to drift in shore before a
fresh west wind. However another
hawser was gotten on board and the
vessel was brought to Port Townsend:
A. - - <r.I