Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-01-02
AORIFT TWO months
The Strathnevis ToWed Into
Port Townsend.
All Hope of Reaching Land Aban-
doned Several Times-Only Saved
from Going on tho Rocks by a
Sudden Veering of the Wind
Fierce Gales Encountered.

Sudden Veering of the Wind
Fierce Gales Encountered.
Port Townsend, Wash, Dec. 2T.-The
Northern Pacific steamship Strath
nevis is now in this harbor looking
externally little the worse for wear as
a result of her two months battle with
the winds and waves of the Pacific
ocean, but the story told by her COM
mander, Capt. James Pattie, sounds
more like a romance than a reality.
The Strathnevis was disabled on the
morning of Oct. 20, when the shaft
broke and the big steamer was at once
helpless. Northerly gales were blow
ing at the time and the limited amount
Of canvas aboard was quickly spread,
the vessel then heading for south and
west Slow progress was made, how
ever, and in two days sailing but 115
miles was covered. Whenever the
breeze stiffened up advantage of it
was taken and the vessel was steered
in an easterly direction, the captain
heading for the American coast. 1t
was not until Nov. 10 that vessel was
sighted, that being the John Candles,
already reported After she had passed
on there was a weary time of it riding
pillows till Wednesday morning, Dec.
lS, when the Canadian-Australian liner
Mlowera move III sighU ON her west
wa:d trip and approached the dis
abled vessel, giving her line with lit
VIC oiiIi0uiUy' Ihe sVeaiher heaoeo ior
SaPe la0'ery'
o"Vo up All Hope
After twelve hours the hawser parted
and on account of the gale and heavy
seas running at the time, it was thirty
SIX hours before another hawser was
made fast This one lasted just thirty
minutes before it too gave way. But
within short time two hawsers were
connected with the steamer, and once
more they headed for the cape. AT
o'clock last Monday morning when
just fifteen miles off Cape Flattery the
Mioweras S two hawsers parted, and in
the terrible sea that was running it
seemed that it would be impossible to
again get hold of the disabled steamer
and accordingly it was arranged that
the Miowera was to stand by and save
life when the Strathnevis went ashore,
as 1T seemed certain she would do in
very short time.
Saved by Wind Shifting.
When the squall had passed at 4
o'cl ocl1 in the morning the Miowera was
nowhere to be seen, and there was
great CONSERVATION on board the
Strathnevis. The captain did not think
so serious of the disappearance of the
other vessel because Captain Scott had
told him that his steamer would be
able to tow him only three days, owing
to his limited coal supply. BY noon on
Monday the Strathnevis was thirty
miles off Destruction island, making
slowly but surely for the rocky shore,
and itseemed to all on board the steam
er that their doom was sealed. AS they
approached nearer the shore with the
wind behind them, all hands began
making final preparations for the ex-
pected dashing to pieces of the steamer
upon the rocks, but when within seven
miles of the island the wind shifted to
the north, and, to the delight of all,
the anchor, which was large held fast.
The chain soon parted, however, and
the second and last anchor on board
was sent down with what proved better
success, for it held fast.
Reached Harbor Christmas Night
About o'clock Tuesday morning
Purser Mcdonald and Third Officer
Bavnes and three Japanese sailors were
sent off to the island in a boat with the
hone that thev might reach a teleoranb
station and wire for assistance Tho
mon are still on the island About noon
the same dav the collier Mineola. Cant
Pillsbury. hove in sight and bore down
on the Strathnevis. soon getting a baw.
ser on board and heading for land
When the Strathnevis arrived here
0ni -, - ,'ii"' evening ''io "iie' were 'o"h