The San Francisco call., 1896-04-10

Clark.
Apprentice Roland Emil siegIe.
The British ship Blairmore capsized
yesterday morning in Mission Bay, half
mile from the wharves of the Union Iron
Works.
In view of the peculiar com bination of
circumstances at the time, it is not aston
ishing that the five men and boy who
were Gagged up in the vessels hull were
drowned despite the prompt efforts of
John T. Scott and his men to release
them.
light, cranky vessel, heavily spared
aloft, against whose clumsy top-hamper
blew strong puffs of a southwest gale, and
a flood tide pushing in a contrary direction
furnished the conditions of yesterdays
fatal marine drama.
Wednesday night and Thursday morn
ing had been hIustery and squally, with
rain, hail and wind. 1t was SO much so
that Captain Cav of the Blai-more found
it necessary TO drop two anchors in addi-
tion to the one already holding his ships
nose shoreward. This was precaution-
ary measure that probably prevented the
disaster from occurring earlier, but which
later on assisted in bringing it about.
The ship lay east and west as the flood
tide began filling the south arm cf the
bay, and she tugged at her anchor-chains
as though trying to tear away. The south
west wind, coming in occasional blasts,
swept through the rigging and caught the
vessel broadside, topping her over to star
board in most threatening manner. She
had only 260 tons of ballast aboard, and
Captain Cav caused his men to lower all
her upper yards to the topgallant spars,
trusting that by tightening her in this
manne- she would withstand the double
action of the water on her keel and the
wind aloft.
His judgment. however. was defective.
The old ship that might have easily
fought her way out of the weather if
turned loose with squared sails, succumbed
TO the inevitable when hampered with
chains. She was actually tipped over just
as a lofty pine tree is grounded by the
woodsman who attaches ropes to its top
and pulls while another uses the ak at it's
trunk
The Blairmore could not stand the pres
sure. She was thoroughly unprepared for
ii with her light load OF ballast,
1t was evident to the sailors aboard that
the vessel was in great danger, and shortly
after O'Clock, when the wind was at its
height and the men were ordered out to
wash decks on all vessels in that part of
the bay, every skipper saw that there was
strong likelihood of a catastrophe.
Captain Cav alone appeared to be OBJ
livious to the danger that was threaten
ening. He ordered his men between decks
and into the bilge to scrape and clean the
insides.
Captain Marshall with the tug Active
was within a few hundred feet of the
Blairmore shortly before she careened.
He was towing a vessel down the bay the
time but, seeing the danger in which the
anchored ship was, he dropped his hawser
and put off to the rescue.
His object was to make fast to the
B airmore on the weather side and help
even more by turning her nose into the
wind, but Captain Caw refused the
proffered assistance believing his old ship
would weather the gale.
Captain Brokaw OF the tug Alert was
less than quarter of a mile away. He
also realized the Blairmore's predica-
ment, and following the action of the
Active he steamed toward the ship.
He had not gone far before the starboard
cross-jack, main and fore yard arms were
dipping into the waters of the bay, the
lower and upper topsail yards following
soon after. When the action of the flood
tide came to bear on these spars. there was
no power on earth to prevent the capsizing,
and Captain Cav, too late, saw the dlsas.
ter that must follow.
He and J. L. Watson were on deck near
the after hatch in front of the cabin, and
shipmates to hurry from below, that the
ship was going over.
There were ten men in the hold busily
engaged in trying to keep their balance
and still work. That some of them at
least knew or felt they were in great
danger is evinced by the fact that in the
few moments, seconds in fact, which it
took the vessel to make her last turn five
of them managed to climb up the hatch
way and force their way out against the
rush of water pouring in.
First Mate Thomas Ludgate was with
has crew in the hold and with the others
ne made gallant fight for his life. He
was among the foremost to reach the main
match, but as he grasped for the coamings
loose capstan bar, picked up by the rush
Ing waters. was swept into the hatch,
striking him cruel blow and knocking
HIM back into the abyss.
The first mate and Steward Samuel
Kenny were the only two men who are
known TO be drowned that were seen by
those who were saved.
Kenny was in the galley where the star
board door was wide open. When the
snip careened the water rushed in, filling
the place before Kenny could unhook the
port door and make his escape Although
above decks kenny's fate was no better
than that OF those who remained below.
All this occurred in but very short
space OF time, during which incidents
crowded III upon the participant at a rate
that can hardly be estimated. CAPTAIN
Caw was perched high nm on tho waotbar