The San Francisco call., 1896-11-17
STORMS RAGING
ALONG THE COAST
Half a Dozen Steamers
Overdue on Account
Of Gales.
Graphic Description of One Given
by the Captain of the
Snaigow.
S'veral Narrow Escapes on the Bay
From the Southeaster Are
Recorded.

The storm that has prevailed along the
coast for the last ten days has been the
severest encountered in years. Several dis
asters have been reported, and until the
overdue feet of steamers gets in the full
extent of the trouble will not be known.
At the present time the Homer from Coos
Bay is away overdue, her schedule time
being A. N. last Sunday. The Costa Rica
from Departure Bay and the Mackinaw
from Tacoma are now out over five days,
and the Il ice Blanchard left Astoria for
San Francisco on the 11th inst. The big
passenger steamer WaIia Walla was fully
due from Puget Sound ports yesterday
morning, and the Alaska Commercial
Company's Dora from Sltka left Port
Townsend on the 10Th inst.
An idea OF the storm raging on the coast
may be gathered from the report of the
captain of the British ship Snaigow:
On Sunday, November 8, at 2 P. NJ, the gale
commenced, and as we ran into 1t we struck
lunpy and drizzlins rain.
At P. NJ. hauled IN all small sails, including
royals.
At 5 P. NJ. very thick rain and freshening
breeze with heavy gusts (eas.), rising
ra 2idIy. While preparing to take in topgallant
sails the outer jib burst and blew into ribbons
also the wire runners OF the inner jib ha. yards
carried away, causing sail to be partly torn.
While securing the remnants of these the
foretopgallant sail burst, and while Chewing II
up the main one blew 10 pieces before we
could 10 anything with It, although all HANDS
were on deck at the time.
At P. NJ. the mlzzen topsail sheet carried
away, but the sail was secured and set again
without further damage.
AT s P. NJ. the ship was under six topsais
and courses, wind about east. blowing fresh
and gusIy, continuous drizzie rain, occasion
ally very thick. Sea had by this time risen
considerably and caused ship to rear and
plunge frig tfu .ly, straining everything to the
last gasp. Very vivid sheet lightning north
west by north and southeast, barometer con-
tinuing steady,
10 r. M-CTossjack tackle carried away in a
heavy sQuall. AL hands called, but could not
save the sail, which blew away piece by piece,
also destroying the gear (buntlines, leechlines,
etc. Before the hands were down from aloft
a squall of hurricane force struck US and the
main tack carried away, the sail bursting in
pieces and being almost com p.eteiy destroyed.
Midnlght-Tne heavens were now one flicker
ing blaze of lightning with occasional inter
vals OF two and three minutes, during which
the darkness so intense that it was literal
ly impossible 10 see your hand before you.
Rain WAS falling in torrents and tremendous
was running, into which the vessel
pitching irightfuliy, and when kept away be-
fore the wind. rolled heavily enough (thoUgh
in ballast trim) to scoop the water over the
rails. After the mainsail went 1t continued
blowing a living gale al east-southeast and the
other sails soon followed, the fore. upper and
lower topsails, main upper and mizzen upper
topsaiis blew C can out OF the ropes, leaving
the frames only standing.
3 A. M-While running with foresail and
main and miZzen lower topsails one watch mad
been sent below, when the foresaii went with
report like cannon, stripping the ropes
almost as if done with q kuIfe. Tried 10 set
main topmast staysall, TO steady the ship, and
got IL burst also.
4 80 A. M.-Mizzen lower topsail blew out of
the ropes, leaving the ship with only the main
lower topsall 10 steady her, and consequently
she was rolling almost gunwaies undtr, Start
ing The boats lashings on the skids and spar
lasnings on forward house. and seriously
dangering the masts and spars, expecting TO
see them go with every lurcn. Less lightning
after last burst at 4 A. NJ.
During all this distur bance barometer had
not shown the slightest indication, remaining
steacy throughout, as IL had been for days
previously. Mercury, 30o5, 5000; aneroid,
29.95, % 80, mercury, sc. 90 80 OU; aneroid
70 80, 20 80. Daylight eiearcd away wreck
age; iound a quantity OF small gear such as
buckets, handspikes, some cabin gear etc. de-
stroyed; also numerous ropes gear etc
clawed up and carried away and flying in al,
directions. The gait was found TO be sprung in
two places. Alter securing loose gear we Inn
mediateiy commenced bending spare foresail
and found the gear more or less destr Dyed
Noon-Bent topsaiis, lore and mlZZen: blow.
ing hard from east; easl-northeast sky part
broken; passing showers OF drizzle rain, and
mountainous sea stiti running.
Monday, November 9-Bent one fore and two
mizzen top=ails; found the gear ON all the sails
more or less destroyed. Weather moderating
but still of threatening appearance.
While the Snaigow was plunging into il
on the 8th and 9th inst the barometer al
Port Angeles registered 27.7S on the 18th.
and i'll consequence every vessel that
sailed from Puget Sound, Astoria or Coos
Bay on the 10th and 11th must have en-
conntered the full strength of the storm.
The Snaigow made The rnn from Mel
bourne in forty-nine days, one of the
quickest passages on record. Outside of
tae hurricane Just described the voyage
was an uneventful one.
While the Snaieow was being towed up
the bay Dave Crowley and Jimmy Sinne;t,
the runners for the Golden Snore Market,
attem pied to board her. 1t was blowing
half a gale at the time and the whitehall
capsized. Another runner named Morris