The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-01-04
T ound at Anchor Behind Destruc-
ton Island by the MneoIa.
SALVAGE CLAIM FOR S15O,OO0
Log of the Strathnevis Tells a story
seldom Duplicated in the Annals of
Maritime History Another Acct
dent While Being Towed to Tacoma.

PORTTOWNS NSEND, Dec. 26.-Ihe
steamship Strathnevis, which sailed
from Tacoma October 18th for the
Orient aud was about given up for
lost, arrived in port at 10 o'clock last
night in tow of the steamer MineOla.
The officers report a remarkable voy
age, one filled with dangers and pri-
vations, 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 ~
imminent danger of drifting ashore on
Destruction island, where certain
death stared them in the face.
The log of the Slrathnevis tells
annals of maritime history, and more
especially in the North Pacific Ocean.
Leaving Victoria October 18th with
165 passengers and forty-six officers
and crew, with a moderate sea run
ming, q speed of ten knots was made
until October Goth, at 40 in the
morning, in latitude 49 deg. IA min.
north and longitude 164 deg. q min.
west, when the ship experienced q
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-
eel and went to the bottom. A strong
northern gale was coming On and all
sail was crowded on two small masts
without yards, schooner rigged. The
accident occurred about $50 miles
south 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 rugged, under a zigZag
course, she sailed slowly toward Cape
Flattery until November 18th, 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
couver~ to Hawaii, and at noon was
taken in tow for Esquimalt. Every
day brought forth a heavy gale or tre-
mendOus ocean swells, and the Strath-
nevis would get into the trough of the
seas and roll frightfully. Unfortu-
naiely the tow line of the four inch
steel hawsers parted at l O'Clock next
morning, after covering $50 miles
This serious misbap was not success
fully overcome, owing to high seas
and boisterous weather, until Deem
Der 20, all of which lime the Miowera
a1n hxy nd fhan hor
steel hawseT and a twelve-inch
MANILA rope was gotten aboard and
the Strathnevis was again taken in
tow. Matters progressed favorably
until last Monday evening, when
TatOosh light was a dozen miles dis
tant, and then the steamers ran into
a screeching 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, anu prepara-
tIons were made to abandon the ship
Life RATS and boats were prOvieiODed
aud all bands were preparing for the
worst. The gale continued and 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 subsidized. The shore was only a
few miles distant, and the lead noted !
thirty eight athoms of water I
At 2 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 |
to sea, though the strain was so in |
tense that the windlass could not |
check il, ana the anchor and chaiu |
ran out aud went to the bottom. |
Quickly all hands turned to and got |
the starboard anchor down, which |
held, and the big stes mship swung
her bow out TO sea, though cnafing as
if anxious to break away and drift on
to the rocks to certain destruction.
Morning dawned, and not a sail or
vestige of smoke obscured the horizon.
AT 10 O'Clock, though dangerous sea
was running, Purser Mcdonald,