The record-union., 1896-01-17

/ SAN FRANCISCO, Jan, 16.-The
rainstorn which has gradually been
brewing for the past twenty four hours
| appears to have reached it's maximum
| tonight, and is now central over Ore
| gon and Southern Washington. 1t is
| raining or showing along the entire
| Pacific Coast from Los Angeles to Van
couver.
| Reports from interior points are miss
ing in many instances on account of the
prostration of the wires. High south
easterly winds prevail throughout the
interior, accompanied by a heavy rain
fall, and severe squalls are prevalent
along the coast.
The wind and rainstorm swept in
strong gusts along the water front and
over the bay tonight. Soon after dark
the gale veered around from the south
east to the south, and about 8 o'clock it
was several points nearer the west.
This change was fortunate for the ship
ping at the wharves, which were then
sheltered to a great extent by the hills
of the city.
But the wind hummed furiously over
the roofs of the dock buildings and
through the upper rigging of the vessels
moored at the piers, with the roar of a
sale at sea. 1t blew down the streets
from the south and west, bringing
heavy rain showers until the pavements
were flooded and every gutter was
swift-running torrent.
A number of boats from different
ships in the bay were forced to remain
ashore, their crews standing in shell
tered hooks on the dock and peering
-, Il
their ships that were barely visible in
the thick gloom. To attempt the pas
sage from shore to ship in that sea and
squally wind were madness, so they
simply stood on the wharves and put in
the night waiting.
Several boats did attempt the trip,
and came to grief. A twelve-oared cut
ter belonging to the United States coast
defense vessel Monterey started from
FoIsom-street wharf for the vessel and
was quickly carried down the bay.
The crew bent to their oars with a
will, but the boat drifred at a ten-knot
speed. She finally managed to land at
the Clay-street float, the men exhausted
with their heavy pull.
The Boston's steam launch came
ashore about o'clock, and after try
ing to get back to the ship returned to
the wharf and made fast for the night.
A boat from the ship Inchcape Rock
was drifting rapidly out to sea when
another boat from the same vessel
started to the rescue. Both went float
ing before the gale out toward the
Heads. The first boat was picked up by
the United States steamship Hartley
and the other, containing the would-be
rescue party, was overhau1ed by the
steamer Mcdowell and landed at Val
lejo-street wharf.
The Mcdowell then went after boat
containing four men belonging to the
ship GlenAnart, which anchored off
Goat Island. The crew had become
worn out with their labor at the oars
and were quickly drifting to sea. They
were towed back to their ship. Several
other boat crews were found helpless
on the bay and rescued by tugs and
steamers.
A number of ship captains were taken
out to their vessels in tugs, and even
this means of getting aboard was at
tended with difficulty. Captain Atkin-
son of the ship Monkbarus, while pass
ing from the deck of the Sea Witch to
his ship fell overheard between the
| two vessels and almost lost his life.
He was bruised against the sides of the
ship and tug and narrowly escaped
drowning.
UP NORTH.
PORT TOWNSEND (Wash), Jan.
1G.-One of the fiercest storms in years
is raging off Cape F'lattery. The forty
eight-mile gale is accompanied by
binding snow, which has compelled all
vessels in port to remain. while in-com-
ing vessels have been unable to over
ccme the easterly gale and are forced
out to sea again. No accidents are
thus far reported.