The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-05
CAPE FLATTERY FIND,
A Life Buoy Belonging to
the Missing MioWera
Picked Up.
SHIPPING MEN ANXIOUS.
Renewal of the Belief That the
Big Liner Went to the
Bottom.
WRECKAGE ON THE BEACH.
An Indian Woman Discovers Life.
boat Used by Men of the
Strathnevis.
WRECKAGE ON THE BEACH

PORT TOWNSEND, WASH. Jan. A.
The steamer Garland arrived here to-day
from Neah Bay, having on board lifeboat
belonging TO the steamer Strathnevis and
a life buoy from the Canadian-Australian
steamship Miowera, about which there
has been so much anxiety in shipping
circles since the report was brought here
by Captain Pattie of the Strathnevis that
the Miowera suddenly disappeared from
sight about fifteen miles off Cape Flattery
on the morning of Decembe IS. The boat
and buoy were picked up on the beach
south of Cape Flattery, and were brought
TO Neah Bay, and there taken by the Gar
land, which carried them to seattle to-day
There has been little else talked of here
to-day, and the news brought by the Gar
land created intense excitement. 1t was
at once decided that it looked very bad for
the Australian liner, and preparations
were begun 10 send tugs ont to make
thorough search for more wreckage.
The Miowera came upon the disabled
liner Strathnevis after she had been drift
ing helpessly about in midoCean for sixty
six DAYS, ana towed her through raging
storm to a place Of comparative safety near
Destruction Island. She arrived there with
the disabled steamer at midnight on
December % and at that hour the steel
cable connecting the two vessels broke.
This was serious accident on that stormy
night. but assurance was given that the
rescuer would stand by until daylight in
case of need. An anchor was put out
from the Strathnevis, and then it was dis
covered t. at the Miowera was nowhere to
be seen. This was at 8 o'clock in the
morning of December %, and since then
the MiOwera has not been heard from.
The fact OF her disappearance was re-
ported when the Minneola, Tacoma col
lier, came back to port with the Strath-
nevis.
There were several mem bers of the Strath-
nevis crew who expressed belief that the
Miowera had herself been wrecked, but
the story was not credited, although it
was admitted strange that after towing the
prize several hundred miles through the
toughest kind of weather she should not
only let pass all chance of securing a
heavy salvage claim, but leave the vessel
alone in 4 place where she was at any
moment liable to be dashed to pieces.
The belief that something serious had
happened has been growing and to-day,
when hfe-preserver from the vessel was
brought, the belief was materially
strengthened.
Some shipping men hold to the belief
that had the vessel actually gone to the
bottom more wreckage would have come
ashore, but this argument is set at naught
by the fact that the Ivanhoe was wrecked
and nothing but her signboard ever found,
while only the medicine-chest was dis
70 co. g
collier Montserrat and her brave crew.
Another vessel, the Majestic disappeared
and never a vestige Of her was found.
Accompanying the Miowara's life pre-
server was boat which is said TO have be-
lOnged to the Strathnevis, and which is be-
Heved to be the one in which the purser
and two of the vessels crew left her when
she was slowly drifting ashore at Destruc-
ton Island, to telegraph for assistance.
The boat was found in a small cove and
had Jagged hole stove in her side. As no
one aboard the Strathnevis can say posi-
lively that the boat reached the beach il is
possible that three men were drowned in
the terrible surf which followed in the
wake OF the storm then raging. Thus far
the storm has made it impossible for the
United States lighthouse steamer Column
bine to obey orders and go TO their rescue.
The reported discovery of wreckage
tending to confirm the belief that the Mi
owera had been lost was followed this
afternoon by report that the beach south
OF Cape Flattery was strewn with wreck
age and new lumber, and that two sign
boards from vessels mad been picked up.
One bore the name &C. F. Sargent" while
the other, which was broken in twain. had
only Victoria carved on it. AS the
Sargent arrived at Adelaide on November
Is, there is no fear for her safety. Just
what vessel the Victoria board belonged
to IS not known, although it is possible
that II IS from the schooner Mary Brown,
wrecked two years ago and lost with all
on board during voyage from Mary
Island, Alaska, to Victoria. All ever
found OF that unfortunate vessel was her
peak flag and broken board bearing the
word Brown"
Instructions have been issued by Can
tain Libby, manager of the Puget Sound
Tugboat Company, to each of the officers
of the feet of seven tugs under his control.
to cruise close in shore south of the cape
whenever in that vicinity, and he SAYS that
within three days he will be absolutely
certain about the Mioweras fate.