The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1896-11-19
ON THE NORTH COAST.
British Bark Zinita Goes Ashore Near
Gray's Harbor.

British Bark Zinita Goes Ashore Near
Gray's Harbor.
Aberdeen, Wash. Nov. 1.-THE
British bark Zinita, Of Greenook, an
iron vessel of 1926 tons, went ashore
On North beach this afternoon about
five miles north of the entrance to
Gray's harbor and close to where the
bark Abercorn was wrecked few
years ago. The vessel was forty days
out from Nagasaki, Japan, to Port.
land, Or. in ballast to load wheat, and
first sighted land on Sunday morning
about o'clock, she being then about
five miles off the coast, and abreast OF
Quinault river. The heavy current
that sets in along the coast, and heavy
southwest gale, made it Impossible 1or
her to stand out to sea, and at O'CLOCK
she was forced to let go both anchors
This failed to hold her, and she gradu-
ally drifted ashore. being In similar
position to the Glenmorag, wrecked
north uf the Columbia.
The crew consisted Of twenty seven
men, under command of James Fraser,
and all are safe ashore. One sailor,
named McNamee, received a scalp
wound, from being struck on the head
by stanchion, which broke loose as
the vessel rolled in the heavy breakers,
he being the only one in the entire crew
that was injured. The vessel was frst
sighted by Mr.. Damon, of Oyehut,
who, noticing the signal of distress, dis
patched his eldest boy to Ioqulam,
twelve miles distant, for tugs, and tel
egrams were at once sent to Westport
to the tug Traveller, and to South Bend
for tugs. and for the life saving crew,
but before the tugs could arrive, the
vessel was too far in shore to receive
any help, and the crew was all ashore,
having experienced no trouble In
launching a boat on the lee side OF the
vessel and reaching the friendly assist
ance of the hospitable people who dwell
along that shore. McNamee, the in.
jured sailor, was brought to the hospital
at Hoquiam. Captain Fraser and the
balance of the crew remaining at Dye
hut to look after the vessel. The cap
tain says that he is confident that he
can save the vessel with but little IT
any damage, and the condition OF the
ship at this time would seem to war
rant his sta tement, as she stood the
heavy poundings receievd in the break
ers without any perceptible damage,
not even springing rivet, and she now
stands at low tide boldly out, as though
in her usual element, instead Of in the
golden sands of strange coast.
This makes the seventh vessel that
has gone ashore on the stretch of beach
lying north of Gray's harbor, all OF
them being foreign vessels, and all
strangers to the coast, easily getting
caught in the same treaoherous current
that sets in along this coast, and sucked
ashore in spite of their efforts. This
section of the coast is particularly
dreaded for the reason that there is no
lighthouse or life-saving station within
many miles, the nearest being at Will
lappa harbor. If there had been tele
graphic communication with the North
beach, word could have been sent in
time to have tugs arrive and tow the
bark out of danger, but the length of
time necessary to get to Hoquiam was
fatal, and, when the tugs arrived, no
help could be given.
The life-saving crew, upon arrival at
Westport, on the south side of the har-
Dor, learned Of the crew being safe.
and did not visit the scene, as 1t lay
some eight miles further on. The
Zinita is but three years old, and was
ON her third trip when the mishap &C.
CURED. Those who are best acquainted
with the coast say that the chances
for saving the vessel are slim indeed,
as they believe that she will soon sink
in the sands, but there is no Danger of
her going to pieces where she at present
lays, as she is way inside the line of
ordinary breakers, coming in during
the extreme high tide and heavy swell
of the afternoon.