The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-02
THE ELW0OD'S DOOM.
Smashed TO Splinters on Gard
ner's Reef. Alaska.
A SEATTLE BOY SHOWS PLUCK.
Thrilling Description of the Wreck
One of the Crew swept
From a Raft.
A SEATTLE BOY SHOWS PLUCK

entirely upon the fact that she had not
been heard from, but these were set at
rest by a report that she had been sight-s
81 laid up for the winter in one o< the
eoves of Cook inlet. This is again con-
tradicted by the arrival here yesterday
on the City of Topeka OF Capt. Wyman
and his crew, with the exception OF one
man, who was swept away just before
the ElwoOd was dashed 10 pieces The
shipwreck occurred on December ii, near
10 Gardner's point. which separates Chat
ham straits from Prince Frederick sound,
and the story that is told by the survivors
pictures a scene of battle for life IN icy
seas that is of thrilling interest. The
man lost in the hurricane was Adrian +.
Gastrom. Swede, Of this city
struggle With the storm.
The ElwOod sailed from Seattle for
Cook inlet September IL, taking up pas
sengers and supplies. 1t arrived at Turn
again arm October II. 1t discharged its
cargo and on October % sailed for Seattle
with the following souls on board; Capt
Wyman, Mate NJ. f. Burgess, z. r. Ty-
Ter r. W. Feldt. b. F. Gastrom, Arthur
Sculln. Mate Fitch and the cook of the
barque Theobald. and ole Olsen and two
natives OF Killisnoo. A stop was made
at Kachemack bay, where twenty tons
OF coal were taken aboard.
The vessel left from that port October
Elizabeth and Marmot island encountered
an easterly gale, hurricane in force.
The foresail and jib were carried away
and for six hours the vessel lay hove TO,
then. the fury of the storm abating some
what. ran under bare poles until shelter
was reached behind Kodiak island, where
sails were rugged which enabled them 10
reach Afognak. Here gale upon gale
ragged and they lay wind-bound for eight
or nine days, when the weather cleared
and they sailed for Cross sound
The trip from Afognak TO Cape Spen-
Ger proved very pleasant. They next ran
into Glacier bay and took on twenty tons
OF ice, as they expected TO take down
cargo of haIibut. Clear weather continued
and KilIsnoo was made December l. Here
the vessel drifted ashore. but as the tide
rose II was gotten off without much difh-
Guilty. Ole Olsen and the natives left the
schooner here as did the mate and cook
Of the Tbeobald. the latter two going
down TO the Sound on the Al-Ki
struck without WARNING.
The schooner remained in the vicinity
Of KiIlisnoo seven or eight days halibut
fishing and on December 9 sailed for
Rocky pass The night was dark. when
off Cape Gardner at 80 a m. hurri-
cane struck them without moments
warning. All sail was on at the time, and
before they could be lowered and reefed
the sudden fury of the storm drifted
them close in on the lee shore. On find
ing that they We're rapidly drifting to-
ward the breakers they let go their an
Choir Two hundred fathoms of cable
were then run out and for a half hour the
vessel rode the waves in safety.
ON the Rocks.
Suddenly the wind veered and blew shore
ward II split and tore TO shreds the sails
that were not taken In, and great waves
dashing over the little vessel cleared her
Of everything. At the same moment she
was lifted up and began to drift rapidly
in A leak was discovered. and the threat
ening rocks were soon only 200 feet away.
Capt Wyman in the hope that she might
he carried past them, snatched up an ak
and cut the anchor cable. With big jump
she was on the rocks with a great rent In
her side through which the angry waves
entered. filling her at once.
cant Wyman tried to get his valuables
out Of his cabin. but was glad TO leave them
to save himself Three Of the men were
washed across the deck from distances
apart and all damned together into the
cockpit They got out and were washed
about the deck again Two or three times.
Scullin who is a Seattle boy of about Is
and son Of Patrick SCullu. formerly pro-
prctor Of the Laurel Shade resort at Lake
| Washington, was one of the three He got
TANNED into the angle II the mainboom,
and had something 10 hold on to.
The schooner Goes Over.
During a moments lUll in the storm
Capt. Wyman and some of the crew tried
20 launch 4 boat The next big wave
washed the cautain overheard. but he had
4 rome in his hard at the time and was
hauled aboard aC,in The boat was suatched
away. ard q more tremendous surf keeled
tbs. vessel over. By good fortune her mast
reached ont and rested on the rocks Two
Kulisnoo Indians and Feidt and Burgess
sW3rmcd along the mast and reached the
rock But the danger Of being washed off
was greater there than on the wreck. They
pat hack ana reached the schooner. where
they ha8 something 20 cling -. after hard
ana exhaustive struggling. These are mere
sh3dowy examples Of a struggle that lasted
eight hours. for mon Of action are rarely
good RECRUITERS. and such experiences are
rarely told by them with any Of the force
of their dramatic character.
SculIin's Fight for Life.
The vessel broke in two under the fury
of the hurricane. ana stiU the men hung
ou 20 the wreck When she broke the Se-
att1e bey Scullin. fondly called THE kd'
rs an on board sprauS overheard into the
ics-Cold sesthinE waters. His companions.
c}trgiug % the wreck. supposed that thew
would never see him again. But the little
follow Is an expert swimmer. and upon
coming to the surface he swan for rock
that h- slw projecting out uf the water a
rew ecrt distant The waves were breaking
over the rock So hlgh and hard that he
made several attempts before he could
make laniiHE. where he had only few
seconds rest. when a higher wave rolling
clear over it. washed him off his little
perch into fhe sea again
he swarm for another rock ard after Sow
crab attempts succeeded ia making land
i1c On thar one. ouiv 20 be- washed or
Q