The times., 1897-06-19
SCHOONER s|eLN's flTE
Pacific Derelict Found by the
Revenue Cutter COrwin.
BODY OF A CHILD ON BOARD
The Others of the Passengers and
Crew Undoubtedly Pertshed-:se-
suit of Long Search CRITICALLY
Reported-Part of Treasure Re-
covered Romance Of the Sea,

| The fate of w. c. Greenfield, agent or
| the North American Commercial Company,
| Of San Francisco, and his family has
than two months ago the owners of the
schooner Gen. Siglin by telegraph re-
| quested Secretary Gage to dispatch rev.
enue cutters from San Francisco to search
for the missing vessel. The owners tele-
| graphed that Greenfield and his family,
| besides the crew of the Siglin, sailed ON
| the vessel, and that when the Siglin was
| last seen she was derelict and corpse
| was lashej to the wheel. The latitude and
longitude was given.
Secretary Gage directed the collector at
| san Francisco to make the necessary
| search, and the latter sent out the revenue
! cutters Perry and Corwin. Two weeks ago
| Capt. Phillips of the Perry Informed the
| Treasury Department that lie had found
the derelict but had not boarded her, be-
| Cause OF the dangerous sea and coast.
! He said the vessel was drifting ashore
| on aii island near Sitka; that there was no
] one on board, and that 1T was not neees-
cary for him to destroy the derelict, for
the sea would do that when the ship
grounded.
That was the last heard from the Gen.
| SigEn untt yesterday, when the follow .nS
letter was received:
Port Arthur, Alaska, June 8, 1897
Dear Capt. Shoemaker--I left Seattle
| i'm the Corwin on April t6, for SitAa,
| cruising en- route for the derelict schooner
| Gen SigIin, and traversed the ocean in
| zic-zag Courses until the Esd, without
| sighting either seals, sealing vessels or
the wreck, but l did sight both the Rush
and Grant l boarded them and com
rlunicated orders to them TO look OFT
for the Sigiin.
I'VE encountered rough weather as
Ncli as fine on the cruise, and the Coz
| win held her reputation as fiue sea
boat of her size. On the 23d, being
short OF fuel and water we steamed
into Sitka harbor. There we found the
Perry at coal wharf, previously arrived
at / o'clock.
Capt. Phillips informed me that he
had, on the Goth instant, while off Gra-
ham Island, lat 53:42, long. 1876,
fell in with and boarded the schooner
Gen. SigIin, dtsmasted, matches mashed
away and fJn OF water, but, as night
was approaching and weather looking
threatening, he left her to drift.
He consented to waive his right to
coal first so the Corwin next day went
alongside the wharf and took coal Next
morning being determined to find the
wreck, and, If possible, to tow her to
port, left Sftka at a. IN. aud steamed
In search of the vessel, until the Both in
slant, wnen we sighted the wreck drift
N n W, having since the Goth drfted
a distance of ninety-Jhree miles. The wind
was southeast, blowing heavily, and heavy
sea running, making it unsafe to attempt
lowering a boat, so the Corwin was
steamed TO ieeward of the wreck, and
allowed to drift close by all night
Next morning, 1 boarded the vessel, and
after great trouble and labor, safely towed
her alongside, and with steam pumped
her dry. Much OF the cargohad washed out
of the hoid during her long and stormy
drift all bulkheads were washed away. so
the water swept fore and aft After
pumping the vessel the search for the
$4,000 commenced, and q canvas bag
weighing sixty pounds, was found with
silver cola, which I, in presence OF ALI the
officers, had sealed with wax and ships
seal. l feel disappointed in not recovering
the entire sum supposed to have been on
board What 1 shall do with the YES
sci when | get to Sitka, 1 cannot tell.
am now securing the matches and openings
in deck for the trip
ION the 2dinstant we found the remains
OF q male child jambed in the hold among
the wreckage. We buried the body on
the beach, putting up cross to mark the
grave 1t was clothed in a night shirt,
causing me to opine the vessel had been
knocked down in the night time. a careful
search was made for more bodies, but none
vas found If 81 900 was on board much
of 1T must have been in gold coin, so it
might have been taken by the agent, when
be left the vessel, as it would not have
weighed more than twenty pounds, proviti
ing he got away from the wreck, which is
doubtful
The cargo consistedof general merchan-
disc, and is of but little value TIE yes
sefs huh is in good condition recov-
cred the vessels papers; also valuable
papers OF W c. Greenfield agent Of the
n A. c. Co., who had his family with him,
excepting one son in San Francisco.
June A. Having gcompletedmaking water
tight the hatches and openings on the deck
OF the Siglin, left port at 4::30 this date.
with the schooner in tow, and arrived at
Sitka at SIS p. m; distance TOO miles.
az am, sincerely yours,