The San Francisco call., 1897-11-26
MADE PORT
IN DISTRESS
The Chilean Bark Republic
Arrived in a Water
logged Condition.
Was Bound From Puget Sound
With Lumber for Mel
bourne, Australia.
Encountered a Succession Of Gales,
Sprang a Leak, Jettisoned the
Deckload.

The aftermath of the storm thai
wrecked the Truckee played havoc with
the upper works OF the UmatIlla and tore
the Columb bia River lighl ship from her
moorings, will not make pleasant reading
for shipowners if the lumber feet now
fully due encountered the same weather
as the Chilean bark Republic, which put
in here in distress yesterday morning.
Gale after gale was run into, the steering
gear broke, the rudderhead split and the
vessel sprang leak. She hove to on sew
eral occasions and finally the deckIoad
had 10 be thrown overheard.
In his report Captain Lerch says:
We left Port Townsend on the 9Th inst. for
Melbourne, Australia, and from the time we
passed through the Straits OF FuCa until San
Francisco was reached we have hsd nothing
but a series OF storms from all points OF the
compass. Wednesday, the I'm inst, was
when our real troubles began. very high
sea was running aud the ship was labo1ing
heavily.
In the morning we found the patent steering
gear very much 10 sened from the head OF the
r1dder py the force OF the heavy sea running
during me night. Fixed ii we'll could
in sucn weather. Al in the afternoon the
ship all OF sudden commenced to make more
water, so that we had TO pump her for about
twenty minutes in every hour
Thursday, the 18th, the wind shifted to the
southwest, the ses decreasing gradually, but
the ship making more ana more water. From
4 o'clock to TO- In the morning, contin ned
pumping with one pump. At 10 A NJ. found
twenty-three inches OF water IN the hold.
Called all hands and manned both the pun ps,
with which pumped lhree- quarters OF an hour.
After that we pumped her every ten minutes
In order to save the ship and tighten her up 10
make her work more easily in the With
half OF the crew we commenced TO heave the
deck load over board, the other half OF the
crew attending 10 the pumps. After we got
clear of the deck DAD the ship at once made
less water, and then we pumped her only
every half -Four ioI about fifteen minutes.
Found by daylight that the headgear of the
rudder got loosened again through the
strain on it from the heavy sea run
ming during TIE night. While trying
10 1asten it again the head of the rudder
parted in three pieces Mended it the best
way possible. Friday, the 18th, first seven
hours fresh breeze from N.NE. and n. later
on; moderate wea ther; pumping every hour
for about twenty minutes. AT o'clock in the
afternoon the whole crew came aft and told
me that they wished me TO run into San Fran
cisco Tor repairs on account OF the bad cOndl-
tion OF the rndder and the ship making so
much water. and that in OF bad weather
they would not be able to keep her af1oat with
the pumps | told them that | didu't want 10
go in without first seeing how the ship would
behave herself dung the next few days.
Saturday the 20 n the whole day was fine
moderate weather and smooth sea; loos en- ed
all sails 10 dry. The ship could not stand The
pressure of the sails anu commenced to make
more water so that we had to pump her every
hour for about thirty minutes.
Sunday the first eighteen hours regular
wea ther. last six hours squaly with q choppy
short sea from south which made the ship
mble about very much Worked the pump,
three times every four hours for about thirty
or thirty-hve minutes each time
Monday the 22d first eight hours calm, the
rest of the day increasing northerly wind
with a light sea from w. n. W. By setting
some sails TO take advantage OF the lair wind
the ship commenced to make considerable
took US ffty-four minutes to reduce with one
pump going. BY not setting more sails and
the wind and sea calming down, the ship
made less water again. Seeing that 1t i'm
possible 10 make the voyage under these con-
dltions and that In the next strong gale the
crew mig ht not be able TO keep The ship afloat
with the pumps, and after consulting with
my officers | considered it best for all parties
concerned to run the vessel in to San Francisco
to save the ship, crew and cargo.
Nothing could be done with the vessel
Yesterday, as the Chilean Consul was not
In town, but the chances are that to-day
the work OF discharging her cargo will be-
gin, and when that is com p.eted she will
go IN the drydock for repairs.
There are now ten lum oel laden vessels
from Grays Harbor out ten days and
over. Every one of them was caught in
the same storm a the Republic, and some
of them may have similar tales to tell.