The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-16
WRECK OF A STEAMSHIP
THE CLEVELAND LOST ON THE
ROCKS OF VANCOUVER ISLAND.
Twenty-Five Men Who Launched the
Boats Are Missing and Probably
LOst-Other Disasters.

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 15.-Uncertainty
as to the fate of the overdue steamer Cleve-
land, which sailed from this port Dec.
for Seattle, was cleared away by the re-
ceipt of a telegram to-day from Captain
Hall. master of the ship, addressed to the
owner, Captain Charles Nelson, of this city.
From the rather indefinite details so far re-
ceived, it appears that the steamer is a
wreck on the west coast of Vancouver ISL
and, in Barclay sound, twelve miles north
of Cape Beale. The steamer broke down
during the severe storm off the mouth of the
Columbia river. Captain Hall tried to put
into Puget sound, but the fury of the gale
and rapidity of the current combined to
make the vessel unmanageable, and when
she finally ran ashore on Barclay sound the
panic-stricken crew rushed for the boats.
Despite the warning of Captain Hail. who
advised the men to stick to the ship until
she was beached, twenty-five men launched
and manned the small boats. None of these
beats has as yet been heard from, and it is
feared they are lost, although it is possible
that they may have landed on the coast of
Vancouver island at some remote point. The
captain chief engineer, purser, three sail
orS and one fireman, who remained on board
the Cleveland, succeeded in reaching the
shore through the surf safely. The saved
are: Captain c. F. Hall, Chief Engineer c.
Hassar, Purser Whitbreck, three sailors
and one fireman The missing are: First
Henderson, Third Mate H. Melvin, First
and Second Assistant Engineers r. P.
O'Neill and B. Thomas, three firemen and
twelve seamen, The only passengers on the
ship were w. l.. Deittrick and Frank Ger
than, who are also among the missing.
The vessel and cargo was valued at SIS 900,
on which there is very little insurance. The
Cleveland was built in 1865 and was form
erly an Atlantic liner, running between
Halifax and Queenstown under the name
of Sirius
VICTORIA, B. c., Dec. 15.-Purser Whit
noon to-day, He tells the following story
Golden Gate on the 4th inst. for Seattle.
She had been on the way two days and
was well out, at sea when, during most
severe gale, her shaft broke Sails We're
then hoisted and an effort made to get to
Cape Flattery. Heavy winds, however.
drove her northward, and after being buff
being carried northward all the time and
in towards Vancouver island, she drifted
into Barclay sound. on the night of Dec. 10.
by the west entrance, and dangerously close
to Starlight reef. There was a big sea
running and the wind was blowing great
guns. Fearing that she would strike on the
boat made Alpha PassaegSe and IL sig raPed to
the other boat to follow, but they failed to
do so and it is supposed that, being unable
to see the captains boat after the signals
were given, they concluded she had been
swamped After that time nothing was
seen of the three boats. Captain Hall land
ed safely on the beach after going through
the Alpha Passage and spent the night
there The Cleveland finally went ashore
on the northwest shore of Barclay sound.
AS soon as she had been located Captain
Hall again took charge, but he found that
the Indians had been there and had looted
the vessel. After waiting for some time for
the other three boats Captain Hall decided
to send the purser for assistance"
There is little doubt that the three boats,
containing twenty men or the crew and the
Two boxes of biscuits and pillow believed
to have been I'm the boats were picked up
land went ashore has a bad reputation
among marine men, there being many dan
gerous reefs, over which terrible surf
breaks.