The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-12-09

months the Foard & stokes Co. OF this
city. purchasers Of the German bark po-
trlmpos, which went ashore on North
beach at 7:s0 o'clock on the morning OF
December u, lSS6. have been laying their
plans and making strong efforts TO float
the unfortunate vessel Expert w?eekers
were engaged. several pumping engines
steam winches and other valubale ma hin
cry was placed upon her and few days
ago. Mfr. Lawrence Foard, Of san Fran
cisco. brother OF the head Of the firm
here. arrived on the scene and took
charge OF the salvage operations. a few
days ago every preparation was made to
noat the ship. al the present hish tides,
but disaster Unexpectedly overlook their
efforts.
A special dispatch from the scene Of
the wreck TO the Astorian from Captain
c. D. Stuart. of the Fort Candy life
saving crew. who were early on the scene,
says:
"The bark Potrimpos cspsized on her
beam ends at s45 this morning. She has
been afloat for the past two days, Yes
terNiay she moved about 80 feet further
north on the beach. About $50 this morn
ing she CARRIED away the pert chock
tearing up the bulwarks. and throwing the
strain we'll abeam Of the snip. This pre-
vented the men in charge from keeping
her head 10 the sea. and there being ne
ballast aboard, at s:45 she turned on her
beam ends. towards the sea. so that her
spars struck the sand. At the time Of the
accident there were fourteen men aboard
including MFR. Foard, Captain Drisco ana
the Chinese cook. all reaching shore safely
by means Of shore lines attached to the
ship. Engineer James Carroll had mar
row escape. At the time Of the accident
he returned to the cabin for his coat. ana
got weSfged in. BY breaking the cabin
window he managed to get out and ashore
safely. Both lifesaying crews from Fort
Candy and Long Beach arrived m me
scene shortly after the men got ashore.
The vessel lies about so feet from the
drift logs and is pretty well sandei but
MFR. Foard still has hopes Of saving her
When the heavy surf subsidies he win
make an examination. and If she is not
too deep in the sand will try to right and
float her Az the time the train left 1:ts
p. m, one Of the sailors had succeeded
in boarding the ship"
Another account states that after the
ship fioated Tuesday all hands on board
were hard at work preparing TO haul ner
out to sea. Yesterday morning. just he.
fore the accfdent. she suddenly swung
broadside to sea. stood upright for a few
minutes, then quickly capsized seawari.
throwing all hands into the heavy break.
ers. As the deck remained perpendicular
they could not climb back but grasped
pianks, matches. etc. which fell from the
snip. and all reached shore uninjured
Had the tide been running OUT instead OF
flooding. all hands probably would have
found a resting place at the bottom OF
the sea
The Potrimpos nov lies on her side.
with her keel above the sand. and her
masts in horizontal position. pointing
seawari. Sand is rapidly washing into
the hold. and the engines and machinery
In her are in great danger OF being ruined
shipping men say she will strain badly
In such position and break up. II this
is so 1t viii entail a loss on Foard &
Stokes Of about $4,000 spent upon her
since their purchase. besides the value Of
the shin and fu1ona,, sne,+ 10 aoa. -. L..
the original owners. before she was sold.
The Tresent owners bored % holes in her
bottom and rigged up a pumping appara.
tus to force water through the holes 10
loosen the sand in which she was i'm
oedded also expecting to turn a certain
amount Of water into her after a1oat. as
ballast. Tt is said that this water ballast
not being confined in tanks. and washing
about at will. with the storm. was what
caused the capsize. Others say that too
strong strain was placed upon the cables
connected with the five big anchors at sea
by the steam wfnches thus causing her to
topple over
The first news Of the accident was
brought to the Long Beach telephone sta.
tion by Mrs. A. E. Stout. VINO lives near
the wreck She was watching the vessel
and when 1t capsized. got on horse and
rode number Of miles TO the telephone
office to notify the lifesaving crews. The
Fort Candy crew went on the train, and
the Long beach crew dragged their boat
along the sands to the scene Of the acct
dent, but both arrived too late TO be Of
any assistance. The only wonder is that
when the heavy spars fell into the water.
with other articles and mahclnery. some
OF the men were not killed whilst
struggling in the waves. The Chinese
cook made the most noise, and cursed his
fate in no uncertain language.
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