The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-16
THE CLEVELAND DISASTER
Captain and Crew Took to the Boats
Before She Went Ashore.


Victoria, B. c., Dec. 16.-The steamer
Cleveland, Captain Hall, was stranded in
Barclay sound. and three boats, contain
ing twenty members of the crew and two
passengers, are missing. The captain,
purser, chief engineer, one passenger,
James Lathbury. and boats crew reach
ed Uclulet after spending the night in an
open boat with a big storm raging. This
is the story told by Purser Whitbeck, who
has arrived at Victoria.
The Cleveland left the Golden Gate on
the 4th instant for Seattle. She had been
on the way two days and was well out
to sea, when during a most severe gale,
her shaft broke. Sails were then hoisted
and effort made to get to Cape Flat
terry. Heavy winds, however, drove her
northward. and after being buffeted about
by the storm for four days, being carried
northward all the time toward Vancou-
yer islands, she drifted into Barclay
sound the night of December 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 reef and knowing that if she did there
would be no hope for her, her officers de-
cided to take to the boats. -Four boats
We're lowered and they started out to
seek for place of safety. An attempt
was made to land on one of the small
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making it impossible, and they started
for another island and the captains boat
made Alpha passage, in which a big surf
was breaking. The captain signalled to
the other boats 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, concluded that she
had been swamped.
After that time nothing was seen of the
oil landed his hOat
safely on the beach after going through
the Alpha passage, and spent the night
there. Next morning his party made
their way to Uclulet village, where they
were cared for by John Markowitz, a
storekeeper. In the meantime the steamer
had drifted far into the sound and mirac-
ulously missed striking many islands and
reefs that lay in her passage
She finally went ashore at Anderson
camp, 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
looted the vessel. After waiting for some
time for the other three boats. Captain
Hall decided to send the purser to AL
berni. to telegraph to Victoria for assist
ance The purser started from Uclulet in
a boat manned by two Indians, but did |
not get far before his canoe capsized. By
threats the purser induced the Indians to
take him back to Uclulet, where he se>
cured a crew of white men to take him
to Alberni. Arriving there, he found the
wires down, so he came on to Victoria
There is little doubt that the boats con-
tanning the twenty men Of the crew and
the two passengers have met with disas-
ter.
Two boxes of biscuits and pillow, be-
lieved to have been in the boats, We're
picked up the next morning on the beach,
one of the boxes at the entrance to Uc-
lulet arm and the other farther north.
The vicinity where the Cleveland went |
ashore has a bad reputation among ma
rine men, there being many dangerous
reefs over which a terrible surf breaks
Captain Gaudin, agent of the marine and
fisheries department, says it is almost inn
possible for boat to live in such a place
Captain Halls good fortune in making
the Alpha passage was all that save him
self and companions.
The government steamer Quadra receiV-
ed instructions today to coal in haste and
proceed for the scene of the Cleveland dis
aster with a rescuing corps, to make dill
gent search for any traces of the missing
Messengers and crew.