The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-09-05

red at the rigging until with the strain
every inch Of canvas was carried away
and the Kibrannan was scudding along
I urder bare poles at the rate of twelve
| miles an hour.
When he light of Point Wilson was
| sighted. Capt. McCallum judged that II
| he passed the point I'm the middle OF the
| straits the sea would be SO heavy and the
velocity OF the wind so great that the
| ship would be in imminent canger when
| he hauled his wind On the other hand.
| II he Rugged Point Wilson pretty close
| he would be able to haul his ship to the
! wind in smooth water and be. in a meas
| ure. sheltered from the hurricane He
would also be in "a better position TO reach
anchorage. He chose the later course.
and went as close in as was safe.
On getting abeam of the point he found
| an element TO contend with on which he
had not calculated. There was a strong
ehb tide. For several minutes Il held he
ship stationary abeam OF the point. and
VIXEN there was an occasional hull in he
gale the tide woulc carry her astern.
/ Finally she was forced into the eddy on
the west side Of the point. and in min
ute the noble ship was carried against
the beach. She lenGed broadside on, with
/ her head 10 the northward. 1t was about
2se o'clock in the morning
An incident occurred AZ this time which
might have resulted in a fearful catas5ro-
| phe. The steamer City of Kingston had
left her Seattle dock at the usual time.
and at 2:07 a m. her log shows that Point
Wilson light was abeam At that SPOT she
plunged into a heavy sea. being engulfed
10 her pilot house. Capt Clemens. know
ing the sea was heavier Al that particular
point on account of shoal water than IL
would he In the open straits. eased his YES
sci as much a. the velocity OF the wind
would permit and hold his Roadway. and
managed 20 get her clear OF the point He
then found the sea TOO heavy 20 admit Il
his proceeding TO Victoria or returning 20
PORT Townsend. The only eNpedlent pos
slhle vas - work under slow bell with
the wind on the starboard bow. bringing
the Kingston under the lee OF Protection
island. Capt. Glenn M waited there until
the fury 81 the sale had ahated The night
was dark and objects could not be dis
cerued at even a slight distance
When the relative position Of these two
vessels a. 2-l5 a. m. IS calculates. neither
at the time knowing the proximity OF the
other * is seen 90 De more than possible
tha- thev We're within a stones throw Of
each otter. Had they c0iIiaed only a mi
rscle could have saved a soul aboard ethel
ship.
when daylight broke on the morning OF
February s. the keeper Of tha Point Wilson
lighthouse perceived the stranded vessel
and Immediately dispatched a mess ngsr
to Port Townsend 70 nosiTy the ships
agents. FarSeson & Ch{icott. They or
Gcred steam on the dispatch boas Aisrs and
WIKI a Whitehall boat ia tow proceeded 20
the scene of the disaster. The ga vas stnl
running too heavy 20 permit the Hale
steamer 10 round Point Wilson. 4 land
ing was effected "a the sand spl, on the
lee -lds ef the point and the WbiJe4au boat
was carried across rae spit. distance Of
ttsrer-aGsr gers OK mile. A. this lime The
sca was breaking clean over tne vessel
Tas cembevs would roll IN under the boa
and stem OK tbe snip ard curl up on tie
inshors slie rising go = aefEhi of thirty
feet 0r more aHd break spoard- one boat
WAS c~lsred so aseus In an endeayoT 70
lower it from me craylts. Another coat was
stove while GA the skids The vessel was
pounding heavily. rising Ten or twelve feet
- TIE Seas b1t ne no urue Vas there any
probability - her going 30 pieces The
cTew was r2uca excited.
The captain. On q signal from the beach.
caused ne buoy % be aoased ashore al
ta-cret 20 a l}ne. The line was made fast
90 he Whitehall boat and Capt Barreson
was hauled aboard the klIbrsunAn. The
ship commenced making wafer about s =
n Tee pumps were kept gong all dzy
and night
o. the follow .1g morning 81 effort vas
sl5ce % pail her OF. I've tugs assisting n
the ~orH- Three hawsers we're parted nut
ne Fe~sel vas found % be in7uov2ble-
The Fsss-l s'ss then liEhteaed of 50 tons
& ballast and her topgsllant mazsts aad
AArds ard topsal yards wers sent down.
il FeAE5-ary u ssother attempt was MADE
&c pun TIE sASQ OF. TIE contained poysx