Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1898-11-24
WRECK AT ALSEA BAY
British Ship Ata1anta In the
Breakers.
TwENTY-FoUR MEN WERE LOST
Heavy Surf Is Pounding the Vessel "a
Pieces--Another Case Of Reck-
less Navigation.

Yaquina, Or, Nov. 21.--The British
shp Atalanta. carrying crew OF % men
and loaded with $500 tons Of wheat,
from Tacoma for South Africa, was
wrecked near Alsea bay yesterday
morning. and SO far as known there are
but three survivors.
The cause Of the wreck Of the Alta
lanta and the circumstances attending
1t, produce a tale most narrowing. The |
mismanagement of the vessel by its
officers is ascribed as the cause Of the
disaster, and the crippling of the Va
quina lfe-saving station by penurious
policy Of that department OF the gov
eminent, adds horror to the situation.
The only three survivors aver that
some of their comrades on board the
ship may yet be alive. While the
mem bers of the life-saving crew are in
sight OF the wreck, they are so far
powerless to render assistance, owing
TO the want Of apparatus. Meanwhile
couriers secured the Seach and coun-
try adjacent for 10 miles, to procure
horses to bring up the lifeboat and
beach cart.
The ATLANTA lay about mile on
shore, in a field of furious breakers.
Every swell passed over her works.
Each hour a section OF the vessel was
seen to fall away, and the timbers float
( toward the shore. A strong and steady
. southwester aided the current from the
same direction to bear the wreckage
, rapidly to the beach. 1t was this pow
i er and agency, and this alone that en-
abled the three sailors who survive to
r escape the fate Of their brethren. In
o a Iifeboat filled with water. partly dis
: abled with wreckage, and without oars
{ to direct their craft, they were borne to
Q terra firma. thus passing over course
: of nearly two miles.
; One man, who was clad In simply
3 ahirt, more hardy than the others
! made his way along the beach. HI
,s found q farmhouse and announced ths
-s news, and solicited assistance for hi
N companions. When the unfortunate
,e on the beach were reached they were 81
d benumbed with cold as to appear beyon'
il help. 1t has required nearly "a hour
b. for one of them to regain his powers
q. mind and body. The rescued sailor
II have been taken into cabins along tn
D. beach.
OF The most complete and reliable stor
ne of the wreck obtainable comes fror
~ Frank Fogarty, member OF tn
Yaquina life-saving crew. who hs
patiolled the beach in the vicinity {
the wreck. Captain Clark ordered hir
a. back to the station, which had bee
y entirely deserted, except by the wivt
y. of the crew, to guard there tonigh
~ "The officers Of the Atslanta paid th
As penalty of their folly with their lives.
-, as said Fogarty. met one escaped, ui
ls ~ less he Is penned up In the forecastl
" to be released tonight or tomorrow.
IN 1.-THE survivors have started the stol
no down on the beach that the wreck
oa more the result of caTelessness on Il
nu ~. part Of the captain than Of adver
.oi ~ weather. II is to the effect that q
IA -, Atalanta was racing down the coa
= 'ne with another sailing ship to make be
ter time, and having more adva
tageous tack, against the southwest'
he steered close into Cape Foulweatht
ISL Not seeing the lighthouse. he suppos
up, the vessel to be some distance frC
the shore. This caused him to contin
. his southeast tack too long.
the "The logbook at the life-saving 9
no tion shows that Thursday morning,
uld tween midnight and O'Clock. VII
lam the AtaIanta was on this tack. the Ca
one Foulweather lighthouse was concea
'rui by fog and heavy sheets Of rain. NJ
isi- ertheless, the survivors, according
'on' report, do not excuse the policy of
ion, captain. Had not a race been on, tt
lion say, he would have taken no 81
pain chances !"
ioh