The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-08
SHE HOPES AGAINST HOPE.
MRS. COVE STILs. LOOKS FOR HER
LONG ABSENT HUSBAND.
Which Has nesn Missing for
Nearly Eight Months-What 9th
crs Think of His Chance Of Escape

The fate OF the Northern Pacific steam
ship Pelican. missing for nearly eight
months On the Pacific. should be decided
before the end OF July. Mrs. Alexander
Cove. wife OF Capt Cove of she steamer.
Is now on the Sound hoping against hope
that the arrival OF the sealing feet or
revenue cutter from the Aleutian islands
Will bring news OF the steamer. The off,
GERS OF the japanese liner. Riojan Maru.
that - 10 leave this morning en- q vos-
age over the course followed by the Peii-
can. do not believe that there Is any hope
for the steamer z.d think that the seal
ing feet VIII have no news OF her.
On October y the Pelican sailed from
Victoria with a big load OF ties for Tent
sin. China On reaching the other side she
was 10 have been remodeied fer the pas
senger service between Portland and the
Orient Two months passed and the Peii-
can had not arrived at the other side.
Not single vessel had reported her and
some apprehension was fest for her safe
~. When Capt. Helm arrived nearly a
month later he reported having seen a
lteboat but had not gone close enough to
determine whether or not II belonged to
the Pelican. This is the only seuAbianee
OF wreckage that was ever seen. Steam
ers ara sailing vessels have made round
trips over the same route but the mystery
OF the Peiican's disappearance has never
been solved.
Mrs. Cove, whose husband was IN COM
nia1d of the steamer. is about the only
one that expects to see any one OF those
who sailed on the steamer. She recently
raj. - l.
that she might get the report brought by
the English revenue cutter that has been
sent to the Aieutiau islands. She thinks
that either the revenue cutter or one OF
the sealing deet win bring news OF tina
vessel and her Grew. She has refused 10
accept tho insurance carried by her hus-
band. The marine underwriters who in
sured the Pelican. have rendered the
Northern Pacific company their insur-
ance. The ship II. ID. Bendixon has been
dispatched with a cargo OF ties to replaces
the one carried by the Pelican. Stiu Mrs.
Cove has hope.
The officers of the Nippon Y,lsen Kalsha
steamer R.ojun Maru have travelled across
the Pacific over the route on which the
Pelican presumably was swallowed up,
time and again. They have made three
trips since the Inflated steamer left. One
OF the officers said last night 70 . Post
Inteli!gencer reporter:
There is one chance In a thousand
that the first vessel from the Aieutian
islands VIII have some news OF the jill
fated Pelican. It is the only possible
chance that the ship will ever be heard
from and so sim one that IL Is hardly
worthy OF consideration. II the vessels
machinery broke down and she was COM
PEELED to seek harbor under sail the Aleu-
tan islands present her only chance for
~ g..
some unknown cause the crew probably
had little chance 10 take to the boats.
II they got away In boats the only place
they could head for is the Aleutians. The
northern course often takes the vessels
within sixty miles or tho islands and
some times much nearer. There IL no
telling, however. where the Pelican came
10 grief.
THE reason I think that the crew OF
the Pelican is lost is that news would
have reached the Sound before this had
the crew succeeded in landing on the
islands. 1t Is true that no vessel has as
yet coma In, bu. had tho Grew reached
there one OK the sealers would have I'M
undoubtedly shortened her cruise and
brought them 10 port. II tho vessel had
made any OF the Islands under gall Capt.
Cove would have found some way Of
sending the news to his owners. He
would not let the vessel remain Tiers
without assistance until one OF the seal
ers was ready 20 come back to the Sound
or q revenue cutter CHANGED 10 visit the
islands.
THE fact that the crew could not sub
sist for that length OF time on the proyl-
sions on board the vessel adds weight TO
the unfriendiy belief that she Is lost The
islanders would hardly be able TO Furnish
food TO the crew and although she had
IL
been exhausted long ago. The officers OF
the Nippon Yusen kaisha line with whom
l have talked never expect 10 learn the
exact fate OF the Pelican"