The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-12
BATTLE WITH THE ELEMENTS.
STEAMER DIsCOvERYss EX4.ERI-
ExCE WITH WIND AND WAVE.
wrought Nevaaa's Doom-Pasnen-
ger. Landed In . storns-Rlixsard
Net IN Queen Charlotte sound.

Forty people on the steamer Discovery
heaved sigh OF intense relief whom the
boat touched the dock in Seattle and they
walked down the gang plank and put ter
IA firma under their feet. The Discovery
came from Sksgway. reaching port at an
early hour yesterday morning. She had
. most exciting and tempestuous passage
down, which consumed nearly eight days.
Once the steamers keel hung hard and
fast on the reef near Berner's bay. on
which the Nevada's bones now lie. AT an
other time, the machinery gave way dur
Ing q storm in Queen Charlotte sound. and
Of the elements.
The officers Of the Discovery were yes
terday inclined to minimize the steamers
experiences with Alaska billiards. and
sunken. rock-ribbed reefs. Capt. Grant.
who was in command Of the Discovery. Is
a veteran navigator. although his knowl-
edge of seafarinS was not gained In Alas
Ia waters. The othsr officers, a. well al
the members OF the crew are. Il ID stated.
20 come extent, unfamiliar with the course
pursued by the Discovery. That they are
Ill good seamen was atess.sd by the fact
that they brought the Dissorery TO port
safe and sound. with none If insr passen-
gers the worse for the ts;rs.ful expert
ence through which they rssss.i
The Discovery left port two weeks ago
with fair list OF passengers bound for
various Alaskan ports. 1t was her maiden
voyage. She had just been fitted up at
considerable expense in this city. For
merry she was the tug Discovery and at
one time she was employed IN towing ships
OF all kinds in and out OF the Straits Of
Fuca. Her hull was dessgntd by man
who knew. his business. however, and she
was always regarded as 4 staunch craft.
Her owners. believing that q better re-
ward for their energies and time lay in the
Alaska trade. brought her to Seattle and
had her fitted up.
The steamer was at Dyea on that fate-
ful Sunday. when q great avalanche OF
snow. shaken from Its mornings on the
steep sides Of Chilkoot's forbidding peak
crushed more than two score of men and
women under its icy weight Sunday night
the Discovery left the wharf at Skagway.
a bowling gale with snow blew from the
north and the weather assumed that con-
dition described by mariners as ''thick."
The steamer was headed south. and her
II
berths. save those that were already suf-
feriilg the symptoms OF seasickness, when.
at about o'clock. the steamers hull
trempied and an awful shock reverberated
through her frame. A crunching, grind
ing noise followed. and then a second ana
a third bump. until finally the steamer
came to a dead stop.
In an instant, passengers and crew wsre
flying to and fro on the steamers decks.
The onicers maintained their judgment and
GOODNESS throughout the ordeal Can't.
Grant soon found that the stenmer was
aground. head on. and that she was about
a quarter Of mile from shore at 5
O'Clock IN the morning and In driving
snow storm
The lead was heaved forward and aft.
The stern OF the ship was found to be IN
twelve feet Of water. Fearing that tho
ship would spring a leak from the pound
ing OF the gale. Capt Grant ordered the
lfeboats launched and the passengers In
Guiding two women. were taken from the
ship. Capt. Grant and her officers stayed
by the ship.
The boats were manned and headed for
the shore, now visible through the dim
twilight OF an Alaskan dawn Although
badly frightened at their peril, the passer,-
gers were comparatively self-possessed
and were landed without trouble or mis-
hap OF any description.
Meanwhile. tho DISCOVERIES hoarse
whistle sounded across the waters IN nm
appeal for help. A steamers form. with q
black cloud streaming from her smoke
STACK, appeared in the uncertain light well
out In the middle of the channel but her
lights disappeared in a little while ana m.
men OF the Discovery cursed somebody
Tor being heartless and inhuman.
As the day broke. Capt. Grant found
tnat ne was on a reef. The passengers
camped on the beach were served break
fast and then walked around TO keep warm.
Soon tt was noticed that mast stood out
OF ths water a short distance from the
discovery and an examination OF the shore
line revealed the fact that wreckage from
the steamer Nevada lined tn. beach.
Meanwhile the tide was recetinr and
soon the Discovery listed percepfibIy to-
ward the shore An Investigation bellows
demonstrated the fact that the ship was
making no water. and when the tide came
back Capt. Grant prepared to back on
from his uncomfortable position. The pas
sengers were taken on about noon ana
soon afterward the Discovery was again
headed toward Juneau.
Several times the Discovery put into mort
to avoid the dangers OF navigation I'm bad
weather through uncertain and treachpr-
Gus channels. Matters went along smooth
~ enough untii Queen Charlotte sound was
reached. on Thursday. The steamer start
ed from port at about o'clock. following
the tug Coauitiam from WranxeI. At s
o'clock that morning the Discovery was
being tossed by the waves which ran with
mighty fury under blizzard that swept
from the northeast across the sound.
The engines labored 10 carry the shin
against the force OF the seas. until finally
q gasket blew out OF her boilers. This.
Of course, rendered TIA ship poweriesx.
In which condition she remained, Accord
Ing 10 the statements OF her passenger.
for two hours. Capt. Grant himself took
a hand in repairing the difficulty. and flns5-
iy during the early forenoon the steamer
was again under way. but not until she
had been blown out OF her course for a
considerable distance.
But the storm increased I'm fury ard
from II o'clock TIL nearly dark the pas
sengers believed that every hour would he
their last. One man got down on his
knees In the cabin and appealed TO Prov
idence for help. Later he was made the
subject OF many good-natrred gibes when
the Discovery emerged from the sound
none the worse for her battle with the
elements. Many Of the passengers were
deathsy SICK from being tossed During
hA ~ ~ ~ T.