The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-07-13
MOND|KE BOATS TOW HARD
DEL NORTE ABANDONs DREDGER
WISCONSIN AT JUNEAU.


Breaking away from the inside channel
20 the open waters Of the wind-swept IA
eide seems 10 be very difficult for some OF
the ST. Michael-bound steamers which ie1t
this port with river steamers in tow.
The steam schooner Del Nor.e and the
famous Laurada have had trouble Just att
er going 10 sea and both were compelled TO
put back. The Del Norte abandoned the
dredger barge Wisconsin. belonging TO .
Milwaukee party. az juneau, and again put
20 sea with three steamers trailing in her
wake. The Iaurada was compelled 10 put
back 10 Siika after getting half way 10
Dutch Harbcr. owing 10 the condition or
her lows.
C. E. Carter Of Iogaasrort. Ind. who
started north on the Laurada. left her at
Sitka and returned 10 Seattle yesterday on
the steamer City Of Topeka He said 20 a
Observation-Disclosures reporter:
The Laurada's experience with her two
river boat tows was most exciting. The
tows were the Philip +. Low, belonging
20 the Boston g. Alaska Transportation
Company. and the Katie Heinrich, bound
for the lower Yukon in the interests OF
Seattle company. We had a good trip until
We were well out at sea. Then a terrible
storm came up. AS the seas rolled higher
and higher. the Laura9a and the Heinrich
became battering rams against the Philip
Low which was taa middle boat in the
chain
Wave. Ran High.
''The waves ran about forty feet high.
AS the Laurada would rise on the crest of
one of these monster pillows the tow line
would straighten out and then we would
fall back on the Low. The Heinrich would
be pulled down on the Low. crashing into
her stern. This kept up until the men on
the Low signaled that their vessel was
leaking and could no longer stand the bat
tering. We then lay to for fourteen hours.
This helped matters but little and tho
Lauraia was headed back to the nearest
port. which happened TO DO Sitka.
THE stewards force was just about to
call the passengers TO dinner when Capt.
Scott started TO turn round. The table was
set and some OF the meal served. As the
. vessel got into the trough OF the sea
wave struck her that almost sent her on
her beam ends II sent every one that was
out OF bed In all sorts OF directions. The
walters went flying under the table and
the dishes piled down on top OF them. The
saloon looked as IL a cyclone had suddenly
struck it..
I'VE reached Sitka on June ., with both
boats leaking badly. Capt. Scott heached
both river boats and put crew Of men at
work strengthening them. A portion of
the Hemrich's cargo was taken on board
the Laurada- On the last day of the month
they started out again. decided to re-
turn home and left the steamer
Del Norte's Troubles.
Tine Del Norte, with the river steamers
Milwaukee. Bradley and Crimmins and the
dredger barge Wisconsin In tow. reached
Juneau on July 8. Considerable repairs
were made to the boats and their position
in the line of tow shifted. On the eth the
fleet started out, but by o'clock that
night were back in port. They had gone
Just outside Cross sound when IL was de-
nided that the Wisconsin would have TO
be left behind She was leaking badly and
being heavily loaded was In no condition
10 stand the trip. Capt. Allen beached
the barge at Juneau and. picking up The
other three boats. again started out to sea
The passengers on the Milwaukee were
very much dissatisfied