The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-04
WRECKED BY THE GALE
Crew of the Protection Were
Near to Death.
BUfFETEO BY THE WAVES
The Escape was Made In Two Life Boats
While the Steam Schooner Was
sinking-Rsscued by the
Colgate.

AStorla, Ore., Jan. 3.-The British
bark Colgate. Captain Griffith, arrived
here to-day. having on board Captain
O. Erickson and IA of the shipwrecked
crew Of the steam schooner Protection,
which foundered 30 miles Off the mouth
of Columbia river at 4 o'clock on the
morning of January 1. The Protection
left Seattle at o'clock Thursday. De-
cember 29. with $50 tons of coal for
San Francisco. The weather was fine
until approaching the mouth OF the
Columbia. when a heavy southeast gale
sprang up. The Protection was steam
ing under low bell and the sea was
running very high. washing over the
vessel fore and aft. On the morning
of Saturday, December 81, Chief En-
gineer Moores reported the ship leaking
and the pumps were Immediately
manned. The water in the vessels hold
was found to be gaining on the pumps.
which were becoming choked with the
slack coal.
The gale increased in fury and the
steamer rolled and pitched heavily. 1t
was then determined to jettison the
cargo. and about 30 tons were discharg-
ed from the 'tween-decks Finding the
water steadily gaining. all hands were
again ordered to the pumps. The men
remained at them all of Saturday night
and towards morning five feet of water
was discovered in the hold and the
steamer appeared to be sinking The
vessel was listing to starboard and her
stern was seen to be fast going down
Huge waves continually swept over ner
forward and aft, and Captain Erick-
son saw that his vessel would surely
go down. At o'clock on the morning
of January l the lifeboats were ordered
lowered. Second Assistant Engineer
Carvey. while engaged i'm the work.
was struck by the swinging OF one of
the boats and knocked overheard and
drowned.
In the darkness no assistance could
be rendered the unfortunate man. Af-
ter much difficulty. the lifeboats were
launched and the steamer abandoned
First Officer Griffin had charge of one
and Captain Erickson commanded the
other lifeboat. Seven men embarked in
each boat. The boats were supplied
with water, meat and crackers, but
the latter were useless, as they soon
became wet. The boats were able 70
keep close together during the day, cl-
though the storm continued and but lit
tie headway could be made toward
land. The men suffered terribly from
cold, as they had saved nothing from
the sinking steamer but the clothes
they had on. AS the boats pulled
away the Protection was laboring in
the heavy sea. She still remained afioat
during half an hour before she was lost
to view. Captain Erickson and First
officer Griffin agreed to steer on a GER
tain course during the night but the
two boats soon separated after dark
ness set in and were lost to view
The cold was intense and some of
the men in Captain Erickson's boat
were growing weak. During the night
the second officer fell overheard from
the boat, and being exhausted. would
have drowned had not CAPTAIN Erick-
son saved him. He grasped the man
and pulled him into the boat. The
man lay down i'm the boat, limp and al
most lifeless.
Shortly after daylight a sail was
sighted which proved to be the British
bark Colgate. The two boats were
soon together again and sighted the
Colgate about the same time. Every
one being drenched with water the ves-
sci COULD not be signalled, but the ship
wSecked crews soon saw the Colgate
was coming to their rescue About 9
o'clock Monday morning the boats were
alongside the Colgate and were soon
on board. Some of the men were so
exhausted that IL was necessary to haul
them on board the vessel with rones
Another night in the boat. Captain
Erickson says, would have caused the
death of two or three of the men. Cap
tain Erickson and each man of the
ship-wrecked crew speak In high terms
of their treatment by Captain Griffith
and Mrs. Griffith. Every comfort pos
sible was provided until they were
landed in Astoria to-day.
Captain Griffith saws that early Mon
day morning. when Is miles northwest
of Cape disappointment. the two boats
were sighted. but We're at first believed
to be two buoys adrift. BY means of
his glass. Captain Griffith soon dis
covered the objects were boats and con-
tained a ship-wrecked crew. The Col
gate stood of to sea during the night
and was picked up bv a tug this morn
ing and towed into port. The ship
wrecked crew were taken i'm charge to-
night by Captain Perriman, who is
here from San Francisco. and under
writer's OF the steamer Lakme. They
are quartered at the Barker house.
where they will remain until word Is
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