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

bark Colgate, Captain Griffith, arrived
here to-day, having on board CAPTAIN
y. Erickson and IA of the shipwrecked
crew OF the steam schooner Protection.
which foundered 80 miles off the month
OF Columbia river at o'clock on the
morning OF January /. The Protection
left Seattle at 2 o'clock Thursday. De-
| cember 80, with $50 tons of coal for
oah francisco. The weather was fine
until approaching the mouth of the
columbia, when heavy southeast gale
sprang up The Protection was steam
| ing under low bell and the sea was
running very high, washing over the
Vessel lore and aft. On the morning
OF Saturday, December 81, Chief En-
sIneef Moofes reported the ship leaking
ana the pumps were immediately
manned. The water in the vessels hold
| was found to be gaining on the pumps,
Whlch We're becoming choked with the
slack COAL
Ihe gale increased in fury and the
steamer rolled and pitched heavily. 1t
was then determined to jettson the
cargo, and about 30 tons We're discharg-
ed from the 'tween-decks, Finding tha
again ordered to the pumps. The men
renamed at them all of Saturday night
ana 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
n auge waves continually swept over ner
forward and aft, and Captain Erick-
son saw that his vessel would SURELY
go down. At 4 O'Clock on the morning
OF January 1 the lifeboats We're ordered
lowered. Second Assistant Engineer
CarVey while engaged in 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. Ar
ter much difficulty. the lifeboats were
launched and the steamer abandoned,
First Officer Griffin had charge of one
and captain Erickson commanded III.
other lifeboat. Seven men embarked in
each boat. The boats We're supplied
with water, meat and crackers but
,he latter We're useless, as they soon
became wet. The boats were able to
keep close together during the day. ri
though the storm continued and but Nt-
tie headWay could be made toward
land. The men suffered terribly from
eold' as they had saved nothing from
the sinking steamer but the clothes
they mad on AS the boats pulled
away the Protection was laborng in
the heavy sea. She still remained afoa+
during half an hour before she was hoet
to view. Captain Erickson and First
ofncer Griffin agreed to steer on GER
tam course during the night, but the
Two poats soon separated after dark
ness set in and We're 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 fron,
the boat. and being exhausted, would
nave drowned had not CAPTAIN Erick-
son saved him. He grasped the man
and pulled him into the boat, The |
man lay down in the boat linn and al |
most lifeless
Shortly after daylight a sail was
slghted which proved to be the British |
bark Colgate The two boats were |
soon together again and sighted the |
colgate about the same time. Eyerv- |
one being drenched with water the YES |
sci could not be signalled, but the ship |
wrecked crews soon saw the Colgate |
was coming to their rescue. About |
alongside the Colgate and were soon |
on board. Some of the men We're so
exhausted that it was necessary to ham
them on board the vessel with ropes
Another night in the boat, Captain
erickson says, would have caused the
death of two or three of the men. Can
tam s1li Erlckson and each man of the
snip wrecked crew speak in high terms
Oh their treatment by Captain Griffith
and ana Mrs. Griffith. Every comfort pos
slble was provided until they were
landed in Astoria to-day.
captain Griffith SAYS that early Mon
day morning. when IS miles northwest
OF Cape Disappointment, the two boats
were sighted, but were at first believed
to be two buoys adrift. BY means of
his glass. Captain Griffith soon dis
covered the objects We're boats and con-
tanned ship-wrecked crew. The Col
sate gar stood off to sea during the night
iha was picked up by tug this morn
ing and towed into port. The shin
wrecked crew We're taken in charge to-
1lght by Captain Perriman. who is
acre from San Francisco, and under
writer's of the steamer Lakme. They
ire IRE quartered at the Barker house
Nnere they Will remain until word is
,ecelVed from the owners of the Pro-
ection in San Francisco