The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-11
RAvENCoURT GOES ASHORE.


hsAAvW Fever Snip N quarantine ut
\ Port Townsend Driven Ashore
In Fierce Gale of wind.
Special Dispatch to the acknowledgement.
PORT TOWNSEND. Dec. 10.-Misfor-
tunes thick and fast are following in the
wake OF the big British ship Ravenscourt,
now on her irst voyage 20 this side Of the
world. and shipping men are becoming
confirmed In the belief that the vessel is
suffering from a hoodoo OF some sort.
Three months ago the Ravenscourt arrived
at Panama. just In time to run into the
epidemic OF yellow fever then at its height
In the equatorial ZONES. Eight men abord,
including the master and first oficer were
stricken with the disease, and four of the
number succeumbed. The officers and two
OF the forecastle hands survived the raw
ages OF the disease. and all haste was
made to set away from the epidemic
stricken port.
The Ravenscourt arrived here on Thurs
day last. after encountering some of the
terrific weather that has prevailed or
the coast for the past two months, and
dropped anchor. only to find that, In
stead Of proceeding without delay to her
loading port. 1t was necessary before the
customs authorities would permit her to
enter to pass through the ordeal Of fumi-
cation at the hands OF the United States
quarantine officers to prevent the admis-
sion into the Sound country of any OF
the germs of the dreaded yellow Jack.
To accomplish this the vessel had to be
taken to the government station at Dia-
mond point south OF here, and there not
only undergo thorough fumigation for
the men and quarters, but also discharge
all ballast and have 1t subjected to the
steam process through which the disease
germs Are killed.
On Saturday morning the Ravenscourt
was towed down to the station by a tug
The master of the towing vessel admon-
ished Capt. Scott against depending upon
the government buoy of the quarantine
station for an anchorage, but that this
good advice was not needed became APP
parent late Saturday night when q tele-
graphic message from the quarantine
officer in charge brought information that
a fierce gale prevailed. and the vessel
was slowly but surely dragging ashore
on the rough beach.
No tug was in port, and even the reve-
nue. cutters could not be secured at the
time. Later, however. Capt. Bailey, with
the big Tyee, was dispatched to the relief
of the vessel and succeeded in securing
her for tow to safe anchorage up the
bay few hours after the vessels stern
had struck. She was pounding hard
when the tug arrived. and only the great
power Of the Tyee prevented her becom-
ing a total wreck. As It Is. the vessel
is 80 badly damaged that she will have
TO go on tne uTyuoCA loI HcPaHs'
1t at first looked as though the govern
ment would be called on to settle dam
ages for the injuries sustained while In
the hands of the quarantine officials,
but the prospects of this. or even of the
insurance people losing anything, are de-
cidedly slim, according to the story mar
rated by q man who visited the scene.
Instead of needing Capt. Bailey's advice
about the buoy. 1t would appear that
Capt. Scott had taken no further pre-
caution and It Is said that even while
the stern was grinding on the beach the
anchors were swinging idly over the side.
While the holding ground Immediately
about the buoy IS not of the best, mari
ners say Capt. Scott could have, and
should have. taken steps to save his ves-
sci from grounding by dropping out his
heavy anchors. The fumigation process
has been delayed by the accident, and it
IL now an uncertainty as to the date
when the vessel with finally be discharged
from the custody of the quarantine Of
ficials and permitted to proceed up Sound
to take on cargo.