The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-01-05
SEA AND SHORE
Wreck of Bark COIusa
Off Sitka Coast.
Liner Mariposa in Port - KaiuIani
Ar,ves--New Customs Official
--lsIand Shipping.

Tired and worried steamship men
busy about the despatching of freight;
anxious merchants and Pakes fright
ened and desperate at the annoying
turn Of affairs; long lines of drays
awaiting unloading at the Fort street
wharf; these were the signs on the
waterfront yesterday of the sad condi-
ton of the shipping in port At ,
o'clock in the morning the Oceanic lin
er MaripOsa was off Koko Head. and
when she came to an anchorage in Ma
val Row there was a sigh of relief that
Commander Houdlette has not given
his old friends the go-by. and although
his immaculate and well-known. figure
did not appear on Fort street. there
were many who yelled a greeting to
/ him across the water. The Mariposa
brought a light freight and number
or passengers and sailed for ADia
Auckland and Sydney last night. The
new Wilder steamer kaiulani is in
port. having arrived from Kahului yes
terday. She took a berth near the
Railway wharf and will probably get
despatch within a short time for ISL
and ports. The James Makee sailed in
the evening for Kauai, having two pas
sengers who came on board without
contact from off the Mariposa, one
being Otto Schmidt, the well-knOwn
chemist of the Makee Sugar Company,
who is returning to Kapaa after a visit
to the States.
Wreck of the Colusa.
PORT TOWNSEND. Wash, Dec. %.
\ tale of shipwreck and suffering
reached here tonight by the arrival of
the steamship Cottage City with Cap
tain George Fl. EwaTt, his wife and
eleven seamen from the bark Colusa,
which was recently reported as having
fOundered off the Vancouver coast.
Captain Ewart reports that he was
only twenty days in reaching Cape
Flattery from Kahului, but after reach
ing that point heavy gales were en-
countered, driving the vessel within
three miles of the Vancouver coast, but
he succeeded in keeping her off the
rocks by spreading every stitch of
canvas.
For ten days the vessel battled with
the elements and during that time she
sprang a leak. The pumps were start
ed, but her ballast being sand. much
of it was pumped out, while the re-
naming portion was washed to the
port side. forming mud and causing a
heavy list. Every effort was made to
turn the ship without avail and
she became manageable and was
driven hither and thither at the mercy
of the gale.
An effort was made to reach port on
the north end of Vancouver without
success. the fury of the storm carry
ing the vessel northward. Captain
Ewart tried to enter Dixon entrance
on the Alaska coast, but again failed,
and then he headed for Sitka On No
vember 22d the crew gave up all hope
of saving the vessel and appealed in a
body to the captain to abandon the
ship. but he refused, staying by his
vessel until December 10th. when he
saw sure death ahead for himself and
crew, and in less than one hour after
abandoning the bark she was dashed
to pieces on the rocky shore OF Whale
bay. twenty-five miles south of Sitka
Before leaving the vessel she had
reached a point off Sitka harbor,
where rockets were fired and flash
lights burned for two nights, but no
assistance could be obtained. A storm
came up and the vessel was driven
southwark, and when it was seen that
she was going ashore boats were low
cred and manned, the captain, his wife
and nine seamen in one boat and the
mate and three sailors in another
During the first night the boats be-
came separated in the storm and dark
ness and for two nights, during blind
ing snow and a cold wind, the two
boats were tossed about helplessly. On
the third day shore was reached and
landing was effected with great diff
Guilty, as the coast is rugged and the
breakers ran high. After reaching
shore two nights were spent on the
frozen ground. with a fierce Arctic
wind blowing. causing much suffer-
ing among the crew, some of whom
had their feet badly frozen. The Cap
tain's wife was the greatest sufferer
from the effects of the cold.
On the fifth day the storm subsidized
and they managed 10 reach Sitka,
where the men We're placed in the Ma
rine Hospital. During this time the
mates boat had drifted about and had
succeeded in reaching Sitka and sought
assistance to go in search of the cap
tain's boat. The steamer Golden Gate
was the only steam vessel in port at
that time and it is said her captain re-
fused to render assistance.
Captain EwaTt reports that while off
Cape FlatteTy he was in company with
the schooner American Girl for sever
al days and during that time she
seemed to be in good condition. The
Colusa had a mascot on board in the
shape of a black cat, which, when the
vessel was being abandoned. was over
looked, but just as the second boat was /.
leaving the vessel the cat jumped from
the main deck into the lifebOat and
was saved and brought down with the F.
crew on the Cottage City.
Mariposa's Good Record