The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1901-12-18
THE RUTH SANK
She Lies in the Willamette Opposite

Corvallis Her Cargo.
AS result of an accident at five
fo'cIock yesterday morning, the fine
river steamer Ruth, which plies be-
tween Corvallis and Portland is
lhung on a huge snag in the Wiz
fliamette, half way between the Q
r B N dock and Fischer's mill.
| The bow points to the southeast and
| ia forty feet from shore in six feet
iof water. The stern points north
westerly and is out in the channel,
submerged until the water reaches
1.-The bottom of the cabin windows.
The water at the stern is II or ID
feet deep. In the bottom of the
boat there is huge hole, supposed
to be 80 feet long and four feet
wide. Through it a big stream of
water flows, passing up through the
cabins and out over the decks on
the lower side All cargo and pas
sengers have been removed, and
the boat lies easy, being held firm
ly by lines to the shore and by the
huge snag that still holds to the
hull with great force.
The accident happened at five
o'clock yesterday NOR ming. The
Ruth had arrived from Portland
at two. She had number of pas
sengers on board and these were
still in their berths when the accid-
ent occurred. After discharging
cargo, she took on board $4,000.
pounds of p1unes and carload of
oats. Then she left her dock and
started for Fischer's mill for ad-
ditional cargo. Pilot Oliver was
at the wheel, and Captain Inmap
was iu his berth, asleep. The
boat was movind along in the us.
ual channel, when without. warning
she struck the snag with consider.
able force.
Her momentum carried her ahead,
apparently 80 feet, tearing a:hole
in the hull ae she went. Within
few; seconds she stopped, and the
bow began to swing around towards
the east bank. Within two min
| utes the hold was full of water, and
the boat had sunk as far into the
water as the snag in her hull would
permit. ...
"The passengers were all badly
frightened, said Captain Inman,
"and rushed about the boat in wild
] confusion. One man came out of
his berth with his trousers on
wrong side before. Some.of the
scenes enacted were amusing. We
soon got the passengeas ashore in
boats however, without accident"
AS soon as the character of the
accident was ascertained, the crew
began at once the removal of the
cargo. With this accomplished,
the boat, held firmly by lines ashore
and by the snag lies easy, and
| is in no danger. A difficulty of her
situatiea is thatsshe cannot be pull
led off. The presence of@the snag
| in her hull wiH prevent that She
| will have to be lifted off, and for
| this purpose a steamboat, barge
and wreeking timbers are expected
| up frofa Portland today.
It will be some time before the
Ruth can again go into service. At
ter her removal from her present
! position the matter of repairs will
/ involve "a considerable. difficulty.
| The lack of a convenient spot Tor
beaehing her near her present To-
cation makes complications. Most
of the crew have been temporarily
laid OFF, pending repairs to the boat.
The snag struck the hull near
the boilers and tore its way aft for
a distance .ef 30 feet. The snag is
supposed to have lodged in the
channel during the recent freshets,
as the channel is the same that is
habitualiy used by passdn g
steamers.
\