The San Francisco call., 1901-12-05
SHIP NELSON
DISAPPEARS
DURING GALE
Probable Loss Of Vessel
and Crew Of Twenty
Eight Men.
Hawser Parts While Tug Is
Towing Disabled Brit
ish Craft.
Lights Are Suddenly Extinguished
and Diligent Search for Hours
Fails to Reveal Any
Trace of Her.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

ASTORIA, Or, Dec. 4-The British ship
Nelson is believed to have turned turtle
during the terrible storm last night and
gone to the bottom, carrying her crew
of twenty-eight men. Tugboat owners
here are inclined to be optimistic. but
there is ample reason for the fear that
the ship has been lost. Whether or not
this is the case will not be known until
tomorrow, by which time, if the Nelson
is still afoat, she should be sighted off
the Columbia.
The Nelson sailed from Astoria on No
vember % for the United Kingdom, car
rying cargo of 63,715 bushels of wheat,
valued at $35, 200. 1t has been said that
she was overloaded, but the truth of this
assertion cannot be vouched for. What
transpired during the seven days which
elapsed before the ship was again sighted
is not known here, but it is presumed the
vessel was damaged during the gales
which ragged along the coast. On Mon
day night she was reported to be off the
river, looking for a tug, though she was
not flying distress signals at the time.
Yesterday morning the tug wallula
tug Tattoosh also passed hawser. 1t
was the intention to bring the vessel into
port, but the bar was very rough and 1ne
attempt was abandoned.
Lights Suddenly Disappear.
The tugs held on to the Nelson until
late in the afternoon, when gale came
up. The storm was so severe that the
vessel would have been driven ashore
had the tugs remained in their position,
so the Tattoosh started with the Nelson
for Puget Sound. The Wallula. being
short of fuel, returned to port.
The start for the north was made at
o'clock yesterday afternoon. At that
hour the storm was quite severe, but
later as night came on the gale increased
/ in fury and soon reached the proportions
of a hurricane The great steel hawser
held until e:45 o'clock last night, when at
the height Of the gale it suddenly snapped
close to the ship. Instantly the vessels
lights, which were easily distinguishable
J before that time, disappeared.
Whether the Nelson turned turtle time
alone Will tell. The storm was a terrific
one and the seas were running mountain
high. The Tattoosh stood by, and during
the remainder of the night looked for the
vessel, without finding the slightest trace
Of her. 1t is usual under such circum-
stances for a ship to flash blue light,
thus acquainting the tug with the fact
that all is well on board. This was not
done by the Nelson, nor could any other
light be seen, though the tug made
thorough search in the vicinity. When
day broke there was no trace of the ship
Tug Captains Are Hopeful.
Captain Bailey of the Tattoosh believes
the vessel is safe and that she will show
up at Cape Flattery tomorrow. He says
he realizes she may have met disaster,
but believes the chances are in favor Of
her being safe. All of the tugboat men
were reticent when asked about the con-
dition of the Nelson at the time she was
picked up. Captain Perriam of the Mel
son is reported to have said that all his
canvas except jib was carried away
but the tugboat men refuse to confirm
this. All agree, however. that the vessel
would be at the mercy of the elements
unless she were provided with sails.
It is also said the Nelson's bulwarks
and boats had been smashed and that
she was generally in a crippled condition.
She was a stanch ship and efficiently
commanded. A tug has been ordered out
from the Sound to look for her, while two
tugs will leave Astoria in the morning on
a similar mission. From the best in
formation at hand, it would appear the
chances for the vessels safety are slen-
! der.
Those Aboard the Nelson.
The Nelson's cargo of lumber was con-
signed to Cape Town, South Africa, by
Taylor, Young & Co. of Portland.
The following is a partial list Of the
crew: Captain Perriam. First Mate w.
/ Strachan, Second Mate ]. J. Tillsley;
seamen- - Viclkmar. NJ Peterson. Lars
Peterson, D. Beste. A. Johansen, ]. Jen-
sen, +. Larsen, j. Torell, John Mealcy,