The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-11-10
The Disabled British Bark Reaches
Astoria After Trying a Ex.
perience.
CAPTAIN DEN0UNcES CREW
Men Refused Duty at q Critical
Period-One Sailor wash
ed Overheard and
Drowned.


the coast during the past week. The
vessel lost much OF her canvas and one
OF her men. and Captain Nichol speaks
bitterly Of the cowardly action Of the
crew, which refused duty at a time
when It seemed the ship would be lost.
The vessel made here way back to the
Columbia river under staysails and
spanker and was picked UP Sunday
evening by the Tatoosh and wallula
and brought inside just in time TO es-
cape the severe gale which ragged for
four hours Sunday night.
Captain Nichol reports that MS vessel
left Astoria November 3, with cargo
OF wheat and -four, for Algoa Bay,
South Africa. The weather was ine at
the time, but the morning OF the 4th
opened cloudy, with every indication Of
a gale. The wind increased In velocity.
and during the afternoon the foresaii
was blown away. Shortly afterward
The topsstil was split into ribbons. The
braces Of the main topgailant yard
broke loose and we're so until Friday
when temporary repairs were made.
Early In .he morning Of the 5th the
vessel went onto her beam ends, the
cargo shifting and giving her bad list
T., port Of about three feet, rendering
her unmanagable in the heavy sea that
was running. At this critical juncture
the crew refused to go on the forecastle
head and set jlb to bring the ship up
into the wind. and, at the height Of the
gale. when every man was needed, five
OF the crew deliberately turned In, with
the statement that they did not purpose
losing their lives.
About this time Captain Nichol lost
the only seaman aboard who was
worthy the name. The unfortunate
man was Julius Hansen.a German, who
was washed into the sea by wave that
swept over the vessel. Efforts were
made to save Hansen. but proved futile
and he was drowned in short time.
The seas were running mountains high
and boat could not be launched.
Even had 1t been possible to put boat
In the water. Captain Nichol says the
crew would not have manned 1t.
The ship weathered the gale in safety,
staysails and spanker were set and the
vessel headed for the Columbia, to
which she succeeded in working her
way.
Captain Nichol expressed the utmost
contempt for the members of the crew,
whom he denounces as ours and cow
ards. When the salvation of the ship
depended upon the prompt action Of the
men. they fatty refused duty, and at
the height OF the gale demanded of the
captain that they be permitted to cut
away the masts. The Duns Laws
masts are of steel and the operation
suggested by the crew would doubtless
have proven an interesting one for the
men. The vessel presents dreary ap-
pearance, and master and aen show
the effects of their terrible experience.
1t is reported that the vessel struck
while being towed in Sunday, but no
damage could have been done, as she
crossed the bar at high water. Cap
tain veysey. Lloyds' surveyor, will be
down from Portland today TO make an
official examination of the Duns Law.
julius Hansen, the sailor who was
lost, signed on at Portland october 8.
He was an able bodied seaman, 80
years of age, and gave his address as
Starr street, st. PAUL.. Hamburg. Han
sen recently came out from Germany
with his wife and child to Portland, but
the wife ran away with saloon keeper
taking the child with her. Hansen be-
came involved in trouble with the sa-
loon man, was arrested ans sentenced
to 30 days Imprisonment in Jail. Cap
tain Nichol asked him If he wished to
ship and the man made an affirmative
reply, with the result that he took pass
age on the Duns Law. Captain Nichol
said yesterday that Hansen was the
only member of the crew upon whom he
could depend and he regrets very much
the loss of the man. who was thor
ough sailor, and the only one aboard
the ship.