The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-11-10
IS
LOST AT SEA
Charles Nelson Fills of Heceta
Head and Is Abandoned by
Passengers and Crew.
HER PUMPS WOULD NOT WORK
Deck Seams Opened and Hold
Filled-Crew Picked Up
and Sent On 20 San
Francisco.
HER PUMPS WOULD NOT WORK

which departed from Astoria last Tues
day for San Pedro. Cal with a cargo Of
72e. 900 feet of lumber. filled In the storm
Of last week off Heceta Head. 200 miles
down the coast, and was abandoned at
rea. fhe "a persons constituting her
passengers and crew were rescued by
the tug Sea Rover, which arrived In
port Sunday from San Francisco.
Captain Thompson. OF the Sea Rover,
reports that he picked up the hapless
mariners on Sunday morning, after
they had been In open boats for 30
hours. The party showed the effects Of
its long exposure to the elements, but
IN were well. The collier Titania,
bound for San Francisco, came along.
and the survivors, were placed aboard
her and taken on to the Bay City.
According to the statement made by
captain Gunderson. OF the Nelson. the
loss OF the vessel was due 10 the work
Ing ,of the deck load Of lumber on
Thursday he steamer ran into q gale.
which Increased in fury as the day
wore on. During the morning the
Manclllons that held the deck load In
place pulled out. OPENING the Seams IN
The vessels deck, und the heavy seas
which repeatedly swept the steamer
alIed ner hold. The two boats were
lowered. and into these the passengers
were placed. The crew stayed with the
steamer until hope OF rightIng her was
gone. and then joined the passengers.
Captain Gunderson and II persons oc-
cuplea one of the boats, while the mate
and I5 persons occupied the second
boat.
Captain Gunderson reported to Cap
tain Thompson that the pumps wouln
not work during the blow. and that
when II became apparent the steamer
could not be kept clear, the deck load was
ordered thrown into the sea. Before
the men could set about to accomplish
this result. the sea swept the lumber
over the side. carrying away the posts
and opening up the deck. The pumps
had become choked and II was lmpossi-
bic TO keep the hold clear OF water.
Then the vessel was headed into the
sea, but she settled lower and lower ana
threatened to sink. Before the boats
were rowed away from the steamer
they were provided with provisions and
water.
"Our experience" Captain Gunderson
said, was a terrible one. We remain
ed In the vicinity Of the steamer during
Thursday, night. Friday morning the
vessel had settled so low In the water
that we gave up hope OF again boarding
her, and started down the coast. The
boats kept together, Friday evening
we sighted n steam schooner and sign
allied her. but she did not see us ana
passed on. Friday night was another
terrible one, and we anxiously awaited
the break of day. About o'clock we
sighted the tug Sea Rover and to our
great JOY our distress signals were
SEEN"
Two hours later the Sea Rover trans
ferred the Nelson's passengers ana
crew to the.Tltania and proceeded on
her way to Astoria. At noon on Satur-
day the tug sighted the steam schooner
Aurella with the derelict of the Nelson
In tow. The Aurelia had out a small
tow line and seemed to be making poor
headway against the storm. 1t was prob
able that she would be compelled to
drop her tow. Captain Thompson Of
fered to take the derelict from the
Aurelia. but the master OF the steam
schooner seemed disposed to hang onto
his prize, The Aurelia is bound from
Astoria for Monterey. Cal, with
cargo Of lumber, but will doubtless put
-.nto San Francisco II she succeeds IN
holding onto the Nelson.
The passengere who departed on the
Nelson were: r, o. Irwin, r. Sandrig'
J. G.. Bollinger. J. r. Wilson, Q. e.
Marsh, r. N. Williams. d. Williams
A. X. Clark and Philip Bailey.
The Nelson's cargo was loaded at
Westport.