The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-09-15
Corrects Erroneous Report

When the steamer Spencer went
aground on the Sands above Rowena
lasc July, the report was circulated that
Captain Spencer had asked aid from the
steamer Bailey Gatzert and was refused.
TO correct this report, II. G. Campbell,
manager of the Regulator line, has fur
nished the Glacier copies of the follow
ing correspondence that passed between
the interested parties and the steam
boat inspectors at Portland:
Portland, July Is, t4-Messrs. Ed
wards & Fuller, Local Inspectors-Gen-
temen: On Wednesday, July l3, while
the steamer Spencer was lying near the
shore at Rowena slightly aground, a
line was run out to deep water and the
steamer Bailey Gatzert was hailed for
assistance, but after finding out what
was wanted, replied that they did not
have time. The wind was blowing very
moderately at the time, it being posi-
BILE for small boat to be rowed with a
coil of 2-inch line and two men in it
with no trouble whatever. Hoping this
matter comes under your supervising,
we remain Yours sincerely,
THE DALLEs TRANsP. Co.
(Sd) by G. r. Spencer.
Department of Commerce and Labor,
Steamboat Inspection Service, Office OF
Local Inspectors, Portland, Greg, July
10, l904.-Capt. +. II. Sherman, Master
Str. Bailey Gatzert, Portland, Oregon
Captain: Enclosed please find copy OF
report in re grounding of str. Chas. R.
Spencer, which is respectfully referred
to you for your reply. Very respect
fully, F. E. EDWARDS,
GEO. +. FULLER.
Local Inspectors.
Portland, Or, July q, 1904 -Messrs.
Edwards 4 Fuller, L. S. Local Inspect
ors, Portland, Or.-Dear Sirs: received
this morning your letter and also copy
Of letter of Dalles Transportation Co.,
by c. r. Spencer.
The steamer Chas. +. Spencer ground.
ed on the morning of July l3, 10 4,
above Rowena, and the next evening, as
| was going to The Dalles with the
steamer Bailey Gatzert, Charles Spencer
came out with life-boat having a line
coiled in one end. He hailed me and
asked to have me give the Spencer a
pull. | told him that the wind was toe
strong, and with all my passengers and
freight on board, | did not consider il
safe to get in that shoal water, but
would come back; SO proceeded on to
The Dalles. After arriving at The
Dalles met Captain K. W.Spencer and
told him about being hailed, and also
told him, as the water was so shOal SC
far out from the Spencer, and that the
GatZert was such a poor hacker in shoal
water, and with the wind blowing, | did
not consider it safe that evening. Sc
he told me that if | could do anything
for him the next morning he would be
very much pleased. / told him if the
wind was not blowing too hard l would
do anything | could. The next morn
ing was going to give him pull, a'
the3e was very little wind, but when We
got there he did not want a pull bu
sent II of his crew down with us (threC
boat loads.
At the time the Spencer grounded
there was at The Dalles gauge u OS fee
and today 23.07 feet. As we came NJ
today the sand was bare out about 2Ot
or 300 feet from the bow and about 40l
or 500 feet from the stern of the Spencer
We also had a passenger lor the Spence
and they came out fOr him in the life
boat. The wind was blowing about th'
same as on the 18th, and it was impos
sible to keep the Gatzerts stern to th'
wind, and She blew almost clear arounC
and backing with the wheel hard over
At the time | was hailrd to give th'
Spencer pull she had been aground 70
36 hours, and she was in no danger o
going TO pieces, and lives were not il
danger. In lew minutes after tn
Spencer grounded the Dalles City ven
10 her assistance, and the next morning