Los Angeles herald., 1906-01-03
STEAMER CITY Of
PUEBLO IN PERIL
IN DISTRESS OFF MOUTH OF
COLUMBIA RIVER
Signals That Her Tail Shaft ls Broken.
Report That She Has Been
Aided by the Steamer
Chehalis
Rr Assncinted Isrean

I
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 2.-The
steam schooner Charles Nelson, which
arrived here this morning from Seat
tie and Tacoma, reports that at D.
n. on Saturday she passed the steam
er city Of Pueblo off the mouth of the
Columbia river in distress, having
broken her shaft. No assistance could
be rendered at the time The City of
Pueblo is bound from Alaska and
Puget Sound ports to this city.
According to the statement of Capt.
Preble of the steam schooner Nelson
the city of Pueblo was about 30 miles
off the Columbia river bar when his
vessel approached. She was under
fore and after sails and signaled that
her tail shaft was broken Although
the sea was running very high, he Sue
ceeded I'm getting out tow lines, but
both soon parted. A collision between
the two vessels then was narrowly
averted Seeing that further attempts
at rescue might result in a greater dis
aster Capt. Preble decided to run for
this port and report the condition of
the disabled vessel. He says that if
the weather is favorable she is In no
immediate danger, though her passen-
gers may suffer a scarcity of provi-
sions. AS near as he could Judge there
are about $50 persons on the City of
Pueblo.
Il did my best to earn about $50. 900
salvage money" said Capt. Preble.
'and save the lives of the Pueblos pas
sengers and crew, but it was no use.
The seas were running like mountains
and every one went over me so that !
was in danger of going to the bottom
myself. The strain on our machinery
u in fnT 81,
we got line aboard her thought it
would yank the stem out of us.
THE passengers crowded the rail in
spite of the storm to encourage us.
but at last the strain was too much for
our machinery and a pipe in the boiler
gave way. Then we had to quit and
look to ourselves. We were in more
immediate danger just then than the
big ship, for she could at least keep
her head up to the seas with what
canvas she had spread
After we left her and had made re-
pairs we sighted the steamer Whittier
and the steamer Queen and told both
where to find the Pueblo. l think one
of them will surely find her and tow
her into port. If the Whittier gets
there first she will get the salvage"
Captain Preble said the storm was
the worst he had ever experienced. and
that it is no wonder the Pueblo
wrenched off her propeller shaft trying
to ride out the gale He had high
praise for the GOODNESS of Captain Jep-
son. and said that there was perfect
discipline among the crew of the
steamship and no panic among the pas
sengers. AS long as the Pueblo can
keep her head to the storm. he said.
she win be all right, but if she is driv-
en- before it there is little leeway be-
tween her and the cruel teeth of the
reefs that line the coast
No word had been received at the
Offices of the Pacific Coast Steamship
regarding the fate of the
Pueblo. The officers are confident that
either the Whittier or the Queen will |
pick her up and tow her safely into |
port. Still, great anxiety is felt for |
the disabled ship.
The City of Pueblo which belongs
to the Pacific Coast Steamship COM
pany, is an iron screw steamer, built |
in 1881 by Cramp & Sons. She is 800 |
feet inches long, 3S feet inches beam |
and 26 feet 3 inches deep. Her regis
tered tonnage is 2024, the net tonnage |
being 1113 Her commander is r. Jep- |
son, an experienced navigator of |
Pacific coast waters. On December % |
she sailed for Seattle with a number
of passengers and cargo of general |
She does not go fur
ther north, but connects at that port |
with vessels from Alaska.