The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-11-27
Seattle
CRAFT IS
BATTERED
BY gale
Much Damage Caused
Thruout City by Wind;
Tidal Wave Hits Beach


Captain A. Il. Jensen-by q feat
OF seamanship almost unparalleled
In the annals Of tho North Pa
cific, snatched his ship from the
Jagged rocks off james island. on
the south Washington coast yes
terday afternoon. and escaped 10
sea with his wife. baby and crew
from certain death. Is q question,
the answer Ia which marine cir.
cIes all up and down the coast
were breafhlessly waiting this A.
ternoon-
Jensen is--or was-commander Of
the five-masted steel schooner W. J.
Pierrie. which disappeared yesterday
In the screaming gs,le that dashed
the Pacific. When last seen the ship
was close 10 the rocks Of the island
with the gale driving her in on them.
But today. according to all avail
able reports. she is not there. And
this has raised the hope that Cnpe-
Jense. with extraordinary. cunning.
managed TO slip out OF the trap lad
by the elements.
The Pirrie. loaded with 600 900 feet
Of lumber was being towed BY the
sseamship Santa Rita. bound TN
Tacma TO San Francisco.
When the storm was az n height
yesterday afternoon the Santa Rita
driven with her tow close TO the
dangerous rocks off James island.
near the mouth OF the Quiliayuto
river. on the Southern Washington
coast. was forced to drop the Pirrio
TO save herself.
SANTA RITA BATTLES
WAY TO SAFETY
The Santa Rita then managed 10
battle her way thru the mountainous
seas TO comparative safety off shore.
II was at 2:3o yesterday afternoon
that the Santa Rita dropped her
tow. Since then nothing has been
heard from the Pirrie. She was
swallowed up i'm the seas. On board.
besides a crew OF is. were Capt. a.
B. Jensen. his wife and baby.
First reports that the ship wns
driven onto the rocks were discount-
ed today at the Seattle office Of
Grace q Co.. owners OF the two ves-
sels.
The fact that the Pirrie rs a full.
rugged schooner. capable OF proceed
ing under her own canvas, led com
pany officials TO hope that Capt
Jensens good seamanship may have
saved the craft.
Capt. Charles c. Morris. mar1nD
superintendent Of the company here.
said he believed the Pirrie may
possibly be safely at sea today. Tho
fact that the government tug Sno-
homish. which arrived off James
island late this forenoon. reported IN
a radio intercepted here that she
had found no trace OF the ship was
hailed as good news by Capt. Morris.
The Santa Rita sent a radio to the
Seattle office at a. m. that she was
all right and was standing by safe
distance off the island
The Moerdyke. Bearport and Lake
steamers which were held
outside the Columbia river bar Fri
day. due TO the terrific gale. all
crossed in during the night and this
and arrived safely at A.
toria today. according TO United
Press message.
The storm at the mouth Of the
Columbia river has abated and no
further trouble Is expected in that
Grace 4 Co. at a. m. sent NEE
sage TO the Santa Rita asking her
TO resume search for the Pirrie as
soon as dawn broke. Capt. Morris
said he expected to hear from the
Santa Rita about noon. but late to-
day no word had cme.
Shipping men here declared today
that the storm which raged off the
North Pacific coast last night was
one OF the worst blows in years. Out
bound vessels were lying in sheltered
spots wherever possible.
GALE REACHES VELOCITY
OF IS MILES AN HOUR
The gale. at times reaching a vc-
locity estimated at rs miles an hour,
backed up tides along the watcr
fronts of Marshfield, Astoria and
Aberdeen. causing damage to ship
ping and supplies stored in ware
houses. Industries in Marshfiel1
and some lumber mills in Aberde1D
were forced TO suspend operations
Plate glass windows were reporte0
blown In at Hoquiam. The rivers
In that section were reported rum
ming bank full. flooding low-lying
roads.
STORM DOES SEVERE
DAMAGE IN SEATTLE
In the wake of terrific storm
that lashed the Coast and inland har-
pors thruout the night. playing has-
DC with shipping at sea and other
property ashore, lay scene of de- Z
struction and strewn wreckage early
Today that has been unparalleled il
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