Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1921-09-23

San Francisco, July 21st, 1921.
Mr.. Elwood Patton,
Portland, Oregon.
Dear Sir:
You will no doubt be surprised 70
hear from me at this time, as it is
long since we have seen or heard from
each other. l remember both you
and your brother Charles very well
and the times we used to have on the
steamer North Pacific. l left the
Sound country in 1885, and came to
California and have been here eve.
since. l write to let you know that
am still in the land of the living. No
doubt we both have seen many
changes, ups and downs, since last
we met, some time ago. l was talk.
ing to man from Oregon about the
different places and people. l asked
him if he knew any one by the name
of Elwood or Charles Patton. He said
there was lawyer by the name o!
Elwood Patton in Portland. Since then
l have read and seen the account Of
the steamship Governor being los.
near Port Townsend, which was g
very sad affair.
1t reminded me of the time the
steamer North Pacific ran on sunk
en- rock near San Juan island, when
we were all nearly lost. l was stew.
ard, and your mother two young sis
ters were amongst the passengers,
also Mr.. and Mrs. ]. D. Forbes, and
a young son and daughter. They
were right from the East. This wai;
their first trip ON the Sound Mr..
Forbes was. a shipbuilder and a sea-
faring man. We had an average list
of passengers, heavy freight, band
of sheep and ga head of fine large
beef cattle, intended for the Victoria
peoples Christmas beef. The cattle
were all on the forward deck. When
the steamer struck the rock, the cap
tain and Engineer Griffiths tried to
back her off, but she would not budgt.
Then the captain sent a messenger
ashore to telegraph to Victoria for
the steamer Isabel to come to our
assistance. It was then early in the
day. We were helpless. but in hopes
the steamer Isabel or some passing
vessel would. come to our assistance.
The day went by and no vessel came
Darkness came on and the storm
increased. The seas dashed over the
decks. The wind blew q terrific gale.
We could hear the steamer pound
and grind on the rocks. The cattle
moaned as II they knew their doom
was near. Engineer Griffiths sung
out to the captain that the water was
coming in faster than the pumps
could handle. Then Mr.. Forbes vol.
unteered to 90 down in the forecastl.'
with captain and John Dyer. the ship
carpenter to see what could be done
to stop the water from coming in.
When they came up l will never for
get the way the captain looked at
Mate Browner when he gave him or
ders to open the forward port gang
way and the gates, and throw the
cattle overheard. The cattle STAN
7edad and refused to 60. Then strong
men got behind the gates and forced
the cattle overheard in the foaming
seas below. q mile and a quarter
from shore, and we did not know how
soon we might have to share the
same fate as the cattle. Then the
captain gave orders to the mate to
lower and man the lifeboats and bring
them aft on the starboard side. Then
he gave me orders to get the passen-
gers all ready to 60 ashore, women
and children first. Now, Mr.. Patton
your mother and two young sisters
were aboard. I chose them first.
saw they had their little mitts, shoes
and stockings on and were warmly
wrapped up. toow them by the hnad.
We started in the lead and babe the
rest to follow, II / remember right.
Mrs. Forbes and her young son AMI
daughter came next. We went down
the midship stairs to the lower deck.
The steamer was rocking to and fro.
The night was dark and bitter cold.
Then Captain Star, Mr.. Forbes, john
Dyer and other came with life pre-
servers, ropes, and heaving lines.
The passengers gathered round. That
was a trying time. 1t looked as II
the fatal hour had come. Many j
silent prayer was said, and many a
silent tear was shed. Among the
passengers were the two drovers.
Jackson and Spurlock. They went
ashore, but we kept the dogs and
sheep aboard. We tied the lines
around the waist of each and every
one, your mother and sisters first.
We signaled the mate all ready. We
lowerod than down in Tho 1ifohoat ~,