THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAN- PORTLAND. DECEMBER 21, 1919.
CREW IS AT TABLE
Some Penned In When Stern
Sinks Rapidly.
ONLY WATCH ESCAPESl
Men on Duty on Deck Get Away in
Boat Which Is !Later Spilled
iu Second Line of Breakers.
20
TWO VICTIMS OF J. A. CHANSLOR WRECK, AND MASTER OF ILL-FATED CRAFT. fc "
WHEN SHIP
STRIKES
i Jp gj 'Portland wl j ' J " f
MARSHFIELD, Or., Dec. 20. (Spe
cial.) The death total in the wreck
of the Chanalor is 35, and of the crew
of 38 only Captain A. A. Sawyer, crew
steward, E. W. Dooley and William I
Merkel, quartermaster, live to tell the,
tale of the worst disaster that has!
marked maritime affairs on this sec
lion of the Oregon coast.
The crew of the Chanalor had no
time to escape, save 13 who got into
the lifeboat, and cleared five minutes
after she struck on a large rock, then
broke into pieces, the stern section
going- down at once. When the Chans-I
lor struck she was half a mile from!
shore and the water about was deep.
which accounts for the fact that no
nodles were found in that vicinity.
The crew were at supper below, and
those who escaped in the lifeboat!
were on watch forward
Afterward two sailors were picked
up half way between Bandon and the
wreck, clinging: to a staging, but they
died before the crew could force the
craft through the breakers north of
Bandon.
Second Breaker Spill Bpat.
After leaving the wreck the 13 men
and the two extra men picked up suf
fered severely from exposure and
wetting, as the seas were running
high and the waves were constantly
breaking over them. They suffered
through the night and all day yester
day and in a last effort to save them
selves agreed to run the lifeboat
through the breakers and take their
chances. They did not approach the
beach two and a half miles north of
Bandon until some time after dark
and they passed safely through the
first breaker, but were caught in the
second and all were spilled into the
surf. It was then every man for him
self and Merkel, Dooley and Captain
Sawyer played in the best luck. After
they landed it was found that Cap
tain Sawyer was badly bruised ' and
bad taken in a considerable amount
of water and he was unable to walk.
They dug him a hole in the sand to
aid in keeping him warm, while Mer
kel started out for assistance. He
reached Bandon about 7 o'clock and
there told the details of the disaster
and got help from the coast guard
station to bring in Captain Sawyer
and Steward Dooley.
Captain Sawyer was so badly beaten
by the boat which struck him several
times while he was in the eurf that
he was helpless. He was taken to the
Bandon hospital and , kept quiet all
last night and today with opiates,
but the word tonight 'was that he was
In a serious condition and will prob
ably develop pneumonia before "morn
ing. Dooley, as well, was not recov
ered. Merkel was being cared for also
and the Bandon folks are doing
everything to help them.
Not one body has been found in the
district about Cape Blanco although
searchers patroled there all of today.
Two others of the crew were Fran
cis Jackson, second assistant engi
neer, and Fred E. Tombaugh, wire
less operator. Jackson; the survivors
eaid, was on watch in the engine
room when, the stern of the vessel
went down, and had no opportunity
to get on deck and the etern. when
he broke off, tipped up at an angle
of 45 degrees and penned in all who
were below. ,
Seas Engrnlf Fugitive.
The story of William Merkel was
told today while going to and from
the locality where the "lifeboat was
wrecked. He said there had been some
fearful times while they were at sea
and none of them expected to get
shore at times when unusually large
seas would almost engulf them.
"We came in sight of the two sail
ers Friday. They had evidently been
floating about all night, but they had
stuck out with a fierce determination
but only to die on our hands after we
naa taken them into the lifehoat
Their support was a staging that was
used on the Chanslor by painters, and
when the ship went down they found
this refuge after having been down
in the water and floating and swim
ming about on. coming to the surface.
Messages have been received sev
eral times today from Cape Blanco
and the Hughes Bros. ranch in th
vicinity of the spot where the Chans
lor met her fate and. all have said
there seems no probability .of any
ooaies oeing lound. The currents
along that shore are such that
flotsam or bodies would be carried up
or down the beach. Searching par
ties were out last night and all day
today, but no sign was found of any
oocnes.
Derelict Drifts Toward Sea.
A. message late tonight said the
forward part of the vessel had
floated from the rock and was drift
ing out to sea and southward in the
vicinity of the cape. The survivors
said the reason nothing was known
of the wreck for 24 hours after it
occurred was the fact that the boat
went down so Quickly that there was
absolutely no chance to send out
wireless information advising of the
situation. Besides this, the operator
was at supper and perished with the
others who were dining and those in
the engine room.
Fog had been hanging about 'Cape
Blanco for several days and did not
lift so there was any visibility
towards the wreck until late In the
afternoon of Friday. The keeper of
the Cape Blanco lighthouse then saw
the wreck and made out he'r identity
Captain Johnson of the Bandon life
saving station intended leaving last
night at 7 for the wreck, but Quarter
master Merkel came with the story
before he got away.
The country about Cape Blanco Is
seven miles from the highway and
the Sixes river empties Into the ocean
a short distance above the lighthouse.
The Cape Blanco reef juts out In in
termittent pinnacles and somewhat
toward the north. The water where
the Chanslor struck is said to be from
0 to 150 feet in depth.
Quartermaster Merkel said there
were high seas running when the
vessel went on the rock and the crew
was fortunate to get a lifeboat over
board and rig-ht side up. Cor one
I'red Wilson has gone to Bandon to
take care of the bodies that -have
been found and those that are ex
pected to come ashore north of
Bandon. .
The Chanslor wreck is the Tors
In point , of death loss that has oc
curred in the remembrance of th
oldest Inhabitant on Coos Bay, o
eourse, relative to this immediate sec
tlon of the coast. The Czarina, which
went on the north sandspit at th
harbor entrance to Coos bay abou
ten years ago, had 30 men on board.
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...
AboTe Captain A. A. Sawyer. Below
(L.ert l.ouls Delor of Portland:
(rlKhtt Francin C. Jackson, son of
publisher of Oitkob Journal. On
map arrow marks approximate loca
tion of wreck.
and of that number one got ashore
alive. '
Captain Sawyer and the men who
launched the lifeboat had no time to
takij with them food or water, and
it is. somewhat due to this fact that
the men in the lifeboat did not
weather out the storm and .come
safely into port at either Bandon or
Coos Bay. They were severely tried
by the seas, but had they been able .
o stay out over another night tney
might have all been saved.
Men In Boat Denperate.
Hungry,-greasy, suffering from -the
weather and almost hopeless, they -de-
ided upon trying to land through the
breakers rather than stay arioat.
hrough another long night. A few
in the boat be lieved.they would have
better chanceto stay at sea and
perhaps be fortunate enougn to. oe
picked up by some passing craft. .
Steward Dooley s story is tne most
vivid that could-be obtained from the
urvivors and this morning he was
able to tell of the thrilling experi
ences 'he -went througji in company
with the other 1'3 men in the. lifeboat
and during the excitement of launch
ing her:
We were creeping along in -tne
fog and the ship struck the reef about
6 o"clock Thursday night. The dis
tress 'signal soundedat once and all
was excitement. I rushed to the for
ward deck to find a means of escape,
but the ship had. broken in two and
the after portion was sinking in.no
time. On the forward dtck there were
aboul ten of -us, as nearly as I can
remember, but most of the engineers.
stewards and oilers and sailors were
aft and went down with that part of
the vessel. ' '
The 13 men who got away in the
boat drifted all night and the next
morning we picked up two sailors
who had clung to a staging. That
night and Friday were bitterly cold
for us because we were all wet
through and had no food. The two
sailors we picked up were about all
In and one of them later died in our
boat.
Men Without Water.
I joined the Chanslor on this trip.
signing on at Linnton, near Port
land, shipping in the steward's de
partment."
Here Dooley named one of the two
sailors .who went into the boat, as
Charles Connelly.
"All day Friday we were driven
northerly in a bitter cold wind and
heavy rain. We did have a few sea
biscuits, but no water. When dark
ness came Friday night we were
about all in, and after dark sighted
shore and heard the breakers roaring,
It was then we decided to take our
chance in trying to run the breakers.
The first wave upset our lifeboat and
we were all pitched out. I lost my
lifeboat, as did the captain and
up and managed to get hold of the
lifeboat as did the captain and
Merkel. The only one we saw after
the boat overturned was Steward
Cashen, but the sea washed him away
and he was drowned. 1 believe most
of the men were drowned at the time
the boat overturned, for I saw none
of them.
Dooley says he has no home, and his
home is wherever he is employed.
SUIT AGAINST CITY FAILS
Jury Finds for Seattle in Action
for $101,029 Damages.
SEATTLE, Wash., Dec. 20. Verdict
for the city of Seattle was brought in
by a jury last night in the suit of
the North Bend Lumber company
against the municipality for $401,629
damages.
The company asked for damages re
suiting from the flooding of Boxley
creek, December 23. "1918. Caused by
seepage through the north bank o
the city reservoir behind the Cedar
river :dam near here.
Jewelry Store Robbed.
ASTOTUA, Or., Dec. 20. (Special.)
Early this morning burglars smashed
a plate glass window in the store
of the George Howe company. Chinas
merchants, and stole watches and
jewelry valued at 350.
PUBLISHER'S SON IS LOST
FKAXCIS C. JACKSON' PROBABLY-
CHANSLOR VICTIM.
Six Others From Tills City May
Have Been on Ill-Fated Tanker,
According to Records.
Five Portland men are known to
have " been aboard the steamer J. A.
Chanslor when she sailed from Port
land, and four, possibly six, others
from this city are believed to have
been on the tanker. Those known to
have been aboard aro Francis C.
Jackson, second assistant engineer;
Boris Secord. 687 East Oak street.
eaman: Louis De Lor, 728 East Ever-
tt street, messman; F. Madsen, sea
man, and Ray Curtis, oiler.
According to the records of the
Portland office of the Sailors' Union
f the Pacific, L. M. Larsen joined the
hip at this port December 4, Peter
C. Christensen signed on November
1 and A. D. Fredericksen and E. R.
Schmidt joined the ship November 17.
Whether these men were still mem
bers of the crew or had left the ship
at San Francisco or some other port
is not known here.
Thomas Farrell. agent of the
marine firemen's union, said yester-
y that two young men were sent
from the union headquarters Mon
day to work on the Chanslor, but
their names were not secured and Mr.
Farrell did not know whether they
went to sea-with the vessel.
Mr. Jackson Probably Lost.
Francis Clopton Jackson, second
engineer of the J. A. Chanslor. is the
son of C. S. Jackson, publisher or
the Oregon Journal. As the seeond
engineer should not have been on i
watch at the time the crash occurred.
ittle hope is held for his safety.
Mr. Jackson was an. officer and
director In both the Journal Publish
ing company and the Journal Build
ing company. He accepted the berth
of second assistant engineer on the
Chanslor in the place of J. TIbblts at
the special request of the chief engi
neer, Thomas Seymour, a friend of
long standing.
After a number of attempts to enter
active military or naval service dur
ing the war, which were always un
successful because of his defective
vision, Mr. Jackson was obliged to
content himself with service in the
merchant marine. Because of unusual
mechanical ability, he rose quickly
from the position of oiler, which he
held on the Portland-built steamer
Point Judith on a voyage to Honolulu,
to that of second "engineer. He had
ade several trips on the J. A. Chans
lor, and at one time spent six weeks
aboard the vessel in her coastwise
trade.
Widow and Son Survive.
Mr. Jackson was born at Pendleton,
October 19. 1887. He had made his
home in Portland since 1904. and in
his youth attended Hill Military acad
emy and Oregon Agricultural college.
He was married in this cltjr November
16, 1911, to Miss Lillian Eva of Port
land. Mrs. Jackson and a young son,
Charles Samuel, live at 18 East Sixty
sixth street.
Captain A. A. Sawyer, master of
the J. A. Chanslor. is in the emergency
hospital at Bandon, suffering from
exposure, Druises ana a iracturea no,
according to a message received yes
terday morning by his wife, who lives
at 394 Columbia street, rrom captain
Johnson, commander of the llfesaving
crew. Mrs. Sawyer left yesterday for
Bandon to attend her husband.
Cptaln Sawyer is one of the best
known and most popular navigators
sailing out of this port, and has been
engaged In the coastwise trade for
manv years. All wno Know mm speak
highly of his diligence and ability.
All the other officers of the ship, with
the exception of Second Assistant
Engineer Jackson, are San Francisco'
men and not widely acquainted here. 1
Others But Little Known.
'Of Madsen, Larsen. Christensen.
Fredricksen and Schmidt, Portland
seamen believed to have been mem
bers of the crew of the Chanslor, lit
tle' is known beyond the fact that
they were members of the sailors'
union and made their headquarters In
this city. Addresses are not recorded
on the books of the union because a
sailor's home ashore usually is tem
porary.'. Ray Curtis, an oiler believed to have
perished, was 23 years of age. He
was the son of Mr. and Airs. Bay Cur
tis, who live on the Base Line road
near the Russellville schoolhouse be
yond Montavilla.
Louis De Lor, messman, was 26
years of age and a native of Oregon.
He is survived by two brothers, Fred
A. De Lor of 728 East Everett street,
and Willard A. De Lor of Vancouver.
Both brothers left for Bandon last
night to aid in the search for bodies.
Louis De Lor had lived in Portland
for ten years.
Boris Secord. seaman, of "687 East
Oak street, was the son of John H.
Secord of the same address.
L. V. Knm Thonnrht I .out.
L. V. Kruse of 100 East Twentieth
street told his mother, Mrs. F. Ford,
Monday that he was going to sea as
an oiler on the Chanslor. and no
word has been received from him
since that time. Kruse was an over
seas veteran who had- recently re
turned' from service with the army
in France.
From the statement of Thomas Far
rell. agent of ine Marine Firemen's
union", that two oilers were sent to
the Chanslor Monday, whose names
were not learned. It is believed that
these two were Kruse and Ray Curtis.
It is probable that these two Port
land boys took the places of V. Misov
and B. Axelson, included in the crew
list telegraphed from the San Fran
cisco offices of the Associated Oil
company. As M. Jones, the other oiler
In the San Francisco list. Is a rela
tive of one of the officials of the
company, it is considered improbable
that ho left the ship here.
Shipwrecked Crew on J. A.
Chanslor.
The names of the crew of the
wrecked steamer J. A. Chanslor, when
she sailed from Portland, follow:
A. A. Sawyer, master.
W. H. Reese, first mate.
F. Norton, second mate.
E. Rose, third mate.
E. Stringer, carpenter.
C. Pfantzsch, boatswain.
Thomas Seymour, chief engineer.
F. Rowcliffe, first assistant.
Francis C. Jackson, second assist
ant. W. Jordhay, third assistant.
r .. idiuuduii, wjrtieBR operator. i
E. Hansen, F. Baldwin and D. 1
HOTEL PLAZA
SAN FRANCISCO ttXil
AT UNION SQUARE
The Plaza gives the best
values in the three impor
tant . things in hotel ac
commodations LOCATION
SERVICE
RATES
European, from $1.50 up.
With bath $2.00
CARL SWORD, Manager
Geary Street, just off Union Square
Famous lor good service, comfort snd excellest
cuisine at reasonable prices.
Rates from $1.75 a Day
Breakfast 40c and 75c. Lunch 60c: Sundays
76c 0innsrS1.25; Sundays tl.60.
Municipal Car tin direct to door.
. Motor but meets trains and steamer.
HOTEL
STEWART
I SAN FRANCISCO
I IT" fT ' li nias gift. ".jkZL
III 1 . rl'l if r st
)yYs4-The Stradivara Plays All Records
I Zyf II t '?'0 1 1 makers or ine airamvara i-ortiana, uregon I'fjr-i'7F 'f i
Mnller. water tenders. !
IM. Jones. L. V. Kruse and Rajr
G. Santos, J. Kritikos, B. Aviso. V.
Tantnm T "K a.venau and A. Gra
ham, firemen. I
F. Cashen. steward. y jt x-
F. Scott, first cook. TV. SttS
J. Kleinhaus, second cook. Take the - S A ESGr J
C. Con ley. waiter. Jf JT 1 W. M AiV J E
I. De Lore, Portland messman. EleVatOT. if JF J' 'yr
J. Golio, messboy. . lYsJy SXk M JL "V Wr rrf-L-
D Drvsdale. William Merkel, F. As IOU Come VsS Jf-JWr f rTTS1
HalL A. Hahne. H. Vinx. E. Smith, B. ff J.VfZla
! Frederickson and W. Rasmussen, sea- Up Price fj w-TTvr A
Bills! Y- JiSW
31 Portland and tne rsorxn- V S
west' finest hostelry. L " .3P3P
j Rate f2 and up a S'yLj
! Splendid grin and fa
cilities for entertaining
private parties.
l l tomorrow, until 9 o'clock. Thv'V iF
ir
Ask the Franklin
Owner
why his car starts right off.
He will tell you that the little
button on the dash does it.
That button is a Splitdorf
Primer. It is guaranteed to
start your motor on the cold
est morning in Ten Seconds.
All leading dealers will dem
onstrate and give you full
particulars. Can be installed
on any cat.
W. IX. CAI.EF. 540 -Williams ivmim.
CHISHOI.M & SPKER MUSIC 6HOP,
KiHinpnworth avenue.
TMCKSON HRL'O CO.. 71 East Eightieth street.
KNKB A FIKrD. 109 Fourth street.
FOLEY & VAX DY KB. 10B Fifth street.
V.I. UA )8BY & SONS. coni nd Morrison.
THE STRADIVARI SHOP, 202 North Jersey
street. St. Johns.
EMM. liEHRlNO, 720 Mllwatikle avenue.
(iOLUPTEIN & SOS. 601 First street.
GRAND RAPIDS FURNITURE CO.. Grand ave
nue and Stark.
HOVENDEN PIANO CO.. 14S Park street.
Look for
The unique application of the violin and piano Sound
Board principle gives to the Stradivara the ability to
produce tones marvelously like the original instruments.
This Sound Board is an exclusive and patented feature of
the Stradivara. Look for it when choosing your Christ
mas gift.
PACIFIC PHONOGRAPH MANUFACTURING CO.
Peterson's Upstairs Store
announces that for the benefit of our patrons and
to give those employed and not able to shop during
the day, we will remain open evenings, beginning
tomorrow, until 9 o'clock.
Our Stocks of Petticoats
in afl colors, in satin and silk
Our stock of Crepe de Chine and Georgette Waists never was so
complete. -
Price S4.95 to S14.95
100 Beautiful Winter Coats
with or without furs, in Bolivia, tinsel tone, velour, polo, tweeds, silver
tone and sparkle cloth, all sizes. Special 29.50, $39.50, $49.50
Special at $29.50, $39.50, $49.50
100 Tricotine, Serge, Satin or Taffeta Dresses, new models, special
at29.50
Choice Any Suit H Price
HBiNItY JENS1NG & SONS. Fitth and TVasUinslon
streets.
HYATT TAI.K1MO MACHINE CO.. 3."0 Aider street.
LA CRHL.HU KT PHARMACY. Htil Belmont street.
LIPMAN, WOLFE & CO., Fifth and Washington
street.
JltUOL'GALL MUSIC CO.. Oregoninn block. Alder
street.
IRA F. POWERS FURNITURE CO.. Third and
Yamhill.
J. H. KEMICK SONG AND GIFT SHOP, 321 Wash
ington street.
POUI.E BROS., 16 Tenth street.
WILSON DBtQ CO., 10i4 Corbett Street.
Stradivara Sound Board
Christmas Sale
Women's Silk Underwear
A timely arrival from
eager holiday shoppers an array of silk undergarments,
new, varied and immaculate.
Washable satin and crepe de chine camisoles, all
sizes, S1.50 to S5.50
Washable satin and crepe de chine envelope Chemise
and Teddy Bears at S3.95 to S12.95
Satin or silk crepe de chine bloomers, special at S3.95
to S6.95
Satin or silk crepe de chine
gowns S8.95 to S12.95
jersey. Priced S4.95 to S12.90
re!
i'AVi'l . '.13
Second Floor
Pittock
Block
West Park
at Washington
New York brings to Portland's
I it