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About The Coos Bay times. (Marshfield, Or.) 1906-1957 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 13, 1907)
!&-&??" fru!fe.WK IPT. OLSON TELLS HIS OWN STORY naster of the Alliance Gives the Voyage in His Own WordsInteresting Letter to Agent Shaw. Portland, Ore., Dec.v8, 1907. uv Dear Friend Shaw: f i I have a few moments to sparo bday, I'll lot yu know now wo aro X.iin'e along. Wo havo not been tie to get a berth In dry dock yet at we aro going to tomorrow (Mon av) and I think we will be on tho ock tho wholo week. If I had only nown that wo couldn't get on tne ncir on our arrival here I would avo taken her to the Sound without idling here, but we'll do the best wo an; we are in It, and must get out If It. Wo havo carpeniers wonung leclne out tho rudder trunk and ludder post, and getlng everything b can ready. Well. Mr. Shaw, I hope you don't lave too hard a feeling towards me to the accident. When I got down Is far as red buoy No. 2 I was run- ling under a slow bell, bo as to get eood view of the bar. It looked Invorable, In fact, smooth, and the fide on that day was 3 ft. 5 In. above lero, so I knew there was plenty or pater. I had crossed the bar and fas well outside tho black buoy, Jfhen It commenced to roll In, and urn over, as It looked, tho whole icean over us, but thanks to a go6d Ittlo ship sho camo through. She ode four heavy breakers all right, Jut by this time she had lost her headway and fell off In tho trough. ;t was then a tremendous sea struck is forward-aft and tore away rudder .nH rndder-nost. those parts strik ing the propellor and knocked off several blades, rendering ship help less. It was tnis samo wuvu mui. washed Mr. Pyott overboard. He bad been told to go to his room, as Is always the custom. He answered lhat he could cross the bar in a row- boat: but fflmlly he was put in tho fetateroom with his wife and boy. According to Mrs. Pyott's statement ho went out on deck. She opened She door and told Him vto come back. Just then a heavy sea broke over us and shattered tho open door to bDllnters. knocking Mrs. Pyott sense- Bess back In the room, In which con dition she was found a few minutes Bater, with many cuts and bruises. This lead to a search for Mr. Pyoti ivlio could not bo found, and was evidently washed overboard by tho same sea and drowned. It then be ing too late to take any steps to look for tho lost man; and it would have been at great risk of losing more lives to try to save Mr. Pyott had anybody seen him go overboard. Shin belnc in this predicament it Iwas a question if she was going to strike on the north spit or get pounded to pieces, or land on tne beach north of the jetty, high and J mi. a n.A.l linvfl TTIPflTlL ury. j. lie lurmcr wuuju iuw -- loss of many lives, maybo all; while the latter assured safety to every body. Those thoughts flashed fthrough my mind in rapid succession, as there wasn't much timo to think or study. It was blowing a uiruut, 3'ly breeze at the time. I set the mainsail; this brought her head to the westward and thereby managed to wort her off shore. In tho morn ing of Nov. 29th, wo managed to head her inshore and stood towards tho bar, expecting the tug Columbia to come out in the morning, as they saw us in trouble irom uiu "' saving station; but as they failed to appear, I decided to run , for the Columbia river. About 9 o clock in the forenoon (Friday) the British stonmor "Unverlc" llOVO in sight. I signaled him to tow me to Columbia River Light Ship. He hove to and i lowered a boat and went aboard of her. We both agreed that she was not fit for towing as her propeller was out of tho water naif of the time and a heavy sea running. He would havo towed her all right had I given him the Alliance as a price, but I refused to do that because sho was not leaking and we could make a little headway, about three miles an hour. I told the captain be wouiu be money ahead if he took her for $3,000.00. Ho thon said he couldn't think about towing us to tho Light Slip tit ?3,O00.00, and at that rate I wo'll have to bo responsible for bh Mp( tho Boverlc). This being a Li- risk I came to tho conclusion to e?"1 o our own way, nud asked him B ... ai I- I to rcII mo a sail at any price, out mm ho en ild not do. I then asked him to r'Tirt me at Columbia River, Li y ship that wo had lost a few P? j M r bladps crossing out from Coo, r ,y, and that I would proceed I toward Columbia river at the rate of t t , n Ilea an hour and fifteen fml'r rfiMinre This he promised to do V never he could communicate. EAliout tho loss of a passenger I told ccnfilrntlal, as I did not wish that port, for tho sake of those who naa I friends or relatives aboard. Had it THE GOOS BAY WEEKLY TIMES, MARSHFIELD. Porticulars of His Eventful been my desire to have that reported I would certainly havo given the name of tho man lost. It was those ashore who had their relatives on tho Alliance that I was worried about. I never felt uneasy In the least about those under my cure after wo got away from the beach, as I knew I could bring ship and all aboard safe ly to Columbia river or Puget sound, only that it required time. After I camo back aboard from the Boverlc wo made a Jury rudder. This worked satisfactorily in calm weather but when It commenced to blow she broached to. We then rigged an ad ditional rudder, and after working almost a whole day making It, It lasted five minutes after it was shipped, and while trying to operate this steering apparatus, one of the lines got foul of the propeller, (this was about 5 o'clock Saturday night). Now wo were helpless, but after a few hours' work wo got tho pro peller turning again, and things be gan to look good onco more. Wo then set to work and made a rudder out of an iron plate taken from one of tho bulkheads. We took more care in making this, the engineers working at it all through the night. Sunday morning it was ready for tho riggers, and by three o'clock in the afternoon It was shipped and worked with great satisfaction. We then had 75 miles to Columbia Light Ship and were then making 3 miles per hour. Monday we saw the Light Ship and stood lu for the bar. In the mean time the tug Tatoosh came alongside, and began to tell me what .to do, but I had the Alliance under absolute control and proceeded close in to the bar. It breaking heavy and a strong ebb-tido running I turned about and hung about tho Light Ship during the night. Tues day morning we headed in for the bar and found It very smooth. The Tatoosh camo out early morning and continued the same tactics as the day before, and I don't blame him very much for trying to get $40,000 Instead of the usual towrfge, but I didn't like him to come around and try to frighten my passengers; how ever they were all laughing at him when he told the danger they were in. Mrs. Pyott is getting along nice ly. It is too bad that the Break water should be In trouble also. Am sorry for Coos Bay. Respectfully Yours, D. W. Olson, SAY HE SAVED THE VESSEL Presentation Comes Unnwnre nud Cool Navigator Shows Deep f- fectlon at Being Honored by Loyal Pnssengers. The Portland Sunda" Oregonlan contains the following report of the presentation of a marine glass to Cantaln Olson which has been pre viously mentioned in the Times? Captain B. W. Olson, master or tho steamer Alliance, was Saturday afternoon presented with a marine glass costing $150 by the passengers who arrived hero on tho exciting voyage of the Coos-Bay liner last week. They earnestly declaro that but for the courage, competence and coolness of tho captain they would have never reached port. Captain Olson was moro unnerved when confronted with tho committee on presentation than when tho tre mendous breaker threatened to send tho vessel to the bottom of Ojooa Bay bar, but soon regained his composure and in replying to the presentation speech said that he had done no more than his duty as it appeared to him. Ho values tho present highly but In cidentally regrets that his crew and passengers, who stood by him so loyally, could not directly sharo with him In the token of esteem. William H. Souls, marine editor of tho Oregonlan, delivered tho talk that went with tho glasses. He said: "Captain Olson On behalf of the grateful passengers of the good ship Alliance I am honored to say and do something expressive of their appre ciation of your heroism on tho oc casion of tho eventful voyage of the lnf.t few days. "I am directed to say to you and your valiant crow that your unselfish .lovntinn to duty and tho welfare of those whoso safoty had been entrust ed in your hands, in the face of the trying ordeal through which you re cently passer, Is esteemed and ap plauded moro sincerely and moro el oquently than any tongue can tell, and that your bravery in the unequal struggle of an angry sea, a crippled propellor and a jury rudder, shall never be forgotten. "Commemorative of tho genuine appreciation of your passengers, I MOON IN s J. R. Osborne Takes Poison and Life Ends After Hours of Agony. (Special to Times) BANDON, Dec. 11. J. R. Osborne, of this city, committed suicide last night by taking cyanido of potaslum at 8 o'clock from tho effects of which ho passed away at 10:30 o'clock last evening. He was tho porprletor of a general merchandise store and had been In tho city about six months. When It was discovered that tho man had taken poison two doctors wore called In to attend him, but In spl-to of long and patient efforts ho expired In agony last night. Do mestic and financial troubles aro sup posed to be the causo of his desperate deed. An inquest will bo held over tho remains this afternoon before Judge Copping. BRIGHT AND BREEZY BUDGET FROM BANDON City Again Illuminated, And Vessels Loaded With Lumber Depart. BANDON, Dec. 9. The steamers Elizabeth and Whascaloro and the schooner C. T. Hill left with lumber for Frisco, Friday morning. They carried an aggregate of 1,500,000 feet. Adam Scott was arrested Friday morning on a charge of attempting to leave the state, defrauding credit ors. The schooner Ruby arrived In last night after a very rough voyage from San Francisco. The launch Eagle left for up coast yesterday but was compelled by the storm to return and await a calmer time. The Coqulllo high school football team defeated tho Bandon high school on our homo grounds by a score of 20 to 0 yesterday. The Crystal vaudeville company Is showing at tho opera hall three days this week and, the Mong, company will gon Thursday, Friday and Sat urday. The electric lighting plant re sumed operations Saturday and Bandon is again illuminated. Mr. and Mrs. Bert Folsom, of Co qullle, who have been In tho east for some time, aro visitors here this week. Wells and Selsom, black sand miners, will put in an improved ma chine for operating south of here early this spring. Charles Evelund was a Bandon visitor yesterday. AIRSHIPS TO RUN APRIL FIRST. Aerla! navigation is going to solve the transportation problems which face Coos Bay and all sections look ing forlornly for railroad connec tions in vain may glow with hope. . The National Airship company has been formed and on the back page of Monday's Portland Telegram is a cut of tho new ship. It represents a huge pencil shaped machlno and the wording of the advertisement, which is seoklng stockholders, seems to prove to tho satisfaction of the concern that Its airships are the best and fastest made. A small airship carrying merely a matter of ono hundred passengers and thirty tons of freight is sched uled to start on the run between Portland and San Francisco on April 21 next. Incidentally the ship will skid through the air at the rate of 80 miles an hour with tho greatest of ease. ' It is up to the citizens of the city to interest this ship In stopping at Marshfleld on Its run, In order that pasengers and mall may be handled with dispatch. If It cannot be per suaded to stop there will be some satisfaction in seeing it go by at any rate, and tho mall bags from Port land might bo dropped as It passes over. havo the pleasure to present you with this little token and to voice In their behalf tho hope that by Its aid you may always enter port In safety and may you never lose a ship." Tho committee In charge of tho collection of the purso for tho pur chase, of tho present was composed of Frank Daviq, of North Bond, and Frank Layton and Charles Clark, of Portland. Tho gold band on tho glass bears the following Inscription: "To Captain B. W. Olson from the passengers on tho ss. Alliance, whom he saved Thanksgiving, Nov. 28, 1907." 0REG0H, FRIDAY, DECEMBER ' '- j i "I' Financial Skies Brighten With Rosy Glow of Returning Prosperity. In a private leter to a Marshfleld friend a gentleman, prominent in business and railway circles in Los Angeles, and who Is In close touch with the financial and commercial conditions generally, writes as fol lows concerning tho present situa tion: "LOS ANQELES, Dec. 8. The fin ancial situation here seems to be Im proving right along, but banks have not as yet called In the scrip. I think, however, they are only wait ing for Eastern banks to resume It Is hard to judge how things aro going to turn until after the holidays cease, but thero isn't much talk now like there was at first. Everybody seems to be getting back to business. There aro lots of tourists hero and the stores are doing a good business. This, of course, is always the case at this season of the year. It appears that Harriman ordered back all the men that were discharged at first. Tho Western Pacific railway, the Gould line is taking advantage of the surplus labor by taking on all tho men they can get, and the C. M. & St. P. has about doubled its force on the extension to the Pacific coast. Reports from the East show that many of the factories which at first shut down are running. Altogether it looks at this time as though things will not get worse but will gradually improve along a more conservative line. One thing particularly notice able is the number of Eastern people here looking for farming lands. Most of these are Eastern farmers. A re port from Omaha says Harriman will resume work on extensions. You are In position to ascertain what position he takes on the Oregon lines. If he starts on those It is pretty safe guide as to others, SAND DUNES TO MAKE FINE BRICK New York Firm Makes Fine Sample of Local Material nnd Lime. The fine yellowish white sand across the harbor from Empire has turned out to be a valuable asset to the bay, according to a sample of pressed brick made in New York from this material by the firm of H. Huenneker & Company. The only other Ingredient except the sand is a solution of lime amounting to 6 per cent of the amount of sand used In each brick. A sample of the product is on ex hibition in the windows of the Cham ber of Commerce. It is a light gray In color and very hard and smooth. For fine building material It cannot be surpassed and buildings erected in future in this section may be exten sively composed of this material. In a trip to New York, C. S. Kaiser of North Bend, took some of the sand east with him and had a few samples pressed by the New York firm. The manufacture of the bricks to a large number can be done in less than twelve hours, as It takes but ten hours hardening to put tho brick In fine condition. The result of the test has proven that these extensive sands, which were generally consid ered useless, will be a valuable addi tion to the other numerous resources of Coos county. FORTUNE IN THIRTY ACRES OF FRUIT TREES Farmer Refuses Oircr of $35,000 For His Apple Farm. CENTRAL POINT. Dec. 11. W. H. Norcross refused (an offor of $35,000 for his orchard last Satur day and Informed tho would-be pur chaser that his price is now $50,000, or $1,000 per acre. Tho orchard has 30 acres in full bearing, with somo 20 acres of young trees coming on, and tho crop this year will pay 10 per cent Interest on $50,000. Loss than a year ago Mr. Norcross was asked to put a price on tho property, and when he placed It at $25,000 somo of his neighbors declared that ho was crazy for asking bo much. Now he Is of tho opinion that per haps ho was a little off for asking so little. He is not anxious for anybody to take him up at $50,000, for, he asks: "Where could I Invest that amount of money in an absolutely safe proposition that would bring me In 10 per cent per annum?" And when tho ontire place Is once bearing that rate of lnteros will bo doubled aud trebled several times. Egypt has a numbor of small landowners, over a million people being porprietors of tho land they till. SUN IS SHINING ONCE AGAIN 13, 1907. " il.i-IM EBB WILL APPLY AT WASHINGTON - FDfl BEnFR WAIL SERVICE j ji -in Citizens Unanimously Adopt Resolutions for Improvement af. Chamber of Commerce Meeting Last Night. Over one hundred citizens cath- ered in the chamber of commerce rooms last night at one of Jts lively meetings and resolutions were passed unanimously to Instruct the authori ties at Washington of tho condition of tho mall service betwect here and Roseburg. Chairman Smith invited anybody to speak on tho matter Just before the resolutions were drawn, and everybody apparently being sat isfied with tho service, Frank W. Reeder was to speak. Ho said: "I believe tho trouble is that tho contractor in his desire to secure tho contract overbid his wisdom in tho matter, and that there are tons of mall tor the growing population which he failed to consider when pre senting his bid. He also uses broken down horses which cannot carry tho loads expected of them. I believe that action should bo taken by tho Chamber of Commerce to, state tho lacts and present them in somo form to the Washington authorities." Secretary Lyons then read the foj lowing resolutions which had been drawn up to be sent to tho assistant postmaster general, which were voted upon and unanimously adopted and which will be forwarded as early as possible. "WHEREAS tho mall service of tho Coos Bay country is in a demoral ized condition, "AND WHEREAS this condition Is duo to the overland stage route be tween Roseburg and Coos Bay fall ing to deliver mall on time and fail ing to protect It from the elements, delivering It often in a badly dam aged condition, thoroughly soaked with water, "AND WHEREAS fully ten thou sand people receive their mall over this route, "AND WHEREAS tho population and business on Coos Bay and In .the immediate vicinity are increasing' At a rapid rate, "AND WHEREAS the uncertainty of delivery and damaged condition of mall have become a serious inter ruption to the business relations of the firms and individuals in this sec tion attempting to do business "with the outside world, this Chamber of Commerce has upon request made in vestigation and finds tho condition as follows: "The contract for the delivery of mall between Roseburg and Coos Bay is held by B. Fenton. Tho dis tance Is sixty-five miles by land over the Coast Range mountains from Roseburg to Sumner, and from tho latter place ten miles to Marshfleld, via launch. Between Roseburg and Sumner three relays of horses "are used. The mall is carried in an un covered wagon, four horses to tho wagon. Passengers for hire are car ried with the mail. Three drlvors, ono for each relay of horses, make the trip. Tho mall weighs from one half ton to a ton. It has doubled in volume within the past two years. Tho mail Is duo hero at 10:00 a. m. each day. During the month of No vember it was on tlmo 12 days, and on three days failed to arrive at all. During the past month, up to dato, it has not been on timo a single day. Tho mall service has never been so Irregular and unsatisfactory. Mr. Fenton was consulted early in tho fall and ho urged in justification of slow service, tho bad condition of tho roads. The Chamber of Commerce has sent a man over tho routo, and Interviewed people along tho road, and finds that tho road is in as good condition as In formor years. It Is found that tho County Court of Coos County has appropriated $1190.00 for Improvement on this lino of road within C003 County, and that men havo boen sent Into tho mountains, built tholr cabin and Hvo thore dur ing tho winter to look after the road, as a section man looks aftor a rail road. Tho horgos drlvon by the con tractor are thin, and when compelled to pull passengers ' over the muddy roads In addition to tho heavy mall, constitutes an offenco which should receivo tho attention of a humane Boclety. Furthermore, the life of every pas senger carried is impel lied, over the mountainous road when the surface Is soft and allckened by rain. The drivers employed r:eive from $40.00 to $60.00 per month, and in many cases strangers are picked up re gardless of their recklessness for human lives or knowledge as to their record as to occupying a responsible position. "WHEREAS it is wholly wlfiin the bounds of reason to remedy t'ise conditions by employing more re sponsible parties as drivers, and by putting on another relay of horses, and by providing each stage with tarpaulin or other impervious mater ial for covering tho mall, this Cham ber of Commerce hereby "HESOLVES, that the attention of the assistant postmaster general bo called to tho deplorable condition of tho Coos Bay mall service and that ho be asked to tako steps to afford im mediate relief by requiring tho mal' to be delivered each day In good con dltlon and within the time specified, in tho mall carrying contract." TEA IS GROWN S COUNTY Excellent Sample on Exhibition At Chamber of Commerce. Once moro Coos County comes to the front and proves that almost any thing can bo grown on Coos County soil and in Coos County climate. Japan Tea, of a fine quality is being raised In the Coqullle valley by a rancher named J. O. Stemmlor, who for a considerable period has been raising tea for his own use. Secretary Lyons, of tho Chamber of . Commerce, has secured ono of tho plants which is on exhibition in tho window of that boosting organization. The plant Is about five feet in height and greatly resembles an ordinary bush that one may see at any timo in tho woods. There Is nothing about it that would cause anything but a ' casual glance until the visitor is told that it is a tea plant similar to those in the Orient where the great pro duction of tea is grown. Samples of leaves in a tumbler from a Blmllar plant stand on Mr. Lyons' desk, and the odor from tho loaves Is more llko the real article than much of that shipped Into the country. Whilo it is strong, tho flavor is said to surpass anything brought across tho Pacific. This is a new field for enterpriso on the part of ranchers and farmers in this district, as tho plant can bo easily and thickly grown In tho val leys of tho county. Whilo Its money making possibilities havo not been tosted they are regarded as extremely good if tho production of tea is gone into thoroughly. A NEW INDUSTRY FOR AVESTERN OREGON Tho Wise Mnn Can Cease Labor in Ten Years. Walnut culture, according to W. H. Latouretto, secretary of tho Yam hill County Walnut Club, is in its Infancy In this state, but the speci mens shown In a late exhibit dem- onstrnto that walnuts can bo grown hero to equal at least those pro duced In tho Santa Barbara district of California. Mr. Lntourotto in re ferring to walnut culture said: "Tho consumption of English wal nuts in this country amounts to 35, 000,000 pounds and of this only 2,000,000 pounds arc grown in tho United States. Tho rest aro import ed from France, principally. That Indicates that for years to. como growers coming into tho market will find purchasers at home. "In Yamhill county thero aro at' present 800 acres In walnut trees and thero will bo about 200 addition al acres set out in tho coming spring and next fall. Ten per cent of tho trees aro now in bearing. ( "Walnut trees begin bearingwith proper care and culture, at about tho eighth year and thoy continue to bear from that on almost indefinite ly, somo trees reaching tho ngo of a 50 and upward." Pacific Outlook. One report states that from ono tree 125 pounds woro secured, for which tho owner recolved 18 conts per ponnd or a total of $22.50. If the trees wero planted 30 foot npart 56 would fill an acre. At tho yield abovo montionod, tho owner of 10 acre bearing grovo of English wal nuts would reap with no spraying, no orunlng, no anything but gathering the nuts, $13,040 por year as long as he lives and thon tho gold mlno would go on to his descendants. Pone plants, such as tho mimosa, sjiows fifteen times higher under rod qlass than under blue. 1 I I I jjfficxjggag ftmmnrtmttmotma