14-02-2025
In One Ear: First mate rules
The Daily Morning Astorian of Feb. 13, 1884, worried about the fate of Capt. Frank Worth, who had friends in this city, after the wreck of the Umatilla on a reef near Cape Flattery, Washington.
The same day, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer ran 'The Umatilla Crew Safe,' as told by second officer Edward Greenleaf.
Sailing the Umatilla during a blinding snowstorm, Greenleaf thought he saw breakers ahead, but it was too late, and they ran hard aground on a reef. They were supposed to be at least 12 miles off the coast at the time.
The ship started filling with water quickly, so Capt. Worth ordered full speed ahead to keep the ship firmly on the rocks until lifeboats could be lowered. The captain and most of the crew boarded two boats, while first mate John O'Brien, with the remaining men, boarded the raft.
Fortunately, while the two boats were struggling in the water, two large canoes approached, with several Native Americans aboard willing to help. Greenleaf wanted to help those left behind on the raft but was outvoted. Their new friends helped land the boats, and led them to the village of Ozette, where they were 'treated kindly.'
Once the storm lightened up, the ship was visible from the shore and was drifting. Greenleaf, ordered to take a boat to the ship, noticed the distress flag had been raised and realized that O'Brien and his raftmates had reboarded the ship and were setting sail. Greenleaf couldn't catch up, and returned to Ozette.
After a message was sent to Neah Bay, a tug arrived and brought the stranded men safely to Seattle.
Meanwhile, on Feb. 12, the Daily Alta California noted that O'Brien and the raft crew had sailed the Umatilla to Esquimalt Harbor (on Vancouver Island, British Columbia), where it promptly filled and sank in 40 feet of water. Even so, it was salvageable.
And, because Capt. Worth essentially abandoned his ship, O'Brien and his cohorts were given the salvage rights. (Painting: Antonio Jacobsen)
