The Mail Must Go Through: A Fatal Storm on the Coast

The U.S. Mail on the route running from Olympia by way of Gray's Harbor to Astoria is carried from Montesano to Chehalis Point, a distance of thirty-two miles in a small boat. On the 9th of January, Capt. John Van Wormer, the mail carrier, while on his way down with the mail was overtaken by a terrible storm. Persons at Chehalis Point who were watching for the mail saw him coming and when within about one mile of this place his sail disappeared. It was thought that he had changed his course to avoid the violence of the storm, but as he did not make his appearance when it had moderated so that a boat could go out with safety, boats started in search of him. On the morning of the 11th, ten miles from where the boat was last seen, it was found on a sand spit full of water, the mast, sails, oars, and rudder gone, but the body of Capt. Van Wormer was lying by the side of the boat to which he was tied with a rope. Capt. Van Wormer's father was a passenger on the boat; his body has not been found, but a broken rope dangling by the side of the boat indicates that he too had been lashed to the boat. The violence of the waves had caused the rope to give way and his remains may never be found. Capt. Van Wormer had been running this route for the last five years and had acquired the reputation of being a skillful and cautious boatman. His loss will be deeply felt in this community where he was known as a steady, industrious man, and a kind and faithful friend. He leaves a grief-stricken wife and two children to mourn his sad fate.