A Wave, Unbarricaded Doors, and the Wreck of the Buckeye

Whatcom, April 4.—Special.—The wreck of the steamer Buckeye was picked up today seven miles from Whatcom, and now lies upon the beach at Fairhaven. No inquest was held over the body of W. H. Kauterman, the drowned Anacortes liquor dealer.

There is some criticism of the conduct of the young captain in charge of the Buckeye, and possibly an official investigation may be made, but it is an important point in his favor that the passengers do not seem so much inclined to blame him as they do the mate, Capt. Bowden, who was at the wheel when the steamer was swamped. Mr. Bennett, who was also in the pilot house at the time, says that if the doors below, where the stock was, had been properly barricaded, so as to shut out the water, the steamer would have righted. It was the water pouring in through the doors, which, added to the weight of the frightened live stock, prevented the vessel from righting after the big wave struck her. He had a short time before spoken to Mr. Bowden about the necessity of fastening the doors, and had offered to do it himself if Bowden would get him a hammer and nails.

The discipline on board the boat was not good, and it is evident that there was not the best of feeling between the captain and mate. The latter is much the older man and has been many years on the water. It is only a short time since Capt. Hahn took out his first master’s papers, and the Buckeye was his first command. He was formerly mate on the Dispatch, which was burned last year at Friday Harbor, and is a quiet, steady and reliable man, who has many friends.