A Yacht's Wild Ride Through a Puget Sound Gale

The Rainier, which was at Victoria during the celebration of the queen's birthday, arrived in the harbor last evening after one of the most eventful trips down the Sound ever made by a sailboat. The crew had a hard time, and came into port reddened by exposure as if they had been on a six months' cruise. The heavy weather kept them on deck a great portion of the trip, and there was no time for sleeping or eating or for taking any rest. Those on board were: James M. Bigler, Robert Linn Relfe, Oscar Lawrence, C. S. Cotton, Jr., and Jack Carroll, a sailor of the United States ship Mohican, who was found at Victoria. The following account of the voyage was given last evening by one of the yachtsmen:

'Tuesday afternoon the Rainier got under way from Victoria with two reefs, as it was blowing very fresh. This was at 2 p. m. We had a fair wind up the straits, taking only four hours and 10 minutes to Point Wilson. When off Point-No-Point at 4 o'clock the next morning it was necessary to reef down again, the wind coming on to blow very hard from the southwest. She anchored on the west shore south of Point-No-Point, but dragged both anchors and started for Port Ludlow for shelter.

'Crossing the entrance to Hood's Canal the wind blew 75 miles an hour in squalls. She had four reefs in the mainsail and three in the jib, with hands stationed at sheets and halyards. As the squalls would strike her the top of the cabin would be buried under water. Several seas broke on board, one of which carried away the wooden hood of the steering gear.

'Before getting into Ludlow the jib split during one of the runs. At 4 o'clock p. m. she anchored about 50 feet from the beach half a mile to the north of the town, with two anchors down and a line out to swing her head onto the beach in case the anchors dragged or the cables parted. She remained there all night and started for this city at 7 a. m., arriving here at 9:30 p. m. today, having to beat up against wind and tide most of the way.'

The Rainier left the White Star at Port Townsend Tuesday evening.