The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-04-01
a Fearful Siaht---The Story oil q snf-
yiys,r OF n California Disaster.
From the Sacramento Record, Ma

From Inc sacramento hcsoIu' -'aiSh
4 shocking accident occurred Sunday eye-
ming on the tube overflow between Wash
incton and Davisville, Yolo county, which
resulted in the death Of three persons and
the narrow escape Of another from destruc-
ton. Ever since the partial destruction OF
the California Pacific railroad travel between
this city and Dayisyille and Woodland, Iolo
county. has been conducted by means OF
sm"ll boats. which made daily trips between
Washington (acroSs the river and DaIIsvile,
over the vast eXpanSc OF water that now
covers the tube region OF 1olo. This water
is from one to twelve feet deep, and being
open to the winds, is greatly disturbed even
by the light gales. and made exceedingly
difficult. as we'll as dangerous, to navigate.
SUNDAY afternoon quite stiff breeze from
the southwest blew across the inland sea-
This breeze would be about abeam OF beats
passing hithcrward from DaYisyillc. AT
about !; quarter to ) p. NJ. the wrecked party
lett Washington for Dayisville in n boat be-
| longing to man named James King. The
| party consisted of William \. Johnson, Mrs.
;. W. HUFF. and lad, together with King,
| the bo:.tlnan. The next heard OF them was
Yesterday morning, when King, nearly cN-
!aus,ed hy Il might of pcrilous exposure. ap-
| l-ared in Washington with the dead body
of the boy, and reported that the others
were dead in the overflow. -".H
The sum and substance of the b0atman's
story is as follows: The boat, Il small one.
was going under sail, and pretty near the
wind. King was looking out for the sail and
Johnson was handling the rudder, the sen
being short and chopping. BY some mlshap
the rr(lder was unshipped. The boat lurchcd
then, of courSe,a gust of wind caught the
sail and capSized the frail craft i'll water four
or five feet deep, and about three miles from
land. The woman was got on the bottom OF
the boat, the boy drifted off about thirty
feet. but was caught by King and also
placed Oh the bottom of the boat, johnson
holding on to the stern. alternately wadinS
up to his neck or floating, according to the
INEQUALITIES of the ground underneath. King
held on rs he could. The woman slipped
Off. md was again placed on the bottom
of the beat, only to fall off again and again.
When she fell Off the fifth time it was i'm
possible to recover her, and she sunk.
The water was cold and so was the wind,
which doubtless SO benumbed the woman
that she was unable to do anything for her,
self. For some time the boat continued to
drift hopelcSsly about, johnson holding on
to the stern, his strength giving away with
each 1s,Ssing moment. Finally he called out
| to the boatnan. "Jim, can't hold on any
longer" Hold on, Bill, for Gods sake
Wen set help by'm-hy !" was Kings urgent
| reply. al must CO." were the last words OF
Johnson; his benumbcd and weary fingers
let go of their lust hold of life, and his body
sank to the bottom. The boat continued to
drift all night with King and the boy on the
bottom. the chilling winds piercing the mar
row of their bones, and rendering it doubt
full if either would live to tell the story OF
the wreck. The boy died before morning,
but the body remained upon the boat until
it dliftcd to the land, shortly after daylight,
little above the town of Washington,
whittier it had been driven by the prevailing
northwest wind.