Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-03-28
A FEARFUL NIGHT.
The Story Of the Survivor OF . Califor.
MIA Disaster.

mia Disaster.
From the Sacramento Record, March IL.
A shocking accident occurred Sunday
evening on the tule overflow between
Washington and Davisville, Yolo
county, which resulted in the death of
three persons, and the narrow escape of
another firm destruction. Ever since
the partial destruction ofthe California,
Pacific Railroad, travel between this
city and Davisville and Woodland,
Yolo county, has been conducted by
means OF small boats, which made daily
trips between Washington (across the
river) and Davisville, over the vast ex-
panse of water that now covers the
tule region If Yolo. This water is from
one to twelve feet deep, and being open
to the wind, is greatly disturbed even
by light gales, and made exceedingly
difficult, as well as dangerous, to navi-
gate.
Sunday afternoon quite a stiff breeze
from the southwest blew across the in
land sea. This breeze would be about
abeam of boats passing hitherward
from Davisviile. At about . quarter
to 3 p. n, the wrecked party left Wash
ington for Davlsville in boat belong
ing to a man named Lewis, but which
was in care Of a boatman named King.
The party consisted of VIM. A. john
son. Ms. 8. w. Huff, and a lad, to-
gether with King, the boatman. The
next heard of them was yesterday morn
ing, when King, nearly exhausted by q
night of perilOus exposure, appeared in
Washington with the dead body of the
boy and reported that the others were
dead in the overflow. The sum and
substance of the boatman's story is as
follows: Tie boat, a small one, was
going under sail and pretty near the
wind. King was looking out for the
sail and Johnson handling the rudder,
the sen being snort and chopping.
BY some mishap the rudder was un-
shipped; the boat lurched then, of
course, gust of wind caught the sail
and capsized the frail craft IN water
from four to five feet deep, and about
three miles from land. The woman
Was got on the bottom of the boat
the boy drifted off about 80 feet, but
was caught by King and also placed on
the bottom Of the boat; johnson hold
ing on to the stern, alternately wading
up to bis neck or floating, according to
the inequalities of the ground under
meath. KING held on as he could. The
woman slipped off and was again plac.
ed on the bottom of the boat, only to
fall off again and again. When she
fell off the fifth time it was impossible
to recover her, aud she sunk. The wa
ter was cold, and so was the wind, which
doubtless 80 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 the stern, his strength giving way
with each passing moment. Finally he
called out to the boatman: "Jim, I
can't hold out any lonCer!" "Hold
on Bill, for Gods sake! Well get help
by'm- by - was Kings urgent reply.
II must go," were the last words of
johnson; his benumbed aud weary
fingers let 60 of their last hold on life,
and his body sank to the bottom. The
boat continued to drift all night, with
King and the boy on its bottom, the
chilling winds piercing the marrow OF
their bones, and rendering it doubtful
if either would live to tell the story Of
the wreck. The boy died before morn.
ing, but the body remained upon the
boat until it drifted to land, shortly
after daylight, a short distance above
the town Of Washington, whittier il
had been driven by the prevailing south.
west wind.
Yesterday boats were cruising in
search of the bodies, but the heavy
winds prevailing caused such rough
seas as to make the work too dangeroua
to prosecute thoroughly. It Is no,
probable that they will be recovered TO,
several days.