The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-14
SAVED BY A JUNK.
Mate Merchants Terrible Time
in Chinese Waters.
First Authentic Story of the Running Down
of the Trading Schooner Peerl-An the
Crew But One Persisted.

Among the passengers who arrived in this
city on the steamer Oregon a few days ago
was George Merchant, mate of the Inflated
schooner Pearl that was run down in the
China Sea on August 9TH by large steam
er. which passed on without stopping to
rescue the crew of the sinking vessel
Last night Mr.. Merchant gave CALL
reporter the following account of the dis
aster:
The Pearl was a small trading schooner
OF 145 tons, and was employed in trading
around the Philippine Islands, but on the
voyage in which she was run down SHE was
bound to HOng-Kong from Pamay. laden
with general cargo. The schooner carried
a crew Of six all told, and nothing of any
moment occurred until the vessel was with
in about eighty miles of her destination.
On the night Of August 9TH it was blow
ing strong gale. and the schooner was
hove to. Merchant ard a seaman named
May were on deck, when the lights of
large steamer were seen not far off. They
could see both sidel ghtS, and knew she
was coming straight for the Pearl.
RUN DOWN AT NIGHT.
May ran to the cabin hatch and got the
fare, but before he could light II the steamer
crashed into the schooner on the port quar-
The schooner at once began to fill, and
Merchant called May TO assist him in clear
ing away the only boat the schooner had
which was dashed on top Of the main hatch
May went to his aid, but could 90 little, as
his arm vas broken and he was badly hurt
internally, having been struck by piece of
the SchUoner's rail when the collision took
place.
The rest of the crew were asleep at the
time the steamer crashed into the Pearl,
and were no doubt killed in their hunks, as
none of them came on deck or were seen
afterward.
Merchant succeeded in cutting the boat
sdrift, and by almost superhuman efforts
got it over the rail into The water. The two
men had barely time TO get into the boat
and drop clear Of the schooner. when she
went down head first and disappeared.
DESERTED BY THE DESTROYER.
To his horror Mere. ant then saw that the
steamer was leaving them. he and his I'M
fortunate companion shouted frantically
for aid. but the big steamer kept on her
way and the two caStaways were LETT to
their fate. They had neither food nor water
and only single pair of oars with which to
pTopel their frail craft to land
In the strong gale blowing at the time the
efforts of single man were of no avail 10
keep the boat head to the sea, so taking the
oars and bottom boards Merchant rugged
a sort OF sea anchor, using the painter for
drift line and this kept her head to the sea.
All night long the two man huddled TO-
gether at The bottom of the boat. expecting
every minute to sea the boat fill or upset.
The injuries May had received turned out
lar more serious than he at first supposed,
owing, no doubt, to the state of excitement
he was in.
When daylight came poor May was unable
to sit up, and Merchant made him as COM
Portable as he could by putting his coat
under his head.
DEATH OF POOR MAY.
of hoe
him great pain, and by noon the unfortunate
seaman was deliriouS and raved constantly.
Many an anxious and searching glance did
Merchant send over the broad eXpanse of
ocean, but not a single sail met his gaze. As
night drew on May grew worse and his cries
for water were pitlfui.
The storm had abated, and when the sea
set the motion Of the boat had nearly ceased
except for the long swell always at sea.
even in the finest weather
Mays cries became less frequent as the
night wore on, and at last ceased altogether
May died about midnight, and then Tor the
hrst time Merchant realized how desperate
his condition was. Without food, water or
instruments, he could not hope to make
land, and his only chance was in being
picked up by some passing vessel
HORRIBLE AND HOPELESS.
When daylight broke he took last long
look at the face Of his dead shipmate, and
then gently lifted the body over the boats
side and dropped 1t into the sea. To his
horror the corpse sank and then rose again
close TO the boat and, as he had nothing to
sink II with, he shipped the oars and rowed
away from it.
The lack of food and water had made ter
Tible inroads on his strength, and he soon
gave up the effort and laid down in the boat
Thirst prevented sleep, and ne began to
wonder how long he could survive and then
the seemingly helplessness of his condition
thrust itself before his eyes, and he arose
with the intention Of jumping overheard.
The love of life WAS still strong, however,
and he gszed earnestly around the horizon
for friendly sail. The poor fellow almost
wept when he saw large vessel, which he
made out 10 be bark, and he stood on the
seat and waved his arms in hopes of at
tracing attention.
DOOMED TO DISAPPOINTMENT
he was doomed to sore disappointment
as the vessel was several miles off, and be-
fore night was out OF sight.
How he spent the long night Merchant
never knew, but when daylight dawned he
was lying in the bottom of the boat, waiting
for the END that seemed not far off.
Toward noon he began to grow delrious,
and, n no longer able to restrain himself,
he drank a quantity of salt water. This
made him worse, and the chances are that
he would not her1 survived another day had
he not been rescued.
How or when he was rescued Merchant
could not tell, bnt when he repained his
senses he was on board large Junk, living
on some mats, and good-natured cody sat
near him with fan In his hand Not
soul on board could speak a word of En-
glish, but this did not matter as they did all
in their power for the unfortunate cast
away.
MERCHANTS RECOVERY.
Rice and tea in small quantities we're
given him, and by the time the junk arrived
at Hong-Kong the rescued sailor was in q
fair way to recovery.
At Hong-KODg he was placed In the hos
pital, aud remained there until lie was able
to work again.
Merchant had never been in the United
States, and as he has a brother residing
near Fresno, in this State, he decided to
pay him visit. He came from Hong
Kong to Victoria on the steamer Empress
of China. and very nearly lost his life on
the passage. Merchant was allowed to
work his way across on the steamer, and
while polishing brass work on the bridge he
lost his balance and fell overheard. Some
one threw him liie-buoy. and he chung to
this until the steamer was stopped and a
boat lowered. Merchant says he was
picked up in less than eight minutes after
he fell overheard. After staying a few
DAYS in this city TO see the sights he will
leave for Fresno to join his brother and try
his hand at blowing on a ranch instead of
nln Mi ba