The morning call., 1891-09-15
CAPSIZED AT SEA.
Nelson Wind Adrift for Hours on
Boat Bottom Up.
Timely Rescue by the Steamer Yaquina,
When Utterly Exhausted After Long
Struggle for His Life.

Nelson Wind, resident of Harbor View,
who makes his living crab fishing, under
went nearly four hours of torture on the
bottom of his upturned boat yesterday after
noon, and. but for the timely arrival Of the
steamer Yaquina, would now be at the bot
tom of the ocean. The Yaquina was boarded
at Broadway Wharf on her arrival by re-
porter, who learned from Wind the story
of his terrible experience.
81 left homo about o'clock yesterday
morning to fish for CRABS near the Ocean
House. l was alone in the boat, and reached
the fishing ground about $3.50 o'clock and
set the nets as usual. There was a nasty
swell on at the time, but did not pay much
attention to ii as l had often fished in worse
weather. As soon as l had set the nets L
dropped the anchor and made myself COM
Portable until noon. During the morning
the swell got worse and the boat was rolling
and pitching like barrel.
HE HAD DELAYED TOO LONG.
"As soon as had eaten my lunch con-
cluded to haul up the nets and get home as
fast as L could, as the weather was very
threatening. then saw that l had delayed
too long, for try as would | could not haul
up the nets on account OF the heavy swell,
which nearly capsized the boat two or three
times. then concluded to leave the nets
until fairer weather and started for home.
By this time there was stiff breeze and
heavy swell on, and on account OF not hay
ing the nets in the boat she was very crank
and nearly turned over several times.
II was running along right in the trough
of the sea and was about half mile north
of the Ocean House and fully mile from
the beach, when the boat was struck by
heavy sea and In an instant was turned
bottom up. | had on my heavy gum boots
and blanket shirt. and had hard struggle
to reach the boat. At last succeeded. and
managed to climb upon the keel. was no
sooner oD top of the boat than big sea
knocked me off again.
WASHED OFF BY THE SEA.
again and again climbed on the boats
bottom, only to be washed off by the heavy
sea that often went clear over my head. AS
soon as l could got rid of the heavy gum
boots, as l was afraid they would drag me
down when lost my hold on the boat. As
near as l could Judge the boat capsiZed
about o'clock in the afternoon, and at flrst
l had strong hopes OF being picked up by a
passing fisherman or rescued by the life-
saving crew.
But as the day wore on and no help ap-
peared l began to fear my time had come
and had seen the last of home and family,
as / was rapidly losing strength in my
struggle to retain my position on the boats
bottom.
'As l slowly drifted along the shore did
all in my power to attract the attention OF the
life-saving crew, but suppose | was too far
out for them to see me. About 2:3O o'clock
| was again swept OFF the boat by big sea,
and when | swan to her again she was right
side up, but, of course, was full OF water,
and l had no means of bailing her out.
TEMPORARY ADVANTAGE.
I'M Il
so were the two matches, but this was. II
anything, an advantage, as l had better
chance to hold on. Three times in success
sion I was washed off the boat, and soon
after big sea struck the boat turning her
over like log. but | managed to hold on,
and she righted again. Every time the boat
rose on top of a sea that did not break over
her, eagerly scanned the beach, hoping to
see the life-boa coming TO my assistance,
but although l could see several people OH
the shore, none of them made any sign of
having seen me.
- | then turned my attention to seaward,
but the chances of rescue from that quarter
seemed very slim, as the only sail l could
see was fully five miles out, and standing
away to the southwest. At last L caught
sight of cloud of black smoke, but it was
SO far away l could not see the vessel it
came from, so paid very little attention to
it at first, but as time passed l saw the yes-
sci appear, and then saw she was heading
in toward the Golden Gate. For over an
hour / watched her as she gradually drew
nearer and prayed that those on board
might see me, as | was too much exhausted
10 shout or make any efforts to attract their
attention.
SAVED AT LAST.
"When the steamer was about quarter of
a mile away l saw the officer on the bridge
raise his arm and point toward me, and
then the course of the steamer was changed
and | knew | was saved. What my feel
ings were | cannot describe as the vessel
slowed down and a rope was thrown to
me. Phad barely strength enough left to
secure it around my body, and was then
hoisted on board the steamer, which /
found was the Yaquina. My boat was then
hoisted on board, and the steamer came on
to this city. l was given dry clothes by the
crew and made as comfortable as possible,
but you may be sure | don't want another
dose Of it, and only that the steamer happened
along when she did | should not be here to
tell the story"
Wind is rather intelligent Swede of
about 40 years of age, and his boat is one
of the common keel boats, about seventeen
feet long. So far as could be learned last
night no one on the beach saw the upturned
boat with the man clinging to il. and had he
not been sighted by the Yaquina crew his
fate would have been sealed, as long before
morning he would have become exhausted
and would have been swept from the boat
and drowned.