Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-10-03
Francis Davies Died at His Post in the Engine Room.
Story Of the CALIFORNIA; Grew, Tweny-Blght
Of Whom Have Arrived in New
York City.

4
port, on her last trip, seven passengers
bound for point in Colombia, South
America. These were transferred to
tlon about fifty-fve miles north Of the
reef where the latter vessel was
wrecked.
| Among the passengers was a young
American girl, lately married to a Co.
lombian planter named Escobar. She
was travelling with her husband and
maid. There were other passengers
from Curacao, large cargo of general
merchandise and the English mails
aboard the Californian. She was a
Scotch built iron vessel, registered at
1882 tons; her captains name was
Pickthall.
| BRAVE OWES DIES AT HIS POST.
On September 10, about o'clock in
the afternoon, the Californian went
ashore. There was q rumbling and a
grating and the engine and boiler rooms
began to fiji with steam. Three great
holes stove In her bows allowed the wat
er to rise at the rate of foot second.
Francis w. Davies, one of the assistant
engineers, was in his bunk in the engine
room. So far as is known he persisted
at his post trying to control the escap-
ing steam.
John Stevens, an oiler, was also caught
| in the engine-room, and attempted to
climb up through the hatch to the deck.
He reached the deck, but his flesh was
almost roasted in places by the hot
steam.
John Mott, Chief Engineer, was also
caught in the engine-room. With not
able presence of mind he jumped to the
ladder and climbing gradually as the
water rose, kept only his face and mouth
above the surface. In this way he
avoided being scalGed, although when
he reached the deck he was almost
blind.
THE BRIDE KEPT UP THEIR SPIRITS.
The twenty passengers and the crew,
numbering thirty men, were gathered
on deck. The ship had settled on her
| starboard side, and the waves washed
over the deck. 1t was then that Mrs.
EScobar showed her courage and self-pos-
session by singing, telling stories, and
chatting with the men, the memory Of
1
wrecked crew. The young bride sue
ceeded in keeping up the spirits OF all
on board to wonderful extent. On the
next day, when the Arend took of the
company, their spirits were still buoy
ant.
Capt. Pickthall obtained passage to
England, but the rest OF the crew, In
charge of the first mate, were cared for
aboard the Philadelphia.
WHAT A WORLD CORRESPONDENT WRITES.
The following interesting letter, dated
September IT, describing the loss Of the
Californian, was received by the World
Yesterday from its special correspondent
at Curacao, Danish West Indies:
The Californian left Curacao at 4
| o'clock on the afternoon of September
10, bound for Savanno-La-Mar, on the
West coast of Jamaica. Her command
or was Capt. Pickthall who has been
on the ship for eight years. The cargo
consisted of general merchandise and
about eighty tons of brick, in all about
800 tons of freight.
There are two distinct courses on
the route which the vessel took. The
one skirts the north coast OF Aruba and
the other lies between the south coast
of this island and the peninsula Of Par
aguana. Capt. Pickthall decided on the
! former course.
''The weather was clear and a fresh
breeze was blowing when the vessel
struck about 1890 O'clock on the night
OF the 10th. The third officer had the
watch and was making his first trip on
the route. All the passengers, OF whom
there were quite number, were in
their berths. The captain was on deck.
PASSENGERS INJURED IN THE RUSH.
"When the ship struck the passen-
gers rushed up from below In the
greatest excitement, several being serl-
ously injured In their anxiety to save
themselves. After the vessel struck
she forged ahead about fifteen yards
onto the reef, owing to the Roadway
which she was under at the time OF the
accident.
"The engines were at once reversed,
but this proved to be of no avail in
easing the ship, which was only few
yards from shore.
"Francis w. Davies, one of the assist
ant engineers, met horrible and pa
thetjc death. True to his duty, he re-
fused to leave his post In the engine
room. The successive humping OF the
vessel caused some of the steam pipes
70 burst, and the gallant fellow was
scalded to death. Several attempts
were made to recover his body, but
without avail.
turned on her starboard side to the
omen sea, while her keel faced the shore.
| Life belts and buoys were at once seized
by the terrified passengers and crew
all reached the shore.
SAVED BY THE SCHOONER AREND.
1.-THE Dutch schooner Arend, having
SIGHTED the wreck, came to the rescue
and took off all the passengers and part
~ the crew and brought them to Cur
scoa Can't. Pickthall and few OF his
men remained on the island for the pur-
nose of saving some OF the ships cargo:
Tndging from the situation, as related
Inv the returned crew, there is no prob
ability of saving the steamer or ner
cargo. -.
from Curacoa with the intention OF as
eistinr in the work of salvage, but up
IN to-day no additional news has been
received from the scene of the wreck"
Three Feet of Snow in Montana
RED LODGE, Mont, October Alt
has been showing and drifting inces-
sanity for the last forty-eight hours.
There are three feet of snow on the
Iavel Business is practically at a