The morning call., 1892-03-21
HIS LAST PICNIC.
Alvin WiIIfanger's Tragic Death
On the Bay.
While Sitting On the Rail Of the San Rafael
He Pals Overheard and Is Killed
by the Wheel

Another fatality on the bay was recorded
yesterday. AS the :15 afternoon San Ra-
fael boat was en- route for San Francisco
from Sausalito man named Alvin Will
fanger fell overheard and was drowned
before the lifeboats could reach him.
Wiilfanger was baker by occupation,
and for the past year and half had been
in tho employ OF Dittmar & Komsthoft,
corner of Turk and Hyde streets. Indeed he
had left there but few days ago, as he was
getting ready to 90 back TO New York to
see his mother. He was only about % years
old. and according to his late employers
statement a we'll behaved and industrious
young man.
HIS COMPANIONS STORY.
His intimate friend and constant conf
panion when unemployed was Charles
Barthel, another baker, who works for
Wilenbrink & SchnelZ, GIL Larkin street.
Willfanger was anxious to have days
outing In the country before returning
home, and that his friend Barthel might go
with him he helped Barthel with his work
nearly all of Saturday night, and together
they started away early yesterday morning
Barthel states that when they boarded
the ferTy-bOat on their way home they were
both very tired, and he, in order to get lit
tie rest, went into the cabin and fell asleep
Oh INC seat. NliiIanSef. ne Says pffIeIIeu
to remain on the lower deck outside, and
rested himself by sitting on the railing,
leaning up against post. The presump-
ton Is that in that position he fell asleep
and tOppled overheard.
HE RECOGNIZED THE HAT
Barthel says the first he knew of the acct
dent there was great cry on the boat of
Man overboard!' and in the confusion
that ensued he ran downstairs to find out
who II was. He saw the man struggling in
the water, but did not recognize his conf
panon and did not know it was he until the
unfortunate mans hat was recovered and
returned 10 the boat. He then recognized
it at once.
Captain Ike Smith of the redstack tug
Redmond had spent the day in SausaIto
with his family and was OH board the boat
when the accident occurred. To a CALL
reporter he gave the following account OF
the accident:
i, with my wife. was standing near the
bow of the boat on the starboard side when
the steamer left SauSalito, and soon after
noticed the young man climb up and seat
himself on the rail, with his arm around the
forward davit Of the fcboat.
AN EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT.
/ thought the man had been drinking,
as he seemed sleepy. l paid no particular
attention TO him until after we had passed
AlcatraZ, when | noticed the man was nod
ding. AT that time we were about half
way between AieatraZ ana Lombard street
wharf. and the steamer was going lullY Is
miles an hour.
Suddenly L saw the nan heave back, and
/ turned 10 hand nv wife the baby. which
had been holding, in order to pull him from
his dangerous position; but before L could
do so his arm slipped from the dayiI and he
fell backward into the water, landing with
his head aft anu toward the padGle-w heel.
L at once shouted, Man overb0aIdp and
yelled to Captain Mckenzie, who was in
the pilot-house, 10 stop the boat. The next
moment L heard the bell sound the signal to
stop and back at full speed. The large
crowd OF people on board got very excited.
and all crowded over to the starboard side,
until l thought she would capsze.
TO THE RESCUE.
Long before the steamer stopped Captain
Mckenzie, leaving tie wheel in charge of
the mate, ran out on the hurricane deck and
began 10 east of the after guy Of the star
board llfeboat. at the same time calling cut
directions to the men who were lowering it.
Inside OF four minutes after the man fell
the steamer was stopped, backed up to the
fatal spot, and the lifebOht manned with a
full crew was in the water. The mans hat
was picked up, but its owner was never seen
| alter he fell. Almost instantly after stIik-
| ing the water he was whiTled under the
! paddle " heel and the life beaten out of him.
| Some of the passengers thought they saw
him swimming astern OF the steamer. but
am CERTAIN TIE man never rose TO the sur
| face after the wheel struck him.
FUTILE SEARCH.
Captain Mckenzie did all IN his power 20
| save the man by stopping and getting out a
| boat. and this was done as quick as il was
| possible, considering tie great speed Of the
steamer.
| The lifebcat was rowed around the spot
| for about ten minutes, when, seeing that
| further search was useless, Captain McKen-
| zie ordered her holsted ana the steamer was
| headed for the city.
| Captain Smith said the man looked like a
| German, and was about - or % years old,
| and well dressed. No blame could possibly
| be attached to any one on board the steamer
| as the crew did all III their power to save
the man. who was undoubtedly killed in
| stantly.