The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-02-08

The Jonah.
heavily, carrying away our rudder We
managed TO get over the bar and rigged Out
this steering apparatus (pOinting to the
weighted boom under the ships sterU) and
started for San Francisco. We went right
out 10 sea and had heavy weather all the
way down. We did not see land until last
night about II O'Clock, when we sighted tho
Point Reyes and Farallon lights.
I'VE were picked mp about O'Clock this
morning by the Tug Wizard, and here We
are sale and sound, thank God The pas
sengers generally behaved themselves well;
the officers also There are three ladies' ON
DOard-Mrs. Pierce, Miss Pierce and Miss
Davis. all Of Eureka. Considering the
strain on their nerves. they bore themselves
very well, although Mrs. Pierce was in the
saloon at the time the windows were
smashed in, and must have had bad
fright.
I'VE drifted out to sea perhaps hundred
miles. On the way down we sighted moth
ing but two three masted schOOneTs north
bound aad ship bound somewhere. we
had no communication with the shore; We
we're entirely too far out. We were not
short OF prOviSi0ns-n0t that l know OF.
might say that we boys had a pretty good
time under the circumstances.
This morning we were lying out between
the FarallOnes and Point Reyes, ate 4
hearty breakfast and could have got in by
5. NJ. Heller was the next passenger in
teTrOgated, and was in a cheerful frame of
mind He said: I'VE had a good trip, and
after the first day out everything went
pleasantly. True, we were out Of sight Of
land and pretty badly battered up, but yes
terday Captain Edwards made a bee-line
for tile shore, and | want To say right here
that he is good seaman. He told US where
we would sight land and at what time
That night we sighted land ana within ten
minutes Of the time, ard just at the point he
predicted. We lay of shore until this
morning. when a tug assisted us and hauled
Us in. At the dinneT-tabe to-day we pre-
sented the captain with a testimonial,
signed by thirty passenge
A TESTIMONIAL.
The following is copy Of the testimonial
referred to:
We, the undersigned passengers on board the
steamer Humboldt leaving The port of Eureka,
Cali f. bruary Sd, In order TO eYince our fuil and
thorough appreciation Of CAPTAIN w. f. Ed
wards take this means OF subscribing our names
TO bear testimony 10 hs ability IN the handling
OF his vessel under the trying circumstance
OF having lost a rudjer IN crossing Eu.eka bar
and 10 bis gentlemaDly and courteous tire ttmeut
al all times 10 those board bis ship. We also
testify 10 lie high seamauShp aud able assist
ance lent MIN by his hrSl officer c. Bone. HIS
energetic work alone affords US the pleasure OF
seeing land ana our beloved ones agaia. TOp
much praise cannot be bestowed on Captain w.
+ Edwards, aud his manly actions Will always
remain fresh In our memories.
a NARROW ESCAPE.
Henry Rheinstein was Of the opinion that
the vessel and her passengers had had a
very close call He said: " We lost our
rudder in crossing the bar. 1t was just at
the outer edge. The tremendous seas shook
the ship all to pieces. Once outside the
heads We had no chance to get back. We
were treated finely. We did not see land fox
three days. We were all up and about all
the time. except the three ladies, one Of
whom was sick and the others badly fright
ened. In crossing the bar three or four big
waves struck US. The ship lay right in the
trough Of the sea, careeued over and shook
like leaf"
THE CAPTAINS STATEMENT.
Captain Edwards was found at his post
on the bridge looking as if he had just re-
turned from days pleasure trip instead Of
having fairly ana sQuarely faced an issue of
lie aud death, as he had done. lie said in
matteT-Of-fact sort of way:
I'VE left Eureka on February 3 I In the
forenoon. In crossing the bar we carried
away our rudder. The sea was so rough
that did not feel like trying to tow in
again with the rudder gone. don't see
how ] could have got back with a southeast
gale coming on; so l put TO sea. Our
furtherest point from land was fifty miles
in the latitude Of MendUcinO City. We
steeIed the vessel with a drag composed OF
spars AID chain and rope. 1t was pretty
rough all the way down. We made Point
Reyes about IL 80 o'clock last night, and
the tug picked US up at DuXbury Reef at 2
o'clock this morning The ship Is all right
except the breaking of the rudder smash
ing of a few windows and the boats moved
from the chocks. The Starboard bow-rait
was smashed by the tug in c0mius along
side this morning.
WAITS AND sTRAYs
1t leaked out that the shin had run short
of provisions and compelled the breaking Of
the freight, which consisted chiefly of mar
ket produce and canned goods
In this way chickens and canned salmon
found their way into the SteeTage bill Of
fare, but not one Of the Steerage boys was
heard to complain Of the change Of diet
An amusing incident occurred on the way
down. There was on board horse belong
ing to Mic ael Burke Ot Scotia, and bundle
of hay had been provided for the animals
sustenance. The hay soon gave out and
only one course was left, namely, to rip up
the straw mattresses Of the Steerage pasSen-
gers and feed the straw to the horse.
There was plentiful supply, and by the
time the steed arrived at the wharf he had
eaten three beds and was neighing for more.
The three ladies' stated to the reporter
that they felt too much shaken I'D to talk,
but were well satisfied with the treatment
they had received on board.
One of the cabin passengers incidentally
remarked that tae only want that could not
be fully supplied WAS poker chips.
AT CLAY-sTREET WHARF
While it was known in town that the
steamer was safe and no lives had been
lost there was nevertheless a cordial desire
on the part of hundreds interested in the
passengers and crew to see them and learn
something of their adventures Accord
ingly, as soon as the Wizard and the Hum
bOldt rounded Washington-street Wharf
and proceeded to dock on the Cav-street
side, a ringing cheer went up, handkeT-
chiefs were waved and the scene Vas quite
exciting.
The instant the gang plank was run ont
there was wild scramble to get on board
and the police had Il lively time. Three
cheers and tiger were given for Captain
Edwards. Engineer FOard, who had been
four days without sleep, was almost par
RlyZed by the hand-shakIngS lie received
Sixty bags OF mail were gotten out iu short
order, the passengers baggage followed,
and then the crowd took entire possession
of the ship.
1t is believed that the Humboldt struck
on the bar at the time she lost her rudder.
The mean depth of water on the bar is
eighteen feet and the Humboldt draws
twelve aft, so that it's just possible for such
an event to have happened in the heavy sea
that was running. The extent Of the in
jurieS can only he aScertained when she IS
docktd.
THE SHIP AND PASSENGERS
The Humboldt has crew 0f twenjy-Six
persons The officers are: Captain, W. f.
Edwards; first mate, Peter Bone; second
mate, III. Powell; engineer, James FOard;
second engineer, George Lindsay; purser,
William Laird; steward, Henry Schubert.
The Humboldt was built in Eureka in 1873.
Sba Ia ~ faat 4 inches in lanuth Ok fact q