The morning call., 1892-08-22
DISASTER In THE STRAITS.
A Schooner Cspsized and Her Capital
Drowned.

schooner CSpslZed ana Her captain
Drowned.
Yesterday sad disaster occurred in the
Straits Of CarqGinez. off the end of Mare
Island. at the point where the beacon is
situated.
The schooner Seven Sisters, from Point
Arena laden with bark, was making for the
tauyards at Benicia, with the wind full
abeam, when she was struck by sudden
squall about II o'clock and completely cap
sized. turning bottom side up.
She was carrying at the time captain
and five men. 1t was first reported that all
had perished, but fortunately this was
found exaggerated. The crew were all
saved. but the captain was drowned.
Luckily for the crew the tugs Relief and
Vigilant were close by and at once gave as
sstance. The Relief, which first got to her,
was taking party composed OF the Union
square Club, round the bay TO Vallejo, and
was only about a quarter of q mile distant
from the schooner when she capsZed.
The crew were clinging to her bottom
when reached, but the captain was nowhere
TO be seen. The survivors were at once
taken off by the Relief and the Vigilant.
Captain Ned Mccoy, who had been taking
the John Griftiths up to Vallejo, took the
capsiZed vessel in tow and brought her up
10 McNear's wharf. n ear Port Costa, where
he secured the lines. As the anchors and
everything were dragging, Captain Mccoy
experienced.
The survivors were seen by a CALI. re =
porter at the office of the Coast Seamen's
journal. where they went on landing from
the Relief
The captains name was Lewis Olsen. He
was Norwegian. SO years of age and a
single man. He had been employed on sew
eral steamers IN the southern trade, and this
was his first schooner, he having been cap
tain of her for three years. He had an in
terest in the vessel amounting to $500
The names OF the crew are: I. Anderson
(mRte), Philip Evans, A. Tobiasen, G.. Cars
tens aud Michael Barry.
The mems story is simple one 10 this
effect: 'We left Point Arena on Thursday
evening at 6 o'clock having Isl cords of bark
and 20 tons of ballast aboard. We got in
side tie heads this morning and were coming
up with fair wind. Had just set the stay
sail, more 10 dry II than anything else, when
a put OF wind came and the captain sung
out TO loose the fore and main sheets. This
was done, but il was too late and over she
went Two OF us-Barry. who was at the
wheel, and Tobiasen-jumped off and swan
and were picked I'D by the Relef's boat
The other three crawled over the chains as
She careened over and got upon her keel.
They were picked off by the Relief, which
came up alongside.
''As to the captain. he could swim. but up
in Point Arena he had two fingers of his
right hand taken Off by running block
and tackle and carried ii ib sling. He re-
mained with the vessel and did his duty to
the last"
Captain Scott of the Relief said he was
going up the river when he saw the
schooner set her staysail and then suddenly
60 over like a log. He made bee line for
her, cleared away his boat and picked up
the two swimmers. Then he made fast
alongside Of her and began TO tow her to
McNeaT's wharf. After towing half an
hour the Vigilant took her headline and
finally tied her up at the wharf"
1t appears from the statements sof men,
bers of the Uni0n-square Club on board the
Relief that the two men picked up were
nearly exhausted. Some of the club saw
the captain in the water after the schooner
capsized. He threw up his left hand when
the boat was making for him and sank
The boat which rescued the two swimmers
was in charge of Mr.. Ii. S. Fletcher, who
volunteered for the service. The captain
was struck by the bark on deck, aud seemed
10 be dazed when seen In the water.
The general opinion among nautical
people seemed TO be that the schooner was
Carrying more than her proper capacity of
bark. Bark is a very dangerous cargo, and
often causes capsiZes. It is very absorbent.
and as the vessels carry big deckloads the
bark is liable all the time to soak up water
and get heavier and heavier. At last an
extra puff of wind will capsize the vessel.
The schooner Seven Sisters is a vessel of
123 tonnage, built at Benicia; length 81
feet, breadth q feet 2 inches, depth Z feet 3
inches Her owner is James johnson and
her home port San Francisco.