Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1892-08-18
LEAPED INTO THE SEA
Dramatic Suicide of Captain johnson of,
the Schooner. SaiIar Rax.

dramatic Suicide of Captain johnson of,
the Schooner, Sailor Boy.
Mondays Post-Intellgencer published
the following sensational account of the
death of Capt. johnson:
Harry Johnson, captain of the schoon.
er Sailor Boy, Of San Francisco, jumped
overheard at sea and was drowned. Par
tlculars of the suicide were received from
Aarluk, Alaska, per steamship City of
topeka. The Sailor Boy was bound from
san Francisco to Karluk to load return
cargo OF salmon. Captain johnson had
not been in command OF the vessel for
couple OF trips on account OF sickness.
and in the meantime Captain johnson
had charge. He relieved the latter
about July LIST at San Francisco and
sallaa Tor the North. He complained to
his subordinates regarding his illness,
and appeared to be greatly respondent.
On the twelfth day of the voyage he some
what recovered, and was in better spirits.
lie was busily engaged in writing all day.
About O'Clock in the evening he called
all hands aft. From the quarter deck he
made few remarks, admonishing his
crew to strict obedience to the first officer
in the event of any mishap to himself.
His voice choked, his eyes filed with
tears, and with piteous appeal to remem-
Der him to his friends he took a flying
leap over the vessels side into the lev
sea. Nearly every man aboard the vessel
was SO affected by his speech that they
were struck dumb with horror when he
went over the side. The officers rushed
to the rail, saw their captain rise to the
surface, and after throwing him life
preserver lowered the boats. 1t was
useless task. He never came to the sur
face. The search was kept up many
hours, until darkness rendered further
search useless. The crew was downcast
and heart broken.
Gin the cabin on the table lay several
letters, sealed and ready for mailing, tell
ing the cause for the rash deed; also his
will, disposing of his property.
"He was down in Chile during the late
war and contracted an intermittent fever
which completely shattered his health.
While there he saved from almost certain
death three or four supporters Of Balma-
ceda by taking them aboard his vessel.
He came North but was unable to regain
his customary constitution, and had come
to the conclusion that he would never re-
cover his former health.
Captain Johnson had beenmaster of
the Sailor Boy for about two years and
was general favorite with Pacific coast
shipmasters. He was jolly fellow and
lively companion, and was we'll known
among the Puget Sound shipping fra
ternity. 1t is not known whether he had
any relatives on the Coast. The particu-
lars OF his death were wired to the own
ers of the vessel in San Francisco. He
owned an interest in the Sailor Boy"
THE CORRECT ACCOUNT.
The Sailor Boy arrived in this port
Monday, and was at once visited in order
to ascertain the correctness of the above
report. The following was taken from
the ships log Of July 4, 1892:
"Tacked ship at 6 a. M, and went to
breakfast at 7 40 u. IN. Captain johnson,
myself and second mate sat at the cabin
table together. The Captain seemed
better, but very quiet, and took little
food at the table, which he had not done
for week past. Captain Johnson being
through with his meal first, got up and
left the cabin table, put on his overcoat
and went aft on the lee side istbd) of the
vessel to the pinnacle, as thought, the
weather being fine and sunny. When all
OF a sudden the man at the helm cried
out "The captain is overheard" went
on deck in hurry and saw the captain
floating about twenty yards astern. l
Immediately hove the vessel too, aud got
the small boat overload. While this
was being done, went up in the rigging
to keep the captains body in sight.
There being a six knot breeze and
choppy sea. 1 lost sight of our poor
captain; but the second mate and one
seaman pulled for their lives to get to
the spot where the captain fell, being
directed partly by me and partly by the
gooneys (sea birds) who lowered over
him as soon as he went overheard; but it
was all no use; the captain was not to be
found After pulling around for an hour,
1 ordered them back on board, and made
four tacks, which lasted two more hours,
when gave up the idea of ever finding
Captain Johnson.
civilian E. PLATH, Mate"
| Captain Johnson had many friends in
Aberdeen, where his vessel was fire.
quent visitor; and the sad news Of his
death will cause universal regret.
The Sailor Boy was about five hundred
miles west of the Columbia river when
the captains death occurred.
SHIPPING NOTES.
| Point Iona sailed on the 18th for