The morning call., 1892-09-16
Saved FROM STARVATION
A Bark Twice Rescued in
the Nick of Time.
ILL LUCK ATTENDED HER.
Beating Against Head Winds for Eleven
Days and Then Lost in Fog.
A Queer Cargo.

A reporter of The CALL boarded the bark
Charles b. Kenney short time after her
arrival in port last night.
She was lying in the channel about half
way between Black Point and Alcatraz
Island. in an almost impenetrable fog. A
stiff breeze was blowing and waves were
running high around the vessel.
All appeared to be quiet on board, but as
the reporter climbed over the side and
stepped on the deck he was welcomed by
pair OF black bear cubs Of most inquisi-
tive dispositions.
Not light was visible and the decks were
wet and slippery with the fog.
companionway was visible. aud in GO
ing to 1t the reporter fell over long black
box, of which there was no mistaking the
contents-a dead man.
good deal of shouting failed to bring
anybody from below, so the mpaHi lon
way was descended and it led to the steer
age. containing seyenty-fye Chnamen,
packed like sardines In box
1t was most unusual cargo-two bears.
seventy-fve Cinnamon and a dead man ;
and they seemed TO be the only ones about
the vessel.
After cropping around the slippery, wet
deck for some time, followed by the two
hnDgry-looklng cubs, and trying to avoid
he was waiting to sound three bells or
he would have come aft to see what was
wanted.
The captain was not aboard but the mate
was. and the companionway leading to the
cabin was pointed out.
The mate was lying in his bunk reading
and very willing to tell all about the long
voyage which had been made and the rea-
son the vessel was so long delayed.
According to the mates story the bark
Charles b. Kenney, Captain Hansen In
command. sailed from Cooks Inlet, Chissak
harbor, Alaska. on the 18th Of August last,
but seemed to have nothing else but pa
tience-trying weather from the start.
1t was twelve days before they were out
side of Barren Rocks. The wind was from
the southwest and the tide was strong or
else there was a calm. Both passages were
tried. but it was impossibs to get through.
On the morning OF the 26th the wind
changed to the northeast and the captain
squared away and went through the Shslikeff
Straits. This was dangerous thing TO do,
but IL was the only hope. and as soon as the
sea was reached northeast gale was en-
countered which lasted for several days.
After this the winds were unsteady and
lasted only short time, so very little
progress was made.
BY this time the vessels were long over
due aud grub" began TO get low.
For several days all were on short rations
TO look serious. The allowance of water
| was also cut down.
Last Friday and Saturday starvation
stared crew and passengers in the face.
Fogs had beeu encountered. and the po-
| sltlon OF the vessel was uncertain. Only
few pounds Of the beans aud meat were
| left, and when that was gone none knew
| what the result would be.
Things looked bad, and Ii seemed as if
the horrors OF hunger must be gone through,
but about suDdown on Saturday the United
| States steamer Alliance was sighted and a
| signal of distress run alOft.
The war-sbip hove TO, and the mate went
aboard, where be was gladly given such
provisions as he asked for. He asked for
| only enough for day or two, as it was
| found out they were only short distance
| from the Golden Gate.
But thick fogs set In, aud there was no
| opportunity of taking bearings until Mou-
| day evening. when light was seen
which the captain took TO be Point Bay
and started TO beat toward it but was
| overtsken by ealnls.
On Tuesday a red light was again seen,
and all thought 1t must be San Francisco.
| and waited patiently for tug, although
| mate aud captain thought 1t strange they
| did not see the white flash of the Fort Point
| light.
But no tug came and In the morning they
| were surprised 10 fnd they were off the
| coast OF Santa Cruz and must have passed
| dangerously near the Farallones without
! knowing ii.
There was very little wind and danger.
| Gus fog, but ali effort was made 10 bea,
north which was kept up until o'clock yes
terday afternoon when the tug Sea Queen
| came 10 the rescue and brought the vessel to
anchor at 1880 o'clock last night, sixteen
/ days overdue.
1t was another fortunate thing to ba
found by the tug as there was just one more
| round of provisions left.