The morning call., 1893-09-14
SEALBOATS LOST.
Nine Deaths Reported
From Copper Island.
e" LONG CHARLEY" MISSING.
A San Francisco Sailor Attempts Sui
eide in Alaska-An English Mate
Dying of Cancer.

The schooner j. Eppinger. Captain
White. q days from Copper Island, ar
rived here yesterday. She brings uncon-
trmed news of several disasters to the
sealing fleet. Captain White does not
vouch for the truth OF the statements given
below, the news having come To the Ep-
plnger from other vessels which she spoke
and from other sailing boats which met
her boats. However, the reports are prob
ably true.
About the last of May or the first Of
June the Louisa d lost a sealing boat with
three men in the Japan seas. Captain
Hagemann reported that he picked up the
boat bottom up some days afterward.
Early in July the Arctic lost two boats
containing three men each. One of the
boats was washed up on Bering Island and
contained the body of a man who had evil
IDENTIFY died of hunger ana exposure, as
the body was very ma ema@iated
Late in July the Victoria schooner Mas
cot picked up a boat with the upper part
Of mans skull, scalp and hair cIinging
to the horn of the boat. She also picked
up the sail of a sealing-bOat weighted with
bags OF shot and gun shells, which we're
robably used for drag in heavy weather.
August u De Fries. the leading hunter
VI lHc LpDlUk6I, SpUkc lilo w dileT II.
Rlch. Two days later the Rich lost boat
containing three men, one of whom was De
Fries brother.
Captain White heard twice of the death
of Captain Hawitman of the Louisa D,
but could learn no particulars, nor could
he confirm the report. Captain Hawitman
is better known here as Long Charley"
A CALL reporter saw Milton Scott, a
hunter aboard the Victoria schooner Viva,
yesterday. He said the Louisa ID was all
right when the Viva spoke her July 80,
south of Copper Island. Two days after
violent gale sprung up. equal in force to
the noted gale of May 4, and Scott thinks
reported disaster. 1t blew for fortY-elght
hours. and the Viva ran before il with
dOuble-reefed tOresail.
First Officer Macdonald of the British
ship Saratoga, which arrived here August
13, is dying of cancer of the throat a. st.
Luke's Hospital. He cannot live many
days longer Mr.. Macdonald has been
master for twenty years, and sailed the
Iron Duke into this port.
The bark Coryphene arrived yes erd ay
from Aitak, Alaska, with salmon. Size
reports that Franci> James OF San Fran
tempted suicide, August 80, by shooting
himself. The bullet mt his tongue in two,
broke the jawbone and shattered a part of
his face. His recovery was not expected
Nlen the Cprypneu6 Ie1t.
James LETT six months ago and was taken
sick when out seven days. His Illness
would not We'd TO the remedies aboard
ship, but James would not listen Io the
captains suggestion that he be sent home,
giving as reason that be could not face
his creditors and he wanted The chance t.
get well and earn some money. 1t was
finally decided TO Send him home by the
Coryphene, and when his mates went To
take him oul of his bunk they found that
he had attempted his life as above de-
scribed.
The American shir Florence. Captain
Duncan, 130 days from New York, with
general merchandise, arrived Yesterday
morning. May II, Roman Prey byski,
seaman, fell from the main skySail yard to
the deck, crushing the bones of his right
foot and receiving some internal injuries.
May q, Wilhelm Niklaicssen, seaman, fell
from the fore yard to the deck. disIOcating
his left ankle and badly cutting his fout
1t IS understood that ner crew consisted
principally of landlubbeTS, and after
these accidents only men OF known skill
were sent aloft, and these only in emer-
gencitS.
The Florence seems to have travelled
beaten path, as she spoke no less than
thirteen vessels. six of them bound Tor
the Pacific Coast. July 9 she spuke the
American bark HpliSwOOd, from Boston
for Valparaiso, In 70 west 56 north. The
bark had just lost her main and miZZen top
masts, fore royal and skysail yards, and
was clearing away the wreckage. She de-
clined assistance.
The beautiful steam launch Mascotte,
owned by George Pope and commanded by
Captain Spencer Buckbee, was examined
yesterday by the local ins ectors and pro-
nOunced seawOrthy. She has been laid up
Tor some months, Dut will be put into SER
vice as pleasure boat this week. There
is nothing N the way Of steam craft n
the bay prettier than the Mascutte, and for
her sIZe nothing more substantial. Her
brass funnel. her walnut house with plate
glass windows, her oak gunwale anu brass
railin taken with her beautiful model.
attract much attention.
Tie new gasoline schooner Bessie K,
which was launched at Oakland Saturday,
came to MssiOn l Yesterday to receive
finishing touches and her sails Her owner
has not yet decided where he will run her.
The bark CoIUsa Is laid up in Oakland
Creek.
One of the crew of the big four-masted
ship Honresfeld that was burned, and is
now floating around the Pacific Ocean, ana
that Captain Haskell of the iug Fearless
made a 5000-mile voyage TO try and find,
9rrived here on the British bark My ysterouS
Star from San Marcos and is at the Sailors
Home.
Captain E. Mortensen. chief officer of
the steamer China. has been promoted to
the command of the steamer Colon, vice
Captain Avery, who died on the vessels
last passage from Panama.
Captain NJ. +. Cousins has taken COM
mand OF the steamer Santa Cruz, vice
Nicolson, and Captain j. Petzlnger of the
steamer Leader, vice Caro,hers.