The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-06


which we cut in the deck. But all the water
we poured in had no effect upon the raging
furnace below.
about 10 A. NJ on March 80 there was
a great explosion, blowing the matches
all off. An instant later waves of flames
shot forth from the third hatchway. After
the explosion the crew became excited and
some were frantic with fright. They
wanted to leave the boat at once. This was
on Friday, most unlucky day. My facul-
ties are so benumbed by the horrors and
suffering that followed that l cannot re-
member the date.
AT midnight on March 80 we lett the
burning vessel. Two boats were provi-
stoned and fully equipped There were
sixteen men in each boat | commanded
one, while First Mate Meldrom took charge
of the other. For four hours we lowered
near the burning bark TO see what would
happen. At 4 o'clock In the morning of
March 81 we hoisted sails and started in the
directiOn of Point Conception. Wnen we
left l figured that we were 1G0 miles from
Point Conception and $50 from San Fran
cisco. The bearing OF Conception was east
northeast.
''At 40 o'clock In the morning my
boat was caught by big sea and capsized.
Five men were drowned by the overturning
of the boat With ten others 1 clung TO the
keel for safety"
AT this juneture the captain was handed
a telegram from J. d. Spreckels & Bros.
which read
Congratulate you upon your rescue.
What assistance can we send?"
''Iel them," said the captain, "that I'll
be in San Francisco Sunday night"
Then reSuming his story to me Captain
Drummond said:
For six hours we cluug to that boat. 1t
seemed six years. The men prayed and
prayed for help, ana 1t was the saddest
scene have ever taken part in. The men
finally succeeded in turning the boat when
the sea had Gained. Then for fourteen
hours we remained in the water up to our
waists. We partially baled the boat out.
but our provisions and oars and even the
rudder were lost. We tore away part of
the covering of the aIrtank to make oars
and to improvise a rudder
THE second day one man died, the third
two men and the fourth three men, inclnd-
ing my son. Some died in delirium and
some we're drowned in the boat. The last
10 90 was my son William, aged 10 years"
The captain trembled so that l strok ed
ms 5iCAt ACl lidtiuS ~ Cdilii his dRlluLlUu
My poor boy" ne moaned, died in my
arms. lie kept up brayely to the last. we
are lost, he said, and, father, l give up
Hold on. son. said I; be brave and you'll
live. Take courage from your poor old
father No. he said; Pm gone aud SO
he was for he died the next second"
For some time the captain was unable to
control his grief. With au effort he dried
his eyes and continued:
Il shall never forget those few days.
Some of the men were like maniacs. They
cried for food and water and we exhausted
ourselves in trying to hold them down.
Before each man died he would become
incoherent and curse and pray alternately.
We could not go asleep because we were
afraid that some of the men in momen Of
insanity would cut our thrOats. AS the men
died we threw them oyerbo ard.
After the last death the weather modera-
ted, aud, the gunwale being level with the
water, We succeeded in baiiing out the boat.
We then let the boat drift all that day and
during the night. The mast was then
stepped and repaired, and a rudder made
from the bottom boards of the boat.
I'VE proceeded under canvas, favored by
fine weather, until we reached an island in
the Santa Rosa or Santa Barbara group. On
the highest one we saw a fence and con-
cluded there must be water on the island.
IAN except me insisted on landing and
procuring water. l objected because l was
afraid the boat would be smashed to pieces
in the breakers that dashed over the rocky
shore. One sailor, named Spence, started
to swim ashore, and l guess he is still there
After waiting for him four hours, until last
Sunday morning, aid not seeing him we
thought he had gone to sleep.
"a strong breeze sprung up and blew the
boat off to sea. Then we proceeded slowly
until this morning, when the steamer res
cued US. Yes. we had been without food
and water for five days and nights, and
could not have survived much longer We
knew that we were near Hueneme, and if
we had oars we could have got ashore We
were drifting there. when the wind blew us
out again. Thank God we're saved, and
God bless the captain of the Los Angeles"
Then l assisted the captain down into the
dining-hall and he ate as few men ever did
before. The other survivors were still too
sick TO take anything nourishing but
liquids. 1t is thought, however, that they
will all live.
When the King James was abandoned
the captain. so the story runs, showed the
chart to the mate of the other boat ana
explained their position and distance from
land, and advised that both boats keep In
sight of each other.
The mate, however, disobeyed these in
structions and took another course. Had
he stayed by the captains boat he would
have been OF great assistance to the latter
when it capsized, and loss OF life would
probably have been averted.
AT $50 o'clock tonight the Los Angeles
steamed ont oil the haIbor for San Pedro.
The rescued men will remain on board until
the steamer returns to San Francisco.
SANTA BARBARA. April 5-Aetng un-
der orders of Vice-Consul Mortimer of Los
Angeles, parties were sent out from this
city this afternoon to get the mate and men
of the ship King James, now being cared
for at Point Conception. They cannot get
them before late tomorrow night or the
next day.