The morning call., 1893-09-27
QUEST DROWNED.
Verdict of the CorOner's
jury Yesterday.
NO SUSPICION OF FOUL PLAY.
lie Probably Rolled From the Wharf
in Drunken Sleep and Met
His Death.
NO SUSPICION OF FOUL PLAY.


cusion that there was no doubt that
John Quest. the Swedish sailor whose
body was found floating in the bay at
SausalitO Sunday morning. came to his
death by drowning. Such was the verdict
returned by the jury yesterday at San Ra-
fael
The theory that he was murdered by a
companion and his body thrown in the
bay has, by this verdict, been set aside,
and the belief is that he met his death by
rolling from the wharf into the water
while in drunken sleep.
So far as has been discovered there could
be no cause for foul play. He was deSti-
tute OF money, and had been for several
days. lie was an inOtfensive fellow whose
only fault was getting drunk.
While in this cOnd tion he was looked
upon by the rest of his companions as an
ldier. and would hang around them beg
ging them to buy him drink, for which
he became generally disliked.
The schooner Matte I. Dyer, on which
he was employed. arrived in port nine
days ago, and Quest had hardly struck
land when he proceeded to get drunk.
From that time on until ms death he never
drew sober breath For the last eight
DAYS of his life he was without money,
and although be several times tried to get
an advance from Captain Muckley Of the
Matte Dyer he was always refused. On
Saturday he told Captain Muckley that he
wanted new suit OF clothes and would
Ike 10 have some money. The captain re-
fused him the money, but came to San
Francisco and purchased him a suit for
which he paid $50. Quest at once returned
to SausalIto to continue his drinking. At
O'Clock that evening he staggered into
Mlller's saloon and, taking off his coat,
asked II he could pawn 1t for 50. The
proprietor tOlO him he would not give him
any money on anything until he sobered
up. lie then went to John DeTn's place,
where the same request was made and re-
fused. lie remained around Dern's until
9:l5 o'clock IN the evening, getting several
drinks by begging from those who came in.
Alter leaving Dern's he went to the Buff
falO House. where he fell in with Chris
Oieson and John NOrby. The three men
drank together until shortly after II
O'Clock About 10 o'clock they were
joined ny man named Dover. >bOarder
at the Buffalo House. Dover is the man
who. 1t was thought at first, accompanied
Quest when he left the hotel, but it has
since been discovered that Dover becom-
lug very drunk, was taken upstairs and
put to bed before Quest left the place.
Shortly after II O'Clock lie left his COM
panlons very reluctantly, as, knowing
they had money, he wanted to stay and
drink with them. He stood for few
minutes on the porch and then went off
down the street toward the wharf, where
the schooner was lying anchored off about
100 feet Two sch OOners, the Mascot and
the Bowhead, were lying Gloss TO the
wharf. and advancing to toe edge of the
Mascot he hailed the watch, Francisco
BarteS, and asked him for boat to reacn
his schooner. Bartes refused him the boat
and went below. AS he was going below
be thought he heard another voice saying.
lake tue boat" but says in this he might
/ be mistaken. He knew OueSt and ay M
one with him on the wharf when he came
! up TO answer his hall. This happened
about II 80 o'clock, aud was the last seen
of Quest until his body was fished out Of
the cay by q. G. Kimball of 1909 Mason
! street, :hlS city, who was starting out with
fishing party when he made the dis
cOvery.
An autopsy was held yesterday morning
on the body by DR.. w. j. Wicker of San
Rafael. At the inquest he testified that
he found no bruises or marks indicating
foul play. The discoloration of the face
was due TO living in the water and eX-
posure. The lungs were blOodlesS and the
heart full of water.
Other witnesses testified to his continued
drinking, and verdict Of drowning was
returned by the lurv.
1t is not know whether the dead man
has any relatives in this country or not.
He was picked up by Captain Muckley at
Copper Island on transfer from the Brit
lsh sealer Mermaid from which he has
about S130 due.
As the exact way in which he came to
his death it will possibly never be known,
but The generally accepted theory is that
after being refused the boat by the watch
of the Mascot, he law down on the wharf
to sleep, and on toward morning rolled off.
lie has no money due him from Captain
Muckley, so the body will be buried by the
county to-day.