The morning call., 1893-02-27
LOSS OF THE BOB.
A Naphtha Launch Driven
Ashore.
BUT ONE MAN WAS SAVED.
She Was Returning From San Pablo
Bay and Went on the Beach
Near Sausalito.

During the gale Saturday night the
naphtha launch Bob, owned by John Lee.
merchant of this city, was driven ashore
near Sausalito, while trying to make the
harbor. 1t was reported that two of the
crew were drowned, one OF whom was Fred
Lee. son Of the owner of the launch.
1t is known that Fred Lee and man
named Crawford were aboard OF the Bob.
and so far Crawford is the only one who
has put in An appearance. He arrived in
Sausalito yesterday morning, and stated
that the Bob started from San Pablo Bay
early in the evening She encountered the
gale and tried to make port, but being un-
able TO weather the storm she was eapsized.
All hands but himself were lost. Yester-
day afternoon he came to San Francisco and
tried to get tug to go for the bodies of two
men he hauled upon the beach near the
scene of the wreck. These bodies. lie said.
were those of Fred Lee and another man.
According to his statement the tugs refused
to 60 out 10 the rescue Of dead men.
Crawford then returned l0 SausaIito, and
late in the evening the yacht Frolic and a
launch started for San PABLO Bay to inyes-
tgate the accident and bring IN the dead
The Bob had been in San Pablo Bay several
weeks on a hunting and fishing trip. When
the gale arose she started for home, but was
capsiZed near Sausalito, and all hands lost
except Crawford. who reached shore on a
piece of the wreck.
All Saturday night wild rumors were 60
ing about shipping circles that couple OF
schooners had gene ashore at Point Pedro
during the heavy gale and dense fog that
hung about the coast all that afterDo con and
evening. To add 10 the rumor the Mer-
chants Exchange lookout at Point Lobos
reported that two vessels were seen before
the fog shut them from view flying signals
of distress and asking for assistance.
Captain Smith and his crew of lifesavers
were on the alert, and in the afternoon
watched the efforts of one OF the redstack
tugs endeavoring to tow couple OF schoon-
ers TO sea.
When the tow got nicely outside the gate
the wind freshened. and before they we're
half over the bar gale from the northwest
was blowing and seas came laundering
against the rocks at the Cliff House as if
endeav0ring to swallow the whole OF Sutro
Heights.
sharp lookout was maintained. and be-
fore the heavy fog shut dowa and hid the
vessels ii was seen that the two sch0oners
and the tug were slowly but surely being
driven toward Point Pedro. and 1t was even
chances with them If they could weather
the point in safety.
The fog became thicker, and about 6
O'Clock 1t was blowing hurricane, and the
sand on the beach was drifting about as if
1t were SO much dry snow.
The coast was patIoled out to the farther
end of the point, butno sign of any vessels
ashore could be found.
About o'clock 1t was reported about
town that the vessels were ashore. and the
rumor reached the ears of the life saving
crew.
The beach apparatus was at once
manned, and Captain Smith and his crew of
eight men commenced TO haul the wagon
along the shore. The extreme end of Point
Pedro was reached without meeting any
signs of wreck. The men had a hard
pull of it in the binding sandstorm and
we're drenehed to the skin by the flying
spray from the great combers as they broke
OF, the beach. Here the wagen containing
the life-saving parapbernalia was left and
the men strung out along the coast for about
TWENTY-FIVE miles.
Toward nom ng the fog banks drifted away
and when daylight came the coast was clear.
The vessels had managed 10 pass the point,
and as The wind had shifted few degrees
to the northward after all sight of them had
been lost from land they cleared the coast
and were well out to sea.
BY noon yesterday the crew of the life
saving station were back 10 their headQuar-
lers, weary and glad that their services had
not been required. but conscious that they
had n0bly done their duty.
The tug was the Sea Witch OF the Mer-
chants Towing Company and was bound
for San Pedro with the schoooners. They
were reported in safety eff Santa Cruz yes
terday.