The morning call., 1893-04-10
A CHASTITY CREW.
The Drifting Boat of the
King James.
TALE OF THE RESCUE AT SCI
The Los Angeles Arrives With the
Story of Finding Captain Drum
mond the Other Day.

The Pacific Coast Steamship Company's
steamer Los Angeles. in command of Cap
tain FL. ID. Leland, arrived yesterday from
San Pedro.
tits Captain Leland to whom praise is due
for the kind manner in which he cared for
tine suffering survivors Of the captains
boat of the lost King James.
The Los Angeles sighted the boat on
April 8 off Point Hueneme, changed her
course, took Captain Drummond and his
three companions aboard. rendered them
every comfort of the steamer and landed
them safely at Redoudo.
Both Captain Leland and his crew are
much impressed with the sight that met
their eyes when the King James boat was
hauled alongside OF the Los Angeles.
On the bottom of the little craft and
amidships were four human forms cut,
bruised and bleeding raising their ema-
clated arms for aid but unable to utter
sound. One OF the men. Edward Flint, was
lying with his head against the port gun
vale, his tongue swelled in his mouth and
protruding between his parched lips. giving
him p CHASTITY look and lmpressiDg his
rescuer with the idea that he was dead.
ADotheps hand dragged listlessly in the
water, from which he struggled to raise it,
as II fearing to be dragged bodily iuto the
sea. which broke restlessly over him and
darted its white foam on its intended VIC
tim like frOth from the jaws of a wild
beast.
This was Spsrry. Near him was John
Mueller, whose suiferings had nearly rem
dered him ravlng maniac, and in whose
eyes great tears of anguish had gathered.
de gesticulated frantically and gaZed with
horror at the swelling waters when lifted
on deck, as though fearing that in the hour
Of his rescue he might by some unforeseen
accident be east back to his death.
Captain Drummond had more strength
than his companions. and was able to raise
himself slowly when kind hands assisted
him in the chair which swung him aboard
of the Los Angeles.
BE placed his hands to his head and tried
to express his gratitude to those about him
when he reached the deck, but his words
were lost and died away in incoherent NUT
terlngs. while he broke down completely
and sobbed like child.
1t was sight never to be forgotten by
the little group OF passengers of the Los
Angeles and the vessels willing crew.
Women turned away, unable to stand the
sight Of so much suffering, while many
drop of brine gathered on the cheeks of
hardened men of the sea which did not
come there from tho spray of the ocean.
Everything possible was done for the
sufferers. and with good medical attend
ance, plenty OF wholesome food and warm
clothing they were soon revived sufficiently
to tell their story.
Captain Drummond's boat was amply
provlsioned, but on March 81, at o'clock,
the wind blew into a sQuall and raised
fearful, choppy sea. The boat was headed
toward the gale and an endeavor made to
keep her bow on to the seas.
just few seconds before the boat was
capsized William Drummond. son of the
captain and second mate of the King
James, called out to the men to swing her
about TO meet heavy cross sea which was
rolling npon her from the starboard.
The crew obeyed with alacrity, but the
wind was so stToBg that the boats bow
could not be brought about in time
On, on came the great wave, a monster
wall OF green water. 1t caught the tiny
fabric and Tor moment 1t seemed that she
would ride the sea in safety, when with
hiss and roar the roller combed over at
the crest. broke and filed the boat with
water, eapsiZing it.
Peter Petersen and William Balze, sailors.
were washed away some distance from the
upturned boat, then thrown back within
few yards OF 1t by another wave. They
succeeded in catching hold at the bow and
chung on with the rest of the crew for three
hours before the boat could be righted
This was done with difficulty and when
accomplished II was discovered that all the
provisions had fallen out.
For twelve hours the boat was full of
water most OF the time. Seas continually
broke over 1t, and most of the men were so
overcome with exposure and exhaustion
that they lay down in the bottom of the
boat with nothing but their head, arms and
shoulders out Of the water. In this posi-
ton one man died and his body was con-
signed to the waves.
The third day part OF the water was
balled out. The weather had moderated,
and an occasional sunbeam found its way
through the clouds and impaired little
warmth.
Too latel Hunger. cold and thirst had
begun work long hours before. Two more
men died and third had but a short while
TO live. The remaining men raved, cursed
and beat the water with their hands, i'm plor-
ing heaven to end their existence. Those
who remained rational were afraid to sleep
lest their insane shpmates might kill them.
The fourth day came and still no sail in
sight. Another man died in the III morning
and during the day two more, including
Third Mate Drummond, the captains son.
He raised himself on his elbow and tried 10
call to his father, fell back and expired
with moan.
Captain Drummond laid his head upon his
dead sons breast and sobbed pitifully. The
remaining survivors could scarcely gather
strength enough 10 throw the bodies over
board, but finally succeeded in doing so.
Another day of agony. during which
Flint and Sperry were In sem!-conscious
condition, and the following morning the
Los Angeles was sighted.
Captain Drummond raised himself with
the greatest exertion, signaled frantically to
the steamer, then dropped, more dead than
alive, in the bottom of the boat.
The names of the men who died are:
William Drummond. third mate; Oliver
Robinson, John johnson, William Spence.
Peter Petersen, John Williams, William
BalZe. Second Mate David Ireland, John
Chrisly, Stephen Breeder. Frank Kenyon
and Henry Bruce.
Before the boat was capsized one of the
men wanted to land on an island which was
sighted.
The gale sprang up shortly after he was
put ashore, and the boat could not 60 near
enough 70 get him off again.
The officers OF the Los Angeles say that
Captain DrummOnd is inclined to blame the
first mate as being the cause of disaster
among the men of the unlucky boat, claim
ing that the mate dIs0beyed orders in not
keeping within sight. and instead sailed
away on his own course
A court of Inquiry is being held at Santa
Barbara. The surviving crew has been paid
off and will be in San francisco on the
Corona. which is due here tomorrow
morning.