The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-04-23
An Instance Of
Mans Inhumanity.

The statement of Jens Nelson, thu
fisherman Of whose narrow escape from
drowning mention was made in thes,
columns yesterday, has been received
Nelson, who is in the employ of Georg,
& Barker, is a steady, Industrious MAJ
who has been engaged in fishing foI
several years, but until his experience
of Thursday morning he had no con
ception Of mans base inhumanity t
man. The following is his account O.
his escape from a watery grave. to-
gether with some incidents of the af
fair which cast a serious reflection or
the courage, manllness and humanity
of some OF his Acknowledgement:
"On the morning Of the goth inst
between s and 9 O'Clock, 1 left Hungry
Harbor, or Megler's station, where
had been lying from II o'clock a. m.
on the 10Th, together with many other
boats, some Of which were there wher
I arrived, and others of which arrived
afterward on account Of bad weather
About the time above mentioned, al
of us concluded to leave for home in
company, so that each might give the
other assistance in case of accident. ]
lifted the anchor and pulled out as far
as the point so as to make sail, but
before the boat had got under way a
squall struck her and the boom took
the water, first filling her and then
turning her bottom up. We (the boat
puller and myself managed to climb
on top, and hen saw two boats, one
about fifty and the other about one
hundred yards away. / thought there
was hope of being picked up, as the
boats tackled toward us. We shouted
for them to come; but no, they did not.
On the contrary the both of them
hauled off and left. Left to our fate,
l took out my watch to see the time
and state Of the tide. 1t was then
500, and we were drifting down toward
McGowan's, being away out in the
channel. 1 stood up and waved my
hat, hoping to attract attention, as that
was the last show we had for our lives.
AS good luck would have it, Meow
ans men were bailing out their boats,
and they happened to see us. All of
their boats having been filled by the
heavy seas, a trap skiff was secured,
and four men, Christ Kauge, Louis Hol-
stem, Robert Peterson and Patteri Hol-
stem, managed to reach us and AXE us
safely to shore. We landed behind
Scarborough Hill, and were taken up
to Mr.. Finning's about 10 O'clock, where
we got dry clothes, and afterward, as
soon as we were warmed and able to
walk, went to McGowan's, where a
kind welcome was accorded us till we
left for home on the Queen in the even
ing. We reached this city about S:45
Shortly afterward, or about 8 o'clock,
one of George &c Barker's men, Emil
Erickson, reported having seen the boat
turning over and the two men on the
bottom, bat did o attempt to save
them. Another man named Jackson
Christ Jackson, 1 hear--also reported
moving oSSH uS. MY IHlOTIldIlI7 was
Mary G. Haven, who in turn was in
by Fren Bang. She asked IL we
had been saved, but was informed not,
and that as long as the boat could be
it was drifting with a strong ebbI
tide, the men holding on to the bottom.
| would like to know how such men
would feel If placed in similar circum-
Sitting on the bottom of a
boat, a heavy sea constantly washing
over them, almost frozen, and seeing
boats pass them without offering to-
extend a helping hand. What are such
men made of, or have they any feeling
humanity? n
II wish to extend my hearty thanks
10 those heroes to whose courage we
ire indebted for our lives, and also
hose of whose hospitable kindness we
were the recipients
Nelson's boat and net were found In
1 fish trap, and is now on Chinook
Beach. The boat tore some twenty odd
piles out of one trap and then lodged
the lead of another. after taking out
Jour Of the piles.