The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-26

drowned when their lives were greatly
endangered and they had but little hope TO
escape from watery grave.
One Of the party told the story OF The ad-
venture yesterday and in doing so he ex-
pressed many words of gratitude toward a
kind providence which watched over the
five amateur sports in search of canvas
backs, mallardi and teals.
'Our party" said be, was composedi of
General John Ii. Dickinson was the
moving spirit of the excursi0n-Dr. w.
Lang Chapman, Captain Rogers from the
Preside and two gentlemen connected with
the Western Union Telegraph Company
S. Ii. Styudwick and j. McEhoy.
ave LETT here OIL Friday evening by the
regular river steamer bound for Boudin
Island, where the naphtha launch Annabel
was TO await our comlngat the central land
ing.
I'VE were in the best of spirits because
we anticipated great sport, the reports from
the upper country being that ducks were
as plentiful there this time OF the year as
mosquitoes are there during the summer.
1T was little after 3 o'cloekiin the morn
ing when we arrived at Boudlin Island and
transferred ourselves. our guns and dogs to
the launch, which WAS in charge of Engineer
Charles Olsen and a wef!-known market
hunter. VINO took the wheel aud acted as
pilot, because he was thoroughly familiar
with the river and the country all around,
Captain Rogers, Strudwick and MeElroy
went to sleep on the deck OF the little craft.
but General Dickinson kept a lookout ac-
eompanied by Dir. Chapman.
I'VE all wore heavy canvas shooting
clothes. and our belts and pockets were full
of cartridges.
I'VE were going up the south fork of the
Mokelunme River when at about O'Clock
A. NJ. General Dickinson shouted to our man
ON she wheel that he thought steamer was
coming down the river.
II do not know how the general got that
impression, because 1t was pitch dark and
we were nearing a bend at the time. SO that
he could not possibly seen any lights ahead
unless he had the faculty OF looking around
the corner.
The man at the wheel took no heed of
General Dickinson's warning, and saying
something about no steamer having gone up
that river for six months, he kept right on
and steered the launch around the sharp
beud.
suddenly we found that we were in i'm
minent danger OF being run down by river
steamer which turned the curve downward
bound at the same time AS we tried to get
around il on our way up.
well, the steamer luckily did not run
into Us. but matters were reversed aud the
bow OF our boat struck against the starboard
side of the bigger vessel.
THE shock and the shouts of the men
who were awake brought the others quickly
to their feet. and for few minutes we all
thought that every one OF us would be
drowned, because II our launch sank or we
were thrown into the river we could not
possibly have attempted TO swim on account
OF the heavy gumboots and the heavier
ammunition with which we were incum-
bered.
Ia the inky darkness our situation was
extremely graphic, and 10 make matters
worse Engineer Olsen had by the collision
been thrown against the engine face for
ward. and was badly bruised and bleeding
so much as TO be almost unable 10 be of any
service.
THE steamer reversed its engines. and
when we got clear of II we found that
although our bow was badly damaged,
there was no leak and we were able to con-
time our trip.
that we were all right he also resumed his
voyage. and they disappeared around the
curve before we had time TO learn what the
name of the vessel was
"Aiterward we found out that our port
light had somehow become exsingulshed
before the accident happened, and that
therefore, the people on the steamer could
not have seen us coming even had our
course been straight one
I'VE also learned that the steamer we net
was the only one which had been making a
trip on that river for six months, and that
she had been no few miles to bring down
lot Of Chinese laborers, who had been
employed up there during the winter"
After finishing the recital Of his adven-
ture the duck-hunter added that after IL
they made I'D for the scare they had by
killing heaps and heaps of fat, plump
Mokelumne fowls.