The morning call., 1893-03-07
HOW LARSON DIED
Two Findings on the Point
Reyes Casualty.
THE LIFE BOATS VICTIM.
Captain Jorgensen Exhibited Skill and
Goodness During the Critical Mo-
ments-His Crew Testifies.
THE LIFE BOATS VICTIM.

Two independent investiga tons have been
held OF the circumstances attending the
death of George Larson, member of the
llfe-saying crew stationed at Point Reyes.
One was conducted by Coroner Edward
Eden of Marin County. The other was by
Captain w. c. CoulsOn, late in command of
the revenue cutter Rush, at present acting
as assistant inspector of the twelfth district
of the life-saviaG service.
The conclusions reached by both investi-
cations concur. These are that the death of
Larson was entirely accidental; that no
blame attaches TO Captain George Jorgen-
sen. the keeper of the Point Reyes station :;
thar there was no lack OF care or skill on
his part. and that Larson was not drowned
but killed by the lie boat striking him when
it rolled over.
The Coroner's il quest was held Friday
last on the beach where the accident &C.
Cured.
All the members of the crew testified be-
lore the Coroner that the sea on the morn
ing of March l was unusually smooth. that
Tor months before II had not been so favor
bic Tor drill; that there was no difficulty
whatever in launching the boat in the surf;
that the sea remained smooth during the
drill, which lasted half an nour, and re-
manned so when the boat headed for the
shore, and that when it was within thirty
yards Of the landng-place the roller, OF
heavy wave, came up which struck the boat
OF its side tossing it completely over and
burying the men in the breakers.
DR.. Dayy Of Oiema, who held the autopsy,
testified that Larson did not die by drown
ing; that there was no water In his lungs
nor stomach. but that he bled internally,
and that there were severe Commissions on
his shoulders and back. DR.. Dayy ascribed
his death to the force Of the blow received
from the boat.
The Coroners jury returned verdict of
accidental death and eXOneTated Captain
JOrgensen from all blame.
Captain COulsOn returned yesterday from
Point Reyes with transcript of the evil
dence taken at the inquest, which he will
forward with his own report to the DEPART
ment at Washington.
Each member of the crew was examined
separately afterward under oath by Cap
tain CoulsOn. HIS examination was directed
particularly TO the question whether any
carelessDess or want of skill in handling the
crew had been shown.
The men were unanimous in their state
ments that the accident was unavoidable
and that Captain JorgenSen exhibited
high degree OF skill and was cool and COL
lected during the CT sis.
1hey also SAID that no blame was to be
attached 10 Larson, who was pnll!ng steadily
when the boat overturned, and that ne was
struck by the gunwale.
When they first struck the water they
found no footing. but. being speedily car
ried In by the wave, were quickly on their
feet The boat was tossed ashore by the
same wave. They worked two hours in
their efforts to resusetate Larson. A nhy-
stefan was summoned within twenty min.
uies after he was rescued, but il was five
hours before he made his appearance.
These facts will be embodied by Captain
Couls0n in his official report. His conclu-
slons agree with those reached by the Coro-
ner's jury. II says il was Captain Jorgen-
sens duty to drill his men whenever the
conditions were favorable, and that these
conditions appeared to exist on the morning
of the accident.
Captain T. j. Blakeney, superintendent
OF the Life-saVing Service, Twelfth Dis
triet, says the occurrence is simply another
sad proof of the treacherous nature of the
surf on this coast.
He referred to bis records. from which it
appeared that in a similar manner Fred
Carstens and a. Anderson lost their lives
at Point Reyes station on Decem Der u.
$780, and at the Coqulle River station on
April u, 1892, Edward NJ. Nelson, the
keeper of that station, and William H.
Green aud John X. Sumner, surfmen, were
killed by the capsizing of their boat in the
breakers.