The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-03-05
HE WAS UNABLE To SWIM.
And Was Barely Rescued From
a Watery Grave.
HARD WORK TO SAVE HIM.
1t Is Likely That Some Charge VIII
Be Placed Against His Young
AsSailants.

Headquarters on section b of the seawall,
and have for a long time been a source OF
ANNOYANCE TO the police, received a scare
yesterday morning that may do a little
toward preventing their cussedness in the
future. 1t nay be though that yesterday
mornings fun will yet land them in jail.
A young Italian known as Joe" has
been in the habit of coming to the seawall
TO fish. he is a harmless sort of fellow
and the boOdlums tried on many occasions
to pick quarrel with him. But Joe was
not fighter. and when they became too
annoying he would pull VI his lines and
leave. often having his fish confscated by
the gang.
But yesterday morning they made no
attempt TO pick quarrel Instead, several
of them ran up behind Joe. who was sit
ting on a stringer, and pushed him in the
bay. For moment they laughed as the
young man struggled to keep afloat, and
then 1t suddenly dawGed on them that he
could not swim. The laughter died away
when they saw him sink beneath the
water and the gang became frightened.
They ad sense enough TO know that they
would be guilty of murder if the man was
drowned, and turned their efforts 10 rescue
him.
A couple of the gang ran for boat but
it was fastened and they came back and
threw some pieces Of wood into the water
Tor the drowning man to grasp. But he
co uldn't DO so, and before they had accom-
pllshed anything lie sank for the second
time.
There was boat with a long rope that
was fastened low down on one of the piles,
but had dritted so far from the wharf that
no one could get into it. But there was
nothing else TO do and two of the gang
1T1ru mad ir.fn flnn g. -.
boat. while couple of others jumped in
and caught the drowning man as he was
sinking for the last time.
Joe was helpless, so they had no trouble
in keeDing him up. but as his head fell
back under the water be was soon uncon-
scious. He was dragged into the boat
with great difficulty. and after being
landed ii was half an hour before he re-
gained consciousness and was taken ~ his
home.
The friends of the young man are very
indignant about the outrage and ii may be
that they will induce him to put some
charge against the hoOdlumS, who are be-
ing watched by the oce, so they can be
arrested when wanted. At least half
dozen people said Joe was pushed into the
bay and are willing 10 testify to that
effect.
Visitors were not allowed on board the
cruiser orktown yesterday, and crowds
w
any orders have yet been received in re-
gard 10 the vessels future destination is
not known. Several officers came ashore
IN the afternoon, and hen questioned by
CALL reporter in regard 10 the matter
stated positively that they knew no more
abeut where they would 90 after leaving
Mare Island than the reporter did. A
gentleman who is well posted on naval
matters, however, gave his opinion that
the 1orktOWn will be one of fleet that
will cruise in Boring Sea during the sum-
mer. The Yorktown has been there be-
fore and officers and men are familiar with
the work that will be required of them.
Pump or sink is sentence that will de-
scribe the state of affairs on the schooner
Elenorah for the past three days. The
vessel was on her way from Santa Bar
bara TO Humboldt in ballast. but last
Thursday when IF Point Arena got struck
By northeaster and sprung leak.
CAPTAIN lsaacson at once made for San
Francisco, but the men had to stay at the
pump to keep the schooner afloat. The
Elenorah got to this port early Yesterday
morning and dropped anchor off the sea-
wall, but as it was Sunday she could Tot
be docked. and her men had tn keep pump
ing. They did little more than hold their
own. for last evening they had gained an
inch on the water in he hold.
Leonardo de Guirrar, an Italian fisher
man. found the dead body of a man float
lug IN the Day a snort distance from Nor h
Beach yesterday afterD DON. He towed his
find to Fsherman's wharf, where 1t was
taken in charge by the Coroner. The body
was in an awful condition, evidently hav-
ing been in the water several weeks. The
Clothes worn by the man consisted of the
uniform of a man-Of- warsman, and the
superstition is that he met his death IN the
attempt 10 swim ashore, possibly after de-
sertlng his ship.
The schooner Sailor Boy was nearly all
day getting past Lime Point. She struck
the ebb tide ana light breeze and it was
all she could dc to hold her own. In fact,
several times when the breeze lied ont she
dldn't do this, but was carried out past
the wreck of the City of New York.
Schooners often get stuck at Lime Point
Tor few hours, but to stay there all day is
something IN heard of.
frank Graft, the boatman, and two COM
Danions. who left this city in a small boat
last Friday. have all returned safely. 1t
was feared That they had been drowned
but Graft states that their long absence was
due to the fact that he lost his reckoning
on the bay and had to lay up on mud fiat
for twenty-four hours. His friends are
smiling al his return.
The barkentine Highland Light was
towed over to Oakland Creek Yesterday 10
be laid up until business improves.
The naval reserve were out with their
barge yesterday and went through their
FaaNr 80 ALL