The morning call., 1894-06-15
A SLOOP TRIP.
Perlious Adventures of
Five Men.
ALL ADRIFT IN THE BAY.
They Could Not Handle Their
Frail Craft.
ALMOST DRIVEN OUT TO SEA.
After Suffering From Exposure and
Being at the Mercy of the Waves
They at Last Get Home.
ALMOST DRIVEN OUT TO SEA

Five young men who left North Beach
last Tuesday morning in the sloop Hattie
to enjoy days fishing at California City
had an experience in the bay which they
will remem ber for a long time to come as
the closest approach to death that a man
need ever care 10 make.
The participants in the adventure were
Steve Balk, an attache of engine 3, living
at 2013 Hyde street; Fred Joy and his
brother Billy, extramen with hook and
ladder company 4. living at 1916 Pacific
avenue, and "Lum" Williams and James
Mccain, who reside near the "beach."
For several days they had been making
preparations for fishing excursion, and
finally hired the sloop hattie. and stocked
her up with good things to eat and drink
to make the trip more pleasant
Among the stores were fve-gallOn keg
of beer. large can of milk, sandwich
and the like. The fishing tackle was
safely slowed away, and ere the anchor
was weighed, to make the voyage seem
more realistic Balk was selected as cap
tain, and he in turn appointed Fred Joy
as his first mate. This others were then
given to understand that they were but
ordinary seamen as long as the party was
a1Oat.
TO cross the bay to the Marin County shore,
little thinking of the dangers which they
would have to pass through before they
returned.
Everything went we'll until the boat was
half way across, when she got caught by
the strong wind and was driven out of her
course so much that il was a toss up
whether she would bump against Angel
Island or run into one of the Olympic
Club arks at Belvedere Cove, or whether
the frall craft would whirl around, head
for the Golden Gate and carry the whole
patty out TO the FarallOnes. The Grew"
looked TO the captain for orders, but
Skipper Balk could only gaze helpessly
about and murmur something concerning
''luffing the helm" Soon after giving this
vague order he admitted that he really did
not know what TO do with a sloOp when
she acted in such strange manner in
gale of wind.
Then each one on board became skipper
on his own hook, and under their joint
management the sloop gave the wind
lively tussle. Sometimes she was headed
Tor SausaltO, and at other times her PROV
pointed toward this city.
1t was we'll on in the afternoon when the
sloop, win its weary occupants, swung
into Richardson's Bay, and then the party
landed and refreshed themselves from the
shlpS stores. AS the wind was blowing
in the direction of San Francisco it was
resolved to attempt 20 make the trip back
All we have got to do" said Captain
Balk. who had now recovered his dignity,
is to hold the sail tight and the wind will
blow us over"
Jhe start was made, and the captains
predictions were fulfilled until the strong
tide that swirls toward the Golden Gate
was reached. Then the little sloop began
TO act Queeriy again. The sail suddenly
Tapped around, and under the impulse Ola
gust OF wind the Hattie began to make for
the GoldenGate to the great cons ternation of
those on board. To make matters worse,
night came on just as the sloop was off
Fort Point. The fishermen were now
really panic-stricken. To be carried out to
sea meant death. Fortunately by another
lucky turn Of the sail the sloop was swung
about and wore along the Marin shore
toward California City, the very place
thes had started for. But before getting
there 1t made another tack.
All through the long night the little
craft drlfted around at the mercy of the
wind and tide. while its occupants shiv-
cred with fear and cold. They had long
ago given up all hope of controlling their
vessel. Their provisions were soaked
through BY the waves that rolled over the
sloop and threatened to swamp her. Now
and then 10 revive thems selves they took a
drink of beer or milk. Toward daylight
the supply OF these liquids gave out and
the prospects were cheerless indeed.
Soon after daylight the Hattie ran ashore
again near California City, but the wave
tossed men no longer had any desire TO
catch fish. They wanted to get home, Oh,
SO badly. but wha: waste of water lay
between them and the San Francisco hills
Having dried their drenched clothing in
the sun. and feeling more cheerful now il
was daylight, they again pushed off.
BY about o'clock they had got over by
Alcatraz, and the sloop was plunging very
badly and shipping water, which those on
board kept balling out with the milkcan
and their bats.
The steamer San Rafael on her As trip
from this city slowed up as she approached
them. and her captain hailed them, asking
if thew wanted to be taken aboard. Cap
tain Balk answered, but his crew said
they would stay by the sloop, especially as
she was now beaded toward home
Two hours afterward the party landed
at the old smelling works wharf, at the
foot of Hyde street, thoroughly worn out,
wet TO the skin and, although fshless.
thankful that they had escaped finding a
grave in the same depths that cover the
remains OF many an inexperienced boat
man who trusted to the treacherous winds
and currents of the bay.