The record-union., 1895-10-05
AWFUL HORRORS OF 4 SHIPWRECK.
Graphically Described by Andrew
WaIdron, the Comedian.
He and His Wife Were Passengers on
the Ill-Fated Steamer
Humboldt.

Misfortune's dark cloud still pursues
| the well-known and popular comedians,
Andrew Waldron and Jennie Calef. as
the following graphic letter received by
gentlemen in this city from Mr.. Wald-
ron, dated at Ferndale, Humboldt
County, will show. They were passen-
gers on the steamer Hum boldt, which
was wrecked the other day on the north
ern coast:
God grant you may never be ship
wrecked, or any of the good people of
Sacramento. | will try and give you
little idea of what we went through. We
left Frisco ut $3.50 A. NJ. Friday. All went
well till $3.50 A. NJ. on Saturday. Jennie
and were in our stateroom when the
steamer struck. L jumped up, put on
my clothes and saw we were on the
rocks, high sea was on and heavy
fog. l told Jennie TO dress quickly,
which she did. and we went to the saloon.
In the meantime the boat was pounding
on the rocks and standing was almost an
lmDOssiOi
ION reaching the saloon / found but very
few there. so | gathered all | could, and
we awaited there the will Of God. II was
scene no pen or words can describe
dark and stormy, and the vessel pound
ing from rock to rock. We expected
each moment would be our last. oh,
God it's a terrible feeling, still every
one was cool, the ladleS-aDOut twelve OF
tnem-being remarkably brave. we
prayed for light and it came after three
hours of anxious waiting. The water
put out the lights about half an hour after
we struck. Messages were given to one
another for friends and relatives in case
some one should be saved, for we all eX-
pected death.
'At daylight we discovered that we
were on Gorda Rocks, Mendocino County.
The waves and surf were very high and
the old boat breaking up, as parts of her
bottom were floating all around.
80 Put on the life preservers and take to
the boatsn was the order, but we could
not land boat, so the purser and first
officer went in a lifeboat 10 try to make
some point and telegraph for assistance
OF they went the passengers and crew
remaining on the ill-tated boat. At last
they shot line ashore and got three of
the crew over. They started a fire and
the work OF landing commenced. The
single mon were sent first, and oh, the
anxious eyes and breaking hearts that
followed that boat.
''She's gone! No, she's safer 'Oh,
my God! She's gomez were the cries.
Then She's safen went up with a cry
and cheer, and so four bOatloads went
over, each one landing safely, but with
soaked passengers.
Every boat took in water. Jennie
and l took the fifth boat. We had to
lower ourselves hand-over- hand into it.
1t was tough on u.s. but we got in. The
sea drenched US and just as we struck the
shore a big wave broke over US. We
were drenched to the skin and had very
light clothes on, as the life-preservers
would have been useless with heavy
clothes on. a cold wind was blowing
and the sea was running higher.
The sixth and seventh boats were
dashed on the rocks, but the men were all
saved. some of them cut and bleeding.
At last all were safe. 4 case of bareback
came ashore. and We dined on that. At 4
p. VI. wagons came and took US wet and
half-frozen to Petrolia, twelve miles
away, where we got supper and beds, and
came here to-day.
I'VE go to Eureka tomorrow. The
| boat and all our belongings are lost.
Jennie made a skirt from halt blanket
that was given her, but all our clothes
and costumes are gone. and we are with
out dollar. Everything we had is on
the boat, and / do not know what we
shall do. but may meet some one we
know in Eureka. Thank God, | have
Jennie left however, and Pll earn liv-
ing some way"