The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-19
ALONG THE WATER Front.
The Three-Masted Schooner
James Townsend a Total
Wreck.
ON THE GARCIA RIVER BEACH.
She Was Coming Down In Tow of
the Steamer Noyo, When the
Line Parted.

The three-masted schooner James Town
send was yesterday reported ashore at the
mouth of Garcia Creek, just above Point
Arena. The dispatch containing the news
came from Point Arena and it stated that
the schooner went ashore about l o'clock
yesterday morning. At the time of the
dispatch one of the crew was ashore and
the rest were clinging to the rigging. She
is believed to be total wreck.
The Townsend was loaded with 200 900 feet
of lumber and was coming down to this port
IN tow of the steamer Noyo. The under
standing between Captain Levinson of the
Noyo and Captain Jensen of the Town
send was that should the schooner get
adrift, if there was wind enough she was
to be left to sail down. Off Point Arena,
or a little abo We 1t, the line, a finch
hawser, parted and Captain Levinson sig
nailed the Townsend that he would leave
her as good wind was blowing. He knew
nothing of the disaster until he arrived
here yesterday afternoon.
In speaking OF the weather Captain
Levinson said:
We left Fort Bragg at z 80 last evening
There was only fresh breeze blowing from
the northwest and somewhat heavy westerly
sea running, but it was nothing unusual.
.
deckload shifted and was obliged to haul the
vessel up against the swell to secure 1t. The
work took about an hour, and at O'Clock we
again headed Tor Point Arena. Our deckload
was still in bad shape, and had to hold some
what across the swell.
AT 10 O'Clock l signaled Captain Jansen to
set his sails. for the wind was freshening and
for the greater safety of my own vessel l in
tended letting go the schooner. Everything
went well till II go, when the hawser parted
very close up to the schooner. II was so dark
/ could not tell what condition the Townsend
was in, so took in the line and went back to
see If could do anything.
could see what thought to be the pinnacle
light, but l. could not see whether the sails
tention to let go / supposed the captain had
set his sails. Knowing If he had that he could
take care of himself as we were four miles from
shore and good wind was blowing, came
about and proceeded on my course My deck
load had shifted again in the meantime, and
we lost about 200 feet of ties before we were
again able to secure it. / therefore made all
haste to reach port as soon as possible.
/ cannot understand why the vessel went
ashore unless Captain Jensen had failed to
comply with my signal to set sail, and when
the line parted his crew, always a worthless
lot on small coasting vessels, were unable to
hoist them in time to get her underway before
it was too late.
A dispatch received from Point Arena
last night says:
At daylight this morning the keepers at
Point Arena Lighthouse saw schooner in the
breakers about half mile north OF the light.
The keeper went on the beach at once to rem
der any assistance in his power, but he could
do nothing rs the breakers were running high.
He hurried back tor assistance and found the
second mate, Olsen, at the lighthouse.
Olsen had jumped overheard and after a
terrible struggle had reached shore and hur-
ried for aid. From the mate the keeper found
that it was the James Townsend from Fort
Bragg, loaded with lumber and bound for San
Francisco, The keeper immediately on dis
covering the wreck started messenger to Point
Arena, which is four miles away, for help.
AS soon as the news reached town a crowd
started for the scene of disaster, and the beach
was lined with men ready and anxious to help.
The ships boat had been washed ashore, but
had hole knocked in the bottom and was
without oars, lines or anything to work with.
The men could only stand and stare. The
ropes were secured from the wreckage and
soon the boat was patched up and crew vol
unteered to go for the captain and four men
who were hanging In the rigging, but so cold
and benumbed that they could not help them
selves.
A line was soon aboard the vessel, and after
many narrow escapes from drowning the crew
was safely got ashore. Captain Jensen was the
time was broken in two. Only the foremost
was left standing, and 1t went by the board
half an hour afterward.
Captain Jensen reports having sailed from
Fort Bragg at O'Clock on the evening of the
18th inst. in tow of the steamer Noyo, and ev-
erything went well uutil about o'clock, when
hawser parted. He ordered all hands to hoist
sails, but stiff west wind was blowing and De-
fore he could get more than the jfb and FORE
sail up the ship struck. The weather was hay,
but he could see the light He did not see any
more of the Noyo.
The James Townsend was loaded with zoo, 900
feet of lumber owned by the Union Lumber
Company. The vessel is valued at $4,000. The
crew is safe in Point Arena.
A thick haze hung over the bay yester-
day and as consequence the good yacht
ing breeze which blew was not generally
taken advantage Of Some yachts from
the clubs on the lower bay ran up into the
north basin, but those from the Marin
shore remained at home.
At Ell Campo Jack Roach gave diving
exhibition and also exploded few SUBJ
marine blasts for the edifcation of quite a
crowd from the City. There was also a
mimic battle between several rowboats,
each with bloomer girl in the bow to do
the fighting with siphon soda water. A
boat flying the Chinese flag was scuttled :;
some one had pulled out the plug, and
that ended the fight.
The British bark Heathfeld, rs days out
from Newcastle, arrived yesterday with
2677 tons of coal