The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-10

lost part of his feet and his hands. F. S.
Murray, Nj. Mathiason, Gus Wickstron
second mate, and Frank Swiney, the other
four men, bore ind ications of the struggle
they made for life. Among the heroes of
this dismal drama is DR.. A. Dickinson Of
the Alaska Commercial Company's station
at Wood Island. This young physician,
who is a resident of Berkeley, alone at
tended to all these critical cases, amputa-
ting the frozen limbs and saving all out
one life by ceaseless and careful attention.
When the vessel went ashore IN the
binding and freezing gale the crew con-
sisted of twenty-five whites and TWO
Japanese. OF these five were drowned
from the wreck, five frozen to death and
one died from his sufferings and OF the
sixteen survivors only two escaped the loss
of some portion of their bodies.
After struggling ashore through the
chilling water they dragged their way in
binding snowstorm and over the deep
drifts. The weakest gave out and sank
down to die Swiney's simple story OF the
captains death is pathos itself. He said:
Leave me alone, boys, am done" He
could not keep on his legs. Quick as ne was
lifted up he would fall again, so we had 10
leave him. We laid him above high-water
mark, where he was found four days later
They were unable to get any fire, as the
driftwood was wet, and they dug holes In
the snow for shelter during the time they
hung around the vicinity OF the wreck
Their sufferings made them lose their
minds, and this dementia was the cause of
most of the deaths from freezing, as when
so attacked they conld not be made to keep
on their feet and take other means OF pre-
serving their lives. After three days
journey through the snow they reached
Wood Island, where they were cared for
by DR.. Dickinson. AT Sitka the crew OF
a. Dfv,+o q
donated to the survivors $500 which they
had collected among themselves.
e. ). Vorsinet, an intelligent young man
% wears of age, who lives at IL Laurel
place, in this City, states that the cook,
Charles Lind, was washed overheard soon
after the vessel struck. Vorsinet says:
He was carried back on to the schooner and
was found dead in the mates PUNK. FIRST FL
Mate Thompson, who was captain OF the Lily l.
last season. was washed overheard. de hung
on to q rope for some time and finally sank,
murmuring the name OF MS swee Inc :,
charge of the sealer Theresa last year, ahd
Harry Harmsen used to run Mhltelaw
wrecker, the Sampson We were three days IN
the snow holes before we succeeded in get
ting some canned food from the wreck.
We also got some matches and started q hre,
but 1t was too late to save our feet ana hands,
so the fire did US harm. 1t showed all the
time, and the wind blew so hard that per-
son could not walk against It, Poor Captaln
Isaacson died about half an hour after geIting
ashore. We were chilled all the time and sui,
fered every minute till we reached the small
Indian settlement. That DR.. Dickenson az
Wood Island is a noble man, ana IL Is 10 MS
skill and constant attention that SO many OF as
are alive. But he had his hands full. NY 1eet
are half gone, and my fingers most all gone
from my hands I've paid, pretty dearly ior
my little sea voyage, think.
Some time ago Al White started sub
scription for the benefit of the men who
are so penniless, crippled and helpless and
about $500 has been raised. The sufferers
are worthy objects of charity and money
subscribed for them is given in an excel
lent cause.
Yesterday the steamship Columbia,
which has been overhauled, made her trial
trip around the bay and out through the
heads. Upward of 100000 has been ex-
pended on the vessel and the new and rich
fittings of her saloons and staterooms and
the alterations in her hull and machinery
show how this great sum has been used.
She has been provided with the Howden
draft system used on the Pomona, which
will burn less coal and show more speed.
The high-pressure cylinder has been in
creased from so to 100 pounds. Her old
electric.light plant, which was the first
ever brought out OF Edison's works, has
been replaced with new plant with 400
electric lamps.
The steamer went about twenty-five
miles outside the heads, making an average
speed of 1902 knots an hour, using 1000
horsepower and making seventy-fve
revolutions of the propeller per minute.
The Columbia has made 315 round trips
between this City and Portland without
single accident, and so regular has been
her work that she has never been but two
nights at sea on each passage.
To-day the steamer Monticello makes
her first regular trip to Vallejo from her
dock at Mission street. She will be in
charge of Captain Sam Randall, one of
the oldest and most experienced ship
masters on the bay.
To-day the whaleback Progressist will go
on the Hunters Point drydock and repairs
will be made in her hull.