The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-26
LOST ON ELIDA
ISLAND REEFS
The Schooner Sailor Boy
Dashed Ashore by a
Gale.
Its Crew of Two Men Escape to
Starve On a Barren
Shore.
Human Habitations Reached When
Hunger Has Almost Done
It's Work.

SAN DIEGO, CAL, Dec. 25.-Captain
Charles Peterson and William Llndley,
better known as "Crawfish Bill" were
shipwrecked at EiiGa Island, $50 miles
south of this port, on November %, and
after undergoing awful prlvations and
dangers have returned to this port. They
were brought up from San Quintin by the
steamer Carlos Pacheco, which arrived
this morning.
The men were guano-ga gathering in the
little schooner Sailor Boy at Elida when
they were struck by the gale and wrecked.
Everything about the schooner vas in
ship-shape before the gale sprang up, and
both men were below eating late supper.
Suddenly, as if a giant had taken hold of
the vessel, the Sailor Boy careened on its
side and began to pitch and roll. The two
men rushed upon deck, but could do moth
ing TO hold the vessel, which was already
dragging its anchor in the direction OF the
rocks of Elida. Huge waves had begun to
come iii while the men were at supper,
and though unnoticed at the time, were
now seen to be portentous of trouble.
Above the roar of the gale, which made
loud noise in the rigging, Skipper Peter
son called Lindley aft and directed him TO
launch the small boat, which was done
with difficulty. 1t was held fast by a
painter, and was hardly clear of the
schooner when the Sailor Boy struck the
rocks with such force that both men were
thrown off their feet. They endeavored
to get overheard into the small boat, but
the violent jumping and humping of the
schooner prevented them from getting
into the smaller craft without a drench-
ing. Skipper Peterson could hear the
timbers creak and break under the terri
bic pounding, and finally the vessel filed
and settled down among the pointed
rocks. The wind and waves continued
their work of destruction until the
schooner was in pieces.
The men had in the meantime cut loose
the small boat and with great danger to
themselves gained a foothold beyond the
reach of the breakers, which rushed with
fury over the rocks and into the little
coves of the island. They had been un.
able to save any provisions or fresh water,
their clothes were soaking wet and the
small boat was badly wrenched.
Notwithstanding their condition, Peter
son and LindIey launched their skiff as
soon as the gale abated and undertook the
perilous trip across the narrow channel
separating Elida Island from the main
land. They were fortunate in getting
through the surf and across. There, after
another battle with the breakers, they
landed. After hauling their boat up out
Of reach of the sea they walked inland
several miles to the Higgins ranch at
Rosarita. There they were supplied with
a small quantity of provisions, which they
ate with ayidity, as they had been with
out food for two days, and the next morn
ing the mariners set out on foot for
Rosario, distance of 200 miles north,
with no ranches or habitations interYen-
ing.
Skipper Peterson and his companion be-.
lieved that the worst of their experience
had been passed through, but they soon
changed their minds. Unused to tramp
ing over rough country. and with scant
knowledge of the places where water
could be obtained, they soon wore them
selves out and suffered terribly. The rocks
cut their shoes to pieces ana the thick
brush they passed through made rags of
their clothes.
Occasionally to quench their thirst as
well as to gain a respite from the pangs of
AuHBeI Inc meu ptuck0u anu ate LunaS,
the fruit of the cactus, and their mouths
were made sore by the tiny prickers COW
ering the fruit. Both men were fast los
ing strength and were almost hopeless,
but they encouraged one another almost
constantly ana kept on.
A chart that Peterson carried in his
pocket was probably the only thing that
saved them from becoming lost. By its
aid they were enabled to follow the trails
up hill and down and across the canyons
A sweep of the sea was frequently in view,
but no schooner or other vessel apps AIRED
sufficiently near to be hailed. The hard
ships of the days and the cold nights
made them miserable, and hunger and
thirst haunted them relentIessly.
Finally the two men reached Rosario,
thirty-fve miles south of San Quintin, and
there obtained food and ample accommo-
dations. A day or two later they were
taken to San Quintin in time to catch the
steamer Pacheco Tor San Diego.
Just year ago Skipper Peterson, then
sailor on the Pacheco, attempted with
three other sailors to effect landing
through the heavy surf at San Antonio
Landing, and was the only one of the four
who escaped with his life.