The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-09-13
George Prescott of San
Francisco Drowned
Off New York.
Shipped as sable Seam an @. r.
Kahn" on a Line
Steamship.
Death Ends the Reckless Career OF
Retired Merchants Only
Son.

NEW YORK. N. Y, Sept. Lieu
tenant Frank Allen Wilcox of the First
United States Infantry, temporarily at
rached to the torpedo school at Willets
Point L. l., identified On Saturday George
f. Kahn, able bodied seaman, who was
drowned from the American line
steamship OHIO as she was nearing
the Sandy HOOK lightship last Sunday
morning. as George A. Prescott the only
son of a weIl-known retired merchant of
San Franci>co, CAL The young mans
identity was disclosed by letter adj
dressed to Lieutenant Wilcox, and written
only a few hours before he tell to his
death. II was found among his effects
and turned over to Shipping Commits
sioner Power.
Young Prescott was until recently a
mem Der of the National Guard of Cali
fornia and held the rank OF major He
was here with the Governor during the
Grant tomb decicatory exercises and was
q guest q: the Majestic. During his stay
in this city ne called frequently at Will
let's Point and was entertained by Lieu
tenant Wilcox and his fellow officers.
He was jolly and good natured, and made
Lieutenant Wilcox believe he was q mem
Der Of the California Governors staff.
He also posed as a son Of Mr.. Prescott,
one of the wealthy owners OF the Union
Iron Works Of San Francisco.
81 knew young Prescott very well, said
room clerk Baker of the Majestic to- night.
April. He was reckless, indifferent sort
= F,I1 ~ l. 10,
because his father had little money
he had nothing to do but spend It,
| knew he was on the Ohio, and since
the ship arrived l have been waiting to
receive visit from him. | was not, how
ever. surprised when he did not call. He
had borrowed some money from me and
other friends, and | thought he did not
have it and was unwilling to see me.
Other friends asked me about him, and
from what l heard Prescott abused their
confidence also.
Kahn, the name he assumed on board
ship, is his mothers maid en- name. He
was frequently called that by his friends.
l met HIM in San Francisco, where also
knew his parents and sister. His father is
a well-to-do retired merchant, and moves
In very good society. George was the
scapegoat of the family. L know his father
put him aboard ship and made him take
a trip around the Horn, but it did not re-
form the lad"
When Captain Boggs of the Ohio ex-
amined the effects of the drowned sailor
he found among them sealed letters adj.
dressed to Lieutenant Wilcox at WIlets
Point. He i'm mediately wrote to him and
asked if he knew anything about the
young man. This led TO the identified
ton.
"While or duty in San Francisco l met
Young Prescott quite frequently" said
Lieutenant Wilcox, HE always told me
his father was conn ected with the Union
Iron Works, and 1 understood that he
was employed there also. 1t is SURF rise
to me TO find that he is not a
son OF this wealthy man. When he
was here in April understood
he was on the Governors staff, tor [ have
letters from him signed Major and Aide
de- Camp He always appeared to be well
supplied with money, and l thought he
was a mem Der of the Bohemian and other
social clubs of San Francisco"