The San Francisco call., 1898-12-30
Found Famished by
 Indians.
WERE CARRIED OUT TO SEA
LITTLE SCHOONER OHIO BROKE
 HER MooRINGS.
After Two Desperate Battles With Gales the Men Aboard the Ves- sel Sought Refuge on an
 Island.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

Special Dispatch to The Call. VICTORIA, B. C., Dec. 29-George Rudge, a wellknown prospector whose residence when at home is at Victoria, reached Nanaimo this morning, bring ing thrilling narrative from Port Simpson.
 About two weeks ago the eight-toD schooner Ohio was lying in the harbor of Port Simpson and all was being got ready for trip farther north On board were pr. Phillips, dentist from New York; Robert Blick and Bill Bridges. Without warning gale sprung up and the little craft broke from her moorings and was carried cut to sea.
 The skipper decided to run before the wind and set the sail. Like a cork the Ohio was tossed and buffeted about un- til off Berny Island when her sails were carried away. Control was al- most lost of the vessel, but the three men were fighting for their lives and after several hours succeeded in rig ging jury sail. Then the schooner was headed for Tongas, Alaska, but an> other gale was encountered in which the jury rig was carried away. Again
 
 the elements and again they were suc- cessful, for another rig was got to- gether and the schooner was put on her course.
 But disaster followed in her wake and without warning the vessel grounded on the reef of a small island. The men had not an instant to lose and jumped overheard. Each managed to fight his way through the surf and reach the shore. Hardly had they done so when a big wave dashed up the reef where the schooner was wedged, lifted her high on it's crest and retreating took the little vessel out to sea.
 On an uninhabited island, far re- moved from civilization, the three men were left. So suddenly had the calam- ity occurred that they had not found | time to save thing while the prospect of passing vessel picking them up was the remotest. Their only hope lay in the Indians of the district, but as the island Is said to be haunted by abo- rigines, it was soon realized that it would be a difficult matter to get them to approach. even should they come near when the gale abated. They man. aged to make fire, pr. Phillips hav> ing had a tin box of matches in one of his pockets. He dried his clothes and then set out to find if any one was liv> ing on the island. Not soul was to pt IOuilO, UOliiiilS lSliidIIIcu IOT them to do but resort to mussels as a means of appeasing their appetites.
 For seven days and nights they wear fly walked the beach, never relaxing their lookout for passing vessels. A big fire was kept up and when the wind shifted 1t had to be removed to a more protected spot, as their matches had been used up. On the seventh day, when the strength of the three men was ebbing, two Indians hove in sight. The men rushed franr1caily up and down the beach in an effort to attract the attention of the Indians. At last they succeeded and the boat reached shore. The older Indian would not leave the boat and set foot upon the haunted island, but the younger man, who has been born in Alaska and was not superstitious, landed and promised to take the men to Port Simpson. On the trip down they became delirioIs and the two Indians had hard time to keep the three castaways in the boat.
 Rudge reports big find of gold, cop per and. silver quartz on Kitlatas Cam yon; also at Kitlagash. Tn Buchley Valley extensive discoveries of coal have been made