The San Francisco call., 1899-01-23

tain Seabury's home and gave the fol-
lowing account of the accident: II was
in the cabin at the time the collision
occurred. 1t was shortly after s a. m.
There were five of US on the launch.
viz, Frank E. Orr, Charles C. Finn,
Otis Wattles, myself and the engineer.
referred to as captain
THE steamer Oakland struck us with
her starboard wheel and knocked all
the roof of the launch off We were all
thrown into the bay. The stern of the
launch was, however, above water. and
1 swan to it and held on there until I
was picked un A boat was lowered
from the Oakland and also one from
the revenue cutter The Oakland's
boat picked up Orr and the revenue
cutters boat picked up Finn. Orr was
taken to the HarbOr Receiving Hospit-
al, but died a few moments afterward.
Otis Wattles was not seen after the
collision and his body was not recov
cred.
with regard to the hopes of picking
up William Seabury and e. j. Finn.
they are becoming slendered every mo-
ment. Mrs. Seabury is prostrated by
anxiety and sorrow. Several boats and
launches are out along the Berkeley
shore near Point Richmond looking for
any traces of the lost boys"
Charles C. Finn, one of the five in the
launch. related his experience as fol-
lows: Mr.. Mathews engaged the
launch and telephoned to me to start
for San Francisco by the a. m. train.
l asked him the name of the launch, so
that if l missed Mr.. Mathews on the
train | should know what launch to in
ouire for. and he told me William D.
To1 ONLY fHyx- 9i71IIf fnS
from Peterson's wharf at the foot of
Folsom street when we saw ourselves
in danger of being run down by the
steamer Oakland, which left the city
wharf at o'clock. l was on the stern
of the boat, but was not sure at first
that we should be struck. l called to
the engineer (Peterson's mani and cast
off the whitehall towing astern of our
launch l jumped into the whitehall,
but when the paddle-Wheel of the
steamer struck us | thought should
be crushed by it, and dived down. When
/ came up saw a life buoy one of the
passengers of the Oakland had thrown
overheard and got hold of it The rev.
enue cutters launch picked me up,
however, and the steamers boat picked
UP Orr Frank Orr had been away
from Portland for about eight years.
He came to California at the time OF
the Midwinter Exposition and had
charge of the concession department.
He had been in the employ of Monte
leagre Brothers, the California street
commission merchants and coffee deal
ers."
The news of the terrible disaster
reached Berkeley in the course of the
morning and spread rapidly through
the town. When it was learned. in adj
ditfon. that the scow in which young
Seabury and Finn started had been
found near AlcatraZ sympathy for the
hereayed families was felt on all sides.
Otis Wattles was the only son of Mr..
and Mrs. j. C. Wattles of 2235 Dana
street and was very popular among his
friends He was about Is years of age.
He attended the Lick School in this
city.
Edward Finn and William Seabury,
scarcely any hope is entertained for
their return and the families accept the
conclusion that they must have per-
ished.
A report was spread at first that the
scov had been found without the oars
and rowlocks. This gave some hope
that the boat had possibly drifted from
its moorings, leaving the two boys
stranded and unable to obtain assist
ance The report. however, could not
be confirmed and it was later learned
that both oars and rowlocks were with
the boat when it was found, but had
been removed by the man who found it
before being turned over to the au-
thorities.
Captain Clairville and Mate Douglas
are two Of the oldest and most expert
enced men in the ferry service. Cap