The San Francisco call., 1899-12-03
NOTHING LEFT
OF THE WEEOTT
Vessel Is Completely
Broken Up.
HEROISM OF CHARLES RENIER
RESCUED PEOPLE OWE THEIR
LIVES TO HIM.
Swan Ashore, Climbed Over Rocks
Which Cut and Bruised His
Body, and Summoned
Assistance.
iEROISM OF CHARLES RENIER
RESCUED PEOPLE OWE THEIR
LIVES TO HIM.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

EUREKA, Dec. ALI that remains OF
the steamer Weeott. which was wrecked
last night on the south Jetty at the en-
trance OF Humboldt bar, is a mass OF
ground-up wreckage scattered along the
beach for miles. During the night the
vessel pounded herself to pieces until the
last vestige had followed its fellow 10 the
beach on the food tide.
The steamer had laid outside all day,
and as the bar appeared smoother and as
night drew near, Captain Burtis deter
mined to cross in. Perhaps half the dis
tance had been covered when heavy seas
swept over the fated vessel, smashing her
after housing and breaking one of the
big steam pipes. Helplessly the ship be-
gan to drift toward the rocks OF the
1etty, and a short time afterward struck
heavily at point about half a mile in
side the bar, but at a point where the
sea was in fearful turmoil.
At this time the splendid heroism OF
Second officer Charles Renier was dis
played. II was apparent that the vessel
could not last long in such a sea and
Renier volunteered 10 attempt to swim 10
the trestle with a lifeline. Doffing most
OF his clothes and strapping a life-pre
server about his body, the brave man
hand-to-hand battle with the angry
waves. Through boiling waters he made
his way, most OF the time under water
TO attempt a landing on the sharp ard
mounted by the trestle used while the
breakwater was in course Of construc
tion.
Bleeding from contact with the sharp
rocks, he finally caught hold Of one OF
the barnacle-covered piles, and with his
remaining strength managed 10 climb TO
cation with places of comparative safety.
To this man most of those aboard owe
their lives. for the life-saving vrew used
the communication thus established in
rescuing the passengers and crew.
Captain Burtis. Chief Engineer II. +.
Bodner and First officer Elisha Morgan
also did valiant and able service during
the work of rescue. 1t was while seeking
for Fireman Quinn, whose leg was
broken and whom he afterward succeed
ed in saving, that Captain Burtis stum-
bled down coal hatch and was severely
injured. He was the last man to leave
the ship, and in leaving was obliged 20
cut himself loose and be hauled TO the
trestle through the seething waters. The
chief engineer, while seeking and assist
ing passengers, discovered Mrs. William
Staples pinned down amid the wreckage
of the demolished housing. and refused TO
abandon her 10 her fate. although the
vessel was at the time threatening to go
TO pieces. The unfortunate lady was
finally eXtricated from her perilous posi-
tion and conveyed by a sling. to the
trestle She was badly injured however
her spine being fractured. and after being
removed TO the life-saving station IL was
discovered that the whole lower part OF
her body was paralyzed. II is doubtful. If
she will survive her injuries.
The body of one victim. Mrs. Car
michael. floated into the bay this morning
and was picked up by couple of young
from sinking and II had come in on the
flood tide. The body OF Carpenter Wilson
has not been recovered. Injured Fireman
Quinn is expected TO recover.