The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-06-11
Two Of the Pleasure Party Drowned and
Their Bodies Not Yet Recovered.
Engineer Walter Henderson and
Miss Mabel Kafitz, Both Of
Stockton, Drowned-Accordin
to the Story Of One Of Those
Aboard It Would Seem That the
Accident Was Due to Neglect Of
Some One.

STOCKTON, June 1O.-The chief topic
of conversation here to-day was the
terrible ending to the pleasure rarity
which went up the San Joaquin River
in catamaran yesterday. Shortly at
ter midnight one of the supporting
boats of the catamaran filled and sank,
with the result that Miss Mabel Kaf1tz
and Walter Henderson, the engineer,
were drowned. News of the accident
was telephoned to town from the chic
DRY factory, which is near the scene Of
the accident. The news created The
greatest excitement. as the first report
indicated that only eight of the twen-
ty-two had been saved.
The party consisted of Mrs Stella X.
Smith and Gertie Lang (chaperones)
Ethel Wynne Thompson of San Fran
cisco, Bessie Walsh, Marienne Walsh,
Maude Martin, Bertha Martin, Ethel
Martin, Hazel Klench, Mabel Kafitz,
Adele Shepperd. Mabel Agee, Herbert
Kenyon, Alva Atwood. Ozro Atwood,
Archie Atwood, Ralph Yardley, Lloyd
Woods, George Folger. George Holman.
Clarence Hall, Sam Rhoads and Harry
White.
Sam Rhoads, who formerly belonged
to the Y M. C. A. swimming team. and
is a strong swimmer, tells his story OF
the accident as follows: Peterson, the
pilot, knew the boaA was leaking all the
time, and when he kept glancing back
asked him what he was looking at.
He said he was looking at land mark.
I remarked that the land marks along
the river must move pretty often. I
noticed that the boat was listing some
what, but thought nothing of it, as we
were about to land. Then it suddenly
began settling forward and on the port
side, and 1 yelled for everybody to
come up on the high side. There was
a rush to that side. but the water was
pouring in so fast that Henderson, who
was trying to- stop the engines, must
have been caught In the machinery. and
don't believe he got out at all. AS
the engines stopped Peterson remarked:
There's a good landing spoiled
I'VE had all been out to Jackson's
baths together many times, and every
one in the party including the girls.
could swim. Several of them jumped
into the water and struck out for shore,
but eight of us stayed on the boat.
the boys tried to steer the boat to shore
with a shad net, but the current was
too swift When the water finally got
up to our knees we had to leave the
boat. too. I remember Miss Kafitz was
standing close to me. Adele Sheppard
and I jumped together and struck out
for shore. I was towing her, When
somebody else jumped and struck me- on
the shoulders bearing me under. Then
Miss Shepperd and I became separated.
and I thought she had been drowned,
as I struck out for shore to get a plank
or a log I found she had got ashore
ahead of me. I saw Miss Lang strug-
Cling in the water and l pulled her out.
Pretty soon.' continued Rhoads,
Mrs Smith got on shore, and she told
me Peterson was in the water, with his
head in the fork of a willow, keeping
himself af1oat. She reached the same
willow and tried to catch hold, but
Peterson pushed her away, saying that
he was drowning. He acted like brute
all the time, and when the launch
Viola got to the scene he announced
that he was going home in her. The
others refused to go. preferring to stay
and endeavor to find those who were
missing
Sam Rhoads then went to Bachman's
house where already the people had
been aroused by the cries of distress
and telephoned to Supervisor D. G..
Shepherd. informing MIN of the acci-
dent and assuring him OF the safety Of
Miss Adele. Supervisor Shepherd noti-
fed number of people about town by
telephone, and soon several parties
started for the place. which is about
nine miles from this city.
Chief of Police Gall. Captain Kings
bury, officer Webb ] g. Thompson,
Deputy Sheriff Black. John Woods. D.
Kenyon and John Bonner went to- the
scene of the accident in the launch
Viola, leaving here about o'clock.
They passed the catamaran just above
the brick yard, lying bottom up. They
went on up to Bachrnans, where many
of the party were being cared for by
the people in the house. The party in
tbs, Viola then returned down the river,
looking for the missing When they
got back to the catamaran they chopped
a hole through her bottom thinking per-
haps either Miss Kafitz or Henderson
had been caught inside the boat
Neither was found.
Sheriff Sibley. with Deputy Wall.
drove to the scene. as did Constable
Beach and John Hari<ins in another
buggy Several hacks went out later
and conveyed the survivors to this city
Lindley Peterson. the pilot a young
fellow about 20 years ole, is being Sc
verely censured for his actions, AMI for
his negligence in taking a party out in
a boat that was ieaky.
Miss Kafitz leaves a widowed mother,
who is frantic with GRIEF Henderson
was a machinist and had served in the
navy.
Miss Maude Martin managed to swim
down stream about two and a half
miles. She was greatly worried re-
earding the safety of her two young
sisters. Bertha and Ethel. While in the
water she freed herself of her clothing
with the exception of her under gar
ments. shoes and stockings. She was
almost frantic, thinking her sisters had
not been rescued She tried to over
take the wreck, but could not do so.
She finally learned that her sisters were