Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-23
WHALE SINKS PILOT BOAT.
Leviathan of the Deep Strikes a Ves-
sci Head Foremost.

From the San Francisco Chronicle.
A monster whale struck the pilot boa t
Bonita head-on at $40 o'clock Friday night
six miles southeast of the Farallon Islands,
causing the vessel to leak SO badly that she
sank six hours later. 1t was a thrilling ex-
perience for the pilots and men on the Be-
nita. They were thrown down with consid-
cradle violence and the man at the wheel
was SO badly scared according to one of
the pilots, that he could not speak for five
minutes. Pilots Swanson, Scott, Wallace
and Miller were on the Bonita at the time
all but Miller in the cabin, and on deck
We're Pilot Miller and the five sailors. The
boat was lazily riding the swelis and Scott
and Wallace were preparing to retire, when
the shock came. Swanson, who had been
on his way into the cabin for luncheon
was thrown over against the lounge. He
arose and hurried on deck. The night was
pitch dark, but alongside the Bonita he
could plainly make out the prodigious form
of a whale lying close to the VesseI anu
apparently about eighty feet long. The le-
viathan lay perfectly still in the water for
a moment, when, without warning, 1t shot
forward with great rapidly and set up
great splashing some distance ahead.
Swanson called down the compantonway,
"A whale!" and by the time Pilots Scott
and Wallace were on deck the ocean for
alive with the monsters, all thrashing the
water with their tails and making a fear
full commotion.
Pilot Swanson stepped below to finish his
luncheon and was surprised to find that
water covered the cabin floor to a depth OF
several inches. All hands were called and
the two small boats were launched, into
which the Bonita's pilots and crew jumped
clothing the pilots saved only the COM
passes, foghorns and a few other articles.
Within fifteen minutes both small boats had
left the Bonita, but both stood by to watch
the pilot boat. Before leaving the vessel,
however an effort was made to keep the in
coming water down by means of the pump,
but without success.
The water poured in from the stern"
said Pilot Swanson, land we saw that the
Bonita was doomed to sink. AS she re-
manned above water for some time after We
left her l returned to see what kept her
afioat, and found everything awash. She
began to roll and this motion was made
more regular because the sails were set
At midnight we decided to leave one boat
to stand by while the other pulled over to
the pilot boat Oracle s., four miles away
and just outside the lightship. 1 was in
the boat that struck out for the Oracle 8.
and we were three hours In rowing to her.
Pilot Scott, Boatkeeper Brightfeld and one
sailor stood by the Bonita All about were
immense whales. the largest graybacks
have ever seen off this coast. Many Of
them seemed to be from eighty to 100 feet
IN length Along toward morning THot
Scott and his men came over to the Oracle
s. and reported that they had stood by until
she sank, at point about two miles from
where she was struck, and In fifteen faith
oms Of water, 1t Is doubtful If the Bonita
can be raised. Scott was 6rst to come into
the harbor. bringing in the Wellington this
morning. and / came In on the Colon this
afternoon. Pilots Miller and Wallace are
still outside. The sailors came in on the
Wellington.
.It is my first shipwreck," added Pilot
Swanson. although 1 have been at sea for
so very bad to be wrecked by whale. near
port. but 1T was in reality terrifying. When
/ went on deck and saw such a big whale
lying alongside and saw him moment later
start to thrash around / was sure that he
would strike US with his tail. Had he done
SO the Bonita would have gone down in a
hurry. There was some danger also of be-
ing struck by the whales while we were in
the small boats / should not like to esti-
mate the number of monsters splashing all
about US. 1t seemed at the time though
there were LOCO and the darkness made the
situation all the more ticklish."
Captain George Scott, who was acting as
captain Of the pilot boat was the first to
bring the news of the loss of the Bonita to
the merchants exchange. AS he had had
no sleep for several hours before the acct
dent and none since he went to his home, at
ing the news at the exchange. The captain
stated In an interview that though the
whales had been seen in some numbers no
mischief was expected to be done by them
He said:
Il Lad no thoug... c. r.c'c- r.-'l,,-- IVA,
and as was below at the time and knew
that we were not near land could not for
the life Of me imagine what had happened.
hurried up on deck after picking myself
up. having been thrown over by the terrific