The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1901-12-09
REPORTS SEEING
BODIES AFLOAT
Possible Remains Of San
Rafael Wreck Vic
tins at Beach.
One Boy Says He Observed
Corpses, Another Finds
Life-Preserver.

What may possibly be the remains Of
two victims of the collision between the
Sausalito and San Rafael are supposed to
be floating in the vicinity of the Heads.
John Young, Is years old, and residing at
57S7 Sacramento street, declares he saw
two bodies, close to shore. in the blight
between Bakers Beach and Fort Point
yesterday afternoon. The matter was re-
ported 10 the Morgue. Later in the after
noon a life preserver. which had not been
in the water many days, was found by
Willie Mcguire, who resides in the same
neighborhood. but was not cognizant IN
Ill later of Young's find.
Youngs story is that he left his home
about noon yesterday on his bicycle for a
ride around the beach. He went through
the Preside, past Fort Point and then
along the BLUFFS overlooking the bay and
ocean, When he was about half way be-
tween Fort Point and the life saving sta
ton he saw TWO dark objects floating in the
surf. and he climbed down the steep banks
10 get nearer TO them. He was almost
close enough TO touch them, but hesitated,
and the bodies, buffeted around by the
waves and the ebb tide. were in his view
sufficiently long for him to get a fairly
accurate description of them
Young climbed the hill, mounted his
wheel and hurried homeward. He notified
James Ryan, a grocer, who conducts a
store at 37S9 Sacramento street of what
he had seen. Ryan jumped on his wheel
and with Young returned to the spot. No
trace Of the bodies could be found. A large
number Of people were on the beach when
they returned, and as they proceeded
from Lands End to Fort Point they asked
each one they met if any floating objects
had been seen. but mo- one had seen any
bodies
While they were making these inquiries
young Mcguire picked up the life pre-
server. 1t was one of the sectional kind,
made Of tules, such as are on most Of the
bay steamers. 1t was waterlOgGed and
very heavy. There was nothing on it TO
indicate from what vessel it came. After
carrying il for some distance Mcclure got
tired OF his burden and hid the life pre-,
server among some rocks, where he thinks
he can find it again.
After their patrol of the beach Ryan,
Young and Mcguire returned homo. Ryan
informed the Morgue of Young's state
ments and added the description of the
bodies seen by Young. Ryan said;
As soon as the lad informed me of what he
had seen. I lost no time in returning with
him. but we could ind no trace of any bodies.
The eob tide was running strong and the
one hours time was consumed from the time
Young saw the bodies until I returned with
him.
Apparently the bodies were those of middle
aged men, and Young was close enough to
touch one OF them He gave me q description
Of them Tan shoes and a dark suit
brown mustache. on the other body was
black suit, and a dark mustache covered the
lip Both bodies were considerably swollen. A
finger Of one bore gold ring The other
The boy repeated his story a dozen differ
ent persons and I am sure he was telling the
truth
At Young's residence il was stated that
he had retired and his father referred all
inQuirers TO Grocer Ryan. Mcclure said
be was on the beach about half an hour
after Young claimed to have seen the
bodies, but he saw nothing of them al
though he picked up the life preserver al
most at the same spot. He says he can
find the life preserver at any time that it
is wanted.