The San Francisco call., 1901-12-22
SWEEP SEAWARD
IN OPEN BOAT
Two Men Drift About
for Days Without
Food or Water.
Government Launch Rescues
Berkeleyans From
Ocean Wave.

BERKELEY. Dec 1.-THE treacherous
currents OF the bay waters swept two
South Berkeleyans through the Golden
Gate IN an unmanageable boat during the
darkness early Thursday morning They
drifted about on the ocean until rescued
late yesterday by q Government launch
sent from Goat Island The men were
without food or water and In constant
peril Of their lives during the days and
night that they drtfted about on the
swirling waters. But for the passing OF
lone fisherman, who warned the Gov
ernment officials OF the mems danger,
their names would probably be added to
the list OF those who sleep beneath ths
billows.
On Wednesday last d. ]. Keane OF 2o1s
Ashby avenue, and Arthur St Sure, a
Southern Pacific overland conductor who
resides In this city, went to TIburon,
where Keane purchased a sloop. There
was some delay in getting the boat rigged
and 1t was 10 O'Clock at night before the
men started for Oakland Creek They
were well out in the bay before It was
discovered that the center board would
not work. The boat answered her helm
badly, but Keane decided to make the at
tempt to cross the bay, as he had sailed
1t many times before.
The mouth Of Oakland Creek was
reached at about 1:3O Thursday morning,
but 1t was found impossible to get In.
owing to the strong tide running out
Keane and St. Sure decided to put back
and they were carried rapidly across the
bay by the wind and ebbing water. Dur
ing the night an anchorage was secured,
the men were not positive where, but
| since then they have concluded that Il
must have been near Mission Rock.
Drift Out While Sleeping.
| Keane and his companion were tired
| out by the nights sail and dropped to
| sleep in the bottom Of the boat In the
night the anchor dragged and when the
men awoke the boat was past Fort Point
and still going rapidly to sea- The sail
was hoisted in hopes of holding against
| the tide but the wind was light and the
| boat refused to answer her helm
At Point Bonita the men shouted them
selves hoarse and fired all their ammuni-
| ton in an effort to attract attention, but
| to no avail. A fisherman passed close
to them but refused to heed their cries
/ Boats came and went, but their signals
/ Of distress were unnoticed.
All day and the next night the boat
| drifted about The men became frantic
from want Of food and more especially
water and through the terror OF their
! situation
| Late yesterday a lone fisherman IN q
| gasoline launch heard their faint outcries-
He was unable to aid them, owing to e
short supply Of gasoline but promised to
report them at Goat Island. Fortunately
! the weather was clear and the Govern
ment launch had but little difficulty In
locating them. The sloop was towed to
the Oakland mole, where the men were
landed, exhausted from their trying ex-
perience.
Discharge Their ShotgunA
The rescued men were given food and
drink before being started for their
| homes. They were completely collapsed
and feel yet the severe effects Of tho
desperate fight for life. St. Sure said to-
! day!
We had given up hope entirely when that
hshing-boat picked US up. It seemed as II days
| passed before the launch overhauled US With
out food or water and shelterIess from the cold
| wind, 1t seemed as II we would perish mtser-
| ably within sight OF land
| We had shotguns with US, but after discharg-
| ing every shell we had Intellectually we gave
up hope Of arousing any one to our desperate
plight
| I wouldn't undergo the experience again for
| all of the boats on the bay.
Keane has a family that had become
distracted because of his long and unex-
planned absence. When he appeared at
home there was great rejoicing there.