The San Francisco call., 1904-03-25
BRING A TALE
OF SHIP WRECK
Schooner Mary and Ida Is
Driven on Rocks of Unga
Island by a Hurricane
NO LIVES SACRIFICED
With Assistance of Fisher
men Officers and the Crew
Reach Shore in Safety

dramatic tale of the wrecking Of
the American Goldfish Company's
schooner Mary and Ida during a ter
rife hurricane at Winchester station,
Unga Island, February %, came from
the north last evening by the schooner
Czarina, which brought home the cap
tain and crew of the ill-fated codfisher.
The schooner and a cargo of 10000
Goldfish are a total loss, and had it
not been for the timely assistance Of
the fishermen at Winchester station
every soul aboard the craft would have
perished. Luckily every one escaped
without injury except William Klein,
the cook, who had his feet frozen sew
eral days after the catastrophe while
lost in the hills of Unga Island.
The Mary and Ida sailed from this
city for the northern fishing grounds
January IL of this year. After a fair
passage she arrived at SQuaW Island
February and took aboard $4,000 cod
fish. From there she sailed to Win
chester station, where the balance of,
the cargo was taken aboard. The YES
sci was anchored about half a mile
off shore when the gale came which
drove her to destruction. For eight
days preceding the wreck a storm
ragged, and an extra anchor was put
out by Captain Ipsen as precaution-
ary measure About o'clock on the
evening of February % the storm in
creased in fury until the wind had
attained a velocity of 80 or 100 miles
an hour.
DRIFTS ON ROCKS.
Suddenly one of the anchors gave
way and the vessel began drifting
toward Kellys Rock. For few brief
moments the other anchor retarded
a. l..sf fAV, 1tYfI
the wind triumphed and those on board
realized that nothing could save the
ship. Nearer and nearer the stanch
little craft drifted to the beach until
with crash and a culver she struck
one of the submerged powders which
abound on this bleak coast She struck
amidships, and the rudder and wheel
box were carried away by the jar.
Water rushed in, and the Mary and
Ida sank forward in a few minutes.
Several of the crew made for the
forecaStle to save some of their be-
longings, but the inrushing water
drove them back. All believed that
the last hour had come, as there ap-
peared to be no chance of effecting a
landing through the boiling surf.
At this juncture several shadowy
forms were seen on the bluff high
above. The hardy fisherman from
Winchester station did not intend to
see eight lives sacrificed without max
ing an effort to save them. To think
was to act with these volunteer life
savers A line secured by a dory anchor
was dropped over the cliff. Hand over
hand an intrepid fisherman lowered
himself down the 400-foot wall. the
wind swaying him pendulum-like
against the face of the bluff. He
reached the beach in safety and cheer
went up from the imperiled mariners.
ALL ARE SAVED.
An empty water barrel was then
thrown overheard from the schooner
and the wind carried it to the beach.
By this time more of the fishermen had
themselves over the bluff. |
With the line f1oated ashore they pulled
a dory containing several of the crew
through the breakers to a place OK
safety. Several trips were necessary
to land all hands and the undertaking
was fraught with great danger
The survivors were soon safely !
housed in the station buildings. After |
remaining five days on the island the |
schooner Edna Watts conveyed Cap |
tain Ipsen, First Mate John Tiburn. |