Los Angeles herald., 1906-01-22
CASTAWAYS ARE
BROUGHT TO PORT
SURVIVORS OF SHIP KING
DAVID At VICTORIA
six seanen Perish In an Attempt to
Reach Cape BesL Though There
Was sueeor Near at
Hand
BY Associated Press.

steamer Queen City arrived this morn
ing with Captain Davidson and six
teen other survivors of the wrecked
steel ship King David, which dragged
her anchor and drlfted broadside OF
Bajo reef December 10, when the sur
vivors left her a total wreck, aftei
spending five weeks in an abandoned
fishing camp with big driftwood fires
burning nightly TO signal any vesse
that came near. Although the ship
wrecked men were on an uninhabitet
beach for so long. they did not suffei
severely. and had provisions for c
month longer when picked up.
Captain Davidson said he encoun
tered thick weather and, having no OBJ
serVations. ran too far north, and wher
he sighted the recently established
Clayoquot light he mistook it for Cape
Beale. on December 16. at p. M.
the lookout reported breakers on the
lee bow, the ship clearing them. More
breakers were seen and he anchored
I'm eight fathoms. Three days later
the weather cleared and observations
showed the proximity of dangerous
reefs. A northeast wind blew fresl
and he tried to work seaward, but the
windlass broke and the anchors
dragged until the vessel drifted on
the rocks and held by the starboard
quarter there. Two knuckles of rock
penetrated her side and she rolled over
with a heavy list to starboard. The
crew lowered the boats and made fol
the huts seen on shore, a mile away
Several trips were made for provisions
Vessel Is Abandoned
Captain Davidson and Mate Wall,
stein remained for three days on the
ship, but the rolling and the swell
which beat the weather side, breaking
over the decks ground the bottom out
of the ship and she was abandoned as
a total wreck.
The old sailmaker Donald Mcleod
became insane and tried to jump into
the fire on the beach. He was re-
strained and placed under guard. Two
seamen tried to make their way along
the beach. They returned almost fam
ished three days later and reported
having met a halfbreed, who said nc
relief would come until March, as the
coast was not inhabited. AS there is a
large Indian village and store at Moot
ka. eight miles from the mariners
camp, of which anyone met with could
have told them, their story was not
believed.
Capt Davidson's chart and directions
were out of date and although there
was succor enough ten miles away and
many intervening settlements with tele-
graph connections, they stated Cape
Beale, 100 miles away%was the nearest
place assistance could be had. The
captain called for volunteers. Nine
seamen responded. Six were chosen and
on December q they left for Cape Beale
in Chief Officer Wallstein's boat. II
was never heard of after rounding Hes
quott Point A heavy gale blew on
December % and continued for five
days. The boat was doubtless swamped
and all drowned.
Names of the Drowned
Those lost were:
A. w. WALLSTEIN, IA years old, OF
Oxford. N. u.
JOHN ROGERS, aged 80, Liverpool
England.
II. G.. RAY, aged 90 Monmouth, Eng
land.
EVAN JONES, aged 45, Carnarvon
England.
MARTIN PEDERsEN, aged 27, Nor
way.
j. PODA. aged "a, Denmark.
p. SORRENSEN, aged 20, Denmark
The survivors are:
Capt. Davidson, w. e. Edwards Sec
ond mate; Duncan Mcfarland, stew
ard: A. e. Ericsson, carpenter; John
YOnson, cabin boy; Alexander Mather-
son, Alexander Forson, w. Olson and
John Robinson, apprentices; George
Pine, George Hay ]. O'Flaherty, Paul
Handletts, A. Gustaveson, p. johnson
and George Hamilton, seamen, and j.
Dennis, ordinary seaman.
After the mates boat left steamer
smoke was seen, but she was too far
away TO be signaled. The survivors
remained, camped in the Indian fishing
huts, on the shore until January IA
when the steamer Queen City was
sighted entering Nootka.
Capt. Townsend had seen the wreck
and the smoke of the survivors camp
and rescued them. The shipwrecked
party launched their two boats and
put off to the steamer. Capt. Townsend
arranged to call for them on his return
but bad weather ensuing he returned
for them next day
When the Queen City was at Quatsinc
the sailmaker died and was buried OF
shore. The others are in good health,
The salvage steamer Salvor will not
be sent as Capt. Davidson reports there
is no chance of saving the vessel. which
although she withstood the Christmas
gale, will probably break up in sue
ceeding storms.