The San Francisco call., 1906-12-31
Woman's Heroism Cheers Desperate
Crew of Wrecked Great Admiral
Keeps Hope Alive in
Breasts of Storms
Victims

Captain sterling and the crew of the
wrecked ship Great Admiral. which
foundered a few days after leaving
Port Townsend for San Pedro. who ar
rived Saturday on the bark Andrew
Welch. were landed yesterday morning
as soon as the Welch had passed quar-
antine AS they left the vessel that
had brought them safely TO land the
shipwrecked mariners gave three loud
cheers for the Andrew Welch and her
master. Captain E. Kelly, who. with
his crew. replied in kind Mate Herbert
Martin of the Great Admiral and his
wife. the brave woman who survived
the ordeal TO which two men sue
cumbed. remained on board the Andrew
Welch, which was towed TO Port Costa
TO discharge her cargo of sugar
Mrs Catherine Martin, the pluclxy
little woman who was the only one of
her sex aboard the wrecked vessel,
stood up beneath the terrible hardships
which the party was forced to endure
even better than the male members of
the party. After all hope of ever reach
ing place OF safety alive had deserted
the others. the little woman remained
cheerful. and by speaking words of
cheer and comfort to her companions
kept them from deserting the misera-
bic float on which they had suffered
for so long and drowning themselves
In the depths that surrounded them.
MODEsTLY TELLS STORY
Mrs. Martin tells her story in mod
est manner, and viii not mention her
own part in the struggle for safety ex-
cept when closely questioned, always
turning the point away with laugh
Everything happened so quickly"
said Mrs. Martin in relating her adven-
lures. that before we had time to even
think clearly we were swept overheard
by that monstrous breaker, with moth
ing but the flimsy old cabin roof to
cling TO. When we were out about four
hours our little cabin boy, who was a
delicate little chap. died Of the terrible
cold and wet TO which we were exposed.
He was followed two hours later by
the ships cook. who N spite of his own
pitiable condition, had insisted on shell
rering the cabin boy as much as possi-
BILE UP to the time of his death The
awful look Of agony on their faces as
they went TO meet their maker will
stay burned in my memory as long as
live.
a few hours after we had cast the
two bodies overheard a poor sailor
named Chris, who had been exposed to
the full fury of the gale. went insane
and, drawing an old, rusty pocket
knife. began slashing at his throat and
wrists in an effort to kill himself At
the risk Of upsetting the float the other
sailors, brave ones ali of them, over
powered and disarmed him. The only
thing we had TO bind UP the poor fell
lows wounds with was a long strip
torn from my clothing
RAIN SAVES LIVES
we did not suffer so much from
hunger as from the lack Of water. At
ter the first day every one of our
tongues was so badly swollen that
speech was Impossible. It rained a lit
tie one night and we spread our gar
ments out so as to catch as much of
the moisture possible and then suck
ed the drops from them
Il don't think anything on this earth
could compare with the JOY all of US
felt at sight Of the rescue party, al
though most of US had reached that
state where we didn't care much what
became of US. only wishing that 1t
would come quick.
~'Of the treatment we received on
board that vessel viii not attempt to
explain. The best was not half good
enough for us and every member Of the
crew seemed to vie with his fellows In
showing US some little act Of kindness.
May God bless every one Of them"
The little woman. who is but "a years
old. and who is a bride of less than a
year, would not listen to the words Of
praise every one Of the surviving crew
heaped upon her.
Said one big brawny chap: IF It
had not been for the little missus we
would have every one been at the bot
seemed full Of horr all the rest
of -anted e
n~srS HIP.