The San Francisco call., 1906-04-02
BROWNS B[F ORE
PARENTS EYES
Little Maggie Donovan Falls
Overheard From Deck of
Steamer Santa Barbara
PITCHES OVER Raj
Heavy Sea Causes Vessel to
Lurch and Child Is Sud-
denly Thrown Into Sea

Before the eyes of her terror stricken
parents little Maggie Donovan fell over
board into the sea from the deck Of the
steamer Santa Barbara on Saturday and
was drowned.
A terrible storm was raging at the time
and it was beyond human power to send
aid to the little child. Her mother and
father saw her fall and both dashed to
the rail and would have jumped over
board after her had they not been re-
strained by the other passengers. The
Santa Barbara was en- route from Seattle
to this port when the accident happened.
Among the passengers on board were
Frank Donovan, his wife and three chill
dren-Annie, girl of IS; Edith, three
years old, and little Maggie, II.
AS the vessel neared Cape Mendocino
Mr.. Donovan. with little Edith in his
arms and Maggie by his side. climbed
up on the captains bridge to get a good
view of the terrible storm that was
raging. The wind was bowling fiercely
and the seas were angry and lashed into
a seething mass of tumultuous pillows.
The ship was rolling and tossing about
in furious manner and the visitors to
the bridge could barely stand on their
feet, even though they were holding on
to the rail for support. After a few min
utes' chat with Captain Zaddart Donovan
with his children started down the steps
that lead to the main deck. Donovan
climbed down first, followed by little
Maggie The father had only taken a
few steps on the deck and little Maggie
was just alighting from the bottom step
to the deck when a terrific wave struck
the vessel, causing her to roll tre-
mendously to one side, and as she rolled
little Maggie was thrown against the
side of the rail with such force that she
went completely over it and was pitched
headlong into the raging sea.
This was in the very sight of her father
and mother. The mother gave terrible
shrek and bounded to the side of the
ship. Her cries brought crew and pas
sengers from every part of the vessel.
Little Maggie could be seen struggling in
the raging seas, now upon the crest of a
wave and now buried beneath a mass OF
raging foam.
The poor mother was simply frantic
with grief She shouted and cried for
help for her little one. who was rapidly
losing strength. but who was battling
bravely to keep to the top of the waves.
Again and again the mother tried to leap
overheard for her child and had to be
held on board by the passengers.
The cook of the vessel, known as
"Frenchy" volunteered his services to
leap into the sea to try to save the
child but the storm was so terrific that
no human being could live in it. The
steamship was put about and every, -ef-
fort made to rescue the little one. but
without avail. The waves were run
ming so high that 1t was utterly impos-
sible to launch a boat. BY the time the
steamer, had been hove to all signs of
little Maggie had disappeared. Men
with powerful glasses were sent aloft
into the rigging and everything that
lay in Captain Zadart's power was done
to save the child. When it was found
that no hope remained the father and
mother gave up to utter despair. The
mother refused to be comforted and the
father tried to soothe his two remain
ing children.
The scene was probably one of the
most heartrending that has been seen
on this coast for many day. Every
body on the vessel was moved to tears,
from the captain down. When dinner
time came the passengers went mourn
fully down to the dining hall. but no.
body could eat. Gloom pervaded the
entire company on the ship.
The Donovan 1amily was on its way
to Los Angeles on pleasure trip.
Donovan is restaurant-keeper of
First avenue South and Charles street,
Seattle, and expected to stay over IN
San Francisco week. Owing to the
accident, however, he will curtail the
trip and return home.
Paul Stolz, marine engineer Of Seat
tie. was witness to the loss OF the
child. He was few feet from the lit
tie one when the lurching ship sent
her through the rail and was among
those who hastened to tell the ships
officers that passenger was overheard.
According to his statement, it was five
minutes before the captain was notified
and the ship put back after going on
her course for over a mile. The acci-
dent was also witnessed by Stolz's two
companions, Thomas Thompson and Sig
wald Gotwick, both butchers, OF Seat
10