The San Francisco call., 1906-06-07
NOTHING LEFT
OF VOLUNTEER
Survivors Tell of Drown
ing of Captains
Children.
Sailors Disobey Orders
and the Lifeboat
CapSizeS.

Captain Robert Bressem and the
crew of the ill-fated schooner Nolun-
teer arrived yesterday from the scene
of the wreck. With Captain Bressem
E-ere his wife and two surviving chill
aren Of the Volunteer there is moth
ing left but kindling. From the ship
wrecked mariners was learned the
story OF the vessels stranding. the
tragic drowning of the shippers two
children and the dissolution of the
schooner. which involved the loss Of
another life.
The Volunteer stout four masted
schooner. left here Sunday for Coos
Bay. When off Bodega on Monday
night the wind failed and the schooner
drifted slowly inshOre. When the lead
told of rapidly shoaling water first one
anchor was let go and then the other
one. The anchorage was poor, how
ever, and the current setting in TO
the rocks strong. In spite of the two
anchors the Volunteer drifted among
he breakers and shortly after mid
aight she struck a rock. The heavy
Swells pounded the schooner heavily on
the reefs and il soon was evident that
Il was only a matter of time before the
vessel would so 20 pieces.
Mrs. Bressem. the captains wife. and
her four children. were passengers on
Coos Bay girl and she was taking her
little flock TO her old home 10 spend
4 summer vacation. The oldest child
was Robert, aged :; the youngest
Theodore Roosevelt. aged 6 months.
Captain Bressem had done all that
could be done for the schooner and
now he turned his attention to saw
ng his wife and children.
They were placed in a lifeboat which
was manned by Seamen Carl Schon. o.
Pilcn and Z. Butler and the Japanese
cook. Captain Bressem took charge
of the boat and under his directions
II was safely launched. His duty called
him back TO his vessel and with great
difficulty ne succeeded in getting board.
lie ordered the second mate to take
charge # the boat, but the heavy swell,
Increasing all the time. rendered this
impossible.
Get away from the ship as fast as
Won can" he called 10 the men in the
boat stand off TO sea Stay out
there until daylight ana then III tell
YOU what TO do"
For several hours the men in the boat
obeYed the shippers orders The sea
was smooth and Mrs. Bressem, say the
sailors. began to urge them 10 make an
attemTt TO land. The yielded to her
opportunities at daylight Rowing
along for several miles they found what
looked like A break in the breakers
and headed the boat for a sandy beach.
They were almost ashore when two big
seas struck the boat. capsizing ii and
throwing everybody into the water.
The sailors dragged Mrs. Bressem
and her two little girls safely through
the surf. Butler and the japanese also
made their way to land. The baby was
never seen again Roberts body was
found several hours later underneath
the capsiZed boat
Meanwhile Captain Bressem. who
had witnessed the accident. was max
ing frantic efforts TO reach land. He
made several unsuccessful attempts 10
swim through the breakers with line.
He was severely bruised on the rocks,
but his efforts were vain. Shortly be-
fore noon the schooner went to pieces
and p. c. Wilson. a seaman, was
drowned. Captain Bressem and the
others were helped through the surf
ov a number Of Portuguese fishermen
who threw lines TO the struggling men
BY the time all hands were ashore
everv vestige Of the Volunteer had dis
appeared.