The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-01-22
SURVIVORS OF
The KING DAVID
Captain Davidson and Sixteen Sailors
Brought Into Victoria by the
Queen City.
ONE BOAT CREW DROWNED
OLD sAILMAKER BECAME INSANE
AND DIED.

Victoria, B. c., Jan. 21.-The steamer
Queen City arrived this morning with
Captain Davidson and sixteen other
survivors of thu wrecked steel ship
King David, which dragged her anchor
and drifted broadsides on Bajo reef,
Dec 13, when the survivors left her
a total wreck, after spending five
weeks in an abandoned fishing camp
with big driftwood fires burning night
ly to signal any vessel that came near.
Although the shipwrecked men were
on an uninhabited beach for so long
they did not suffer severely and had
provisions for 2. month longer when
picked up.
Too Far North.
Captain Davidson said he encount-
cred chick weather, and having no OBJ
servations, ran too far north, and when
he sighted the recently established
Clayoquet light, he mistoOk it for Cape
BeaIe On Dec 10 at 9 .. m. the out
look reported breakers on the lee bow,
the ship clearing them. More break
ers were seen and he anchored in
eight fathoms. Three days later the
weather cleared and observations
showed the proximity of dangerous
reefs. A northeast wind blew fresh and
he tried to work seaward, but the
wfndlass broke and the anchor dragged
until the vessel drifted on the rocks
and held by the starbOard quarter
there Two knuckIes of rock Dene-
trated her side and she rolled over
with a heavy list to starb0ard. The
crew lowered the boats and made for
the huts seen on shore. a mile away.
Several trips were made for provisions
and their effects.
Ship Ground to Pieces.
Captain Davidson and Mate Wall
stein remained for three days, 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, be
came 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 half-breed, who said no
relief would come until March, as the
coast was not inhabited. AS there is
large Indian village and store at
Nootka, eight miles from the mariners
camp of which anyone met with could
could have told them, their story was
not believed
Boats Crew Drowned.
Captain Davidson's chart and direc-
tions were out of date and. although
there was succor eight miles away and
many intervening settlements with te1e-
graph connection, they stated Cape
BeaIe, one hundred miles away, was the
nearest place assistance could be had.
The captain called for volunteers. Nine
seamen responded. Six were chosen, and
on Dec. p they left for Cape Beale IN
Chief Officer Wallstein's boat 1t was
never heard Of after rounding Hesquott
point. A heavy gale blew on Dec. q and
continued for five days. The boat was
doubtless swamped and ali drowned.
The Dead.
A. W. WaHstein, "a years old, of OK
John Rogers. aged so, Liverpool, Eng
H. G. Ray. %, Monmouth England
Evan Jones' 49, CarnarvOn, England.
Martin Pederse, q, Norway.
J. Poda, q, Denmark.
| P. Sorensen, 20, Denmark.
Names of Survivors.
| The survivors are: Captain Davidson;
w. E. Edwards, second mate; Duncan
| McFarlane, steward; A. z. Ricson, car
penter; John YOnsOn, cabin boy; Alex
| ander Matherson, Alexanderson Forson
w Oleson and John Robinson. appren-
! tees; George Pine, George Hay, J
/ O'FIaherty, Paul Handlass, A. Gustave-
son. P johnson and George Hamilton,
seamen and J. Dennis. ordinary sea
men.
/ After the mates boat left a steamers
smoke was seen, but she was too fan
| away to be signaled. The survivors re.
manned camped in the Indian fishing huts