The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-06-04
CAPS|z[D BOAT
CLAIMS LIFE OF A
BRIGHT STUDENT
Walter Heilmann0f Sacred Heart
College Perishes in Bay
Disaster
Three Companions in Tiny Sloop
Are Rescued After Being
Thrown in Water
Catastrophe Follows Attempt of
inexperienced Lads to Man
Sail Craft

Waiter Hellmarn, young student
of Sacred Heart college, was drowned
and three of his fellow members of
the graduating class of the institution
narrowly escaped death in sad acci-
dent yesterday on the bay off Sixth
avenue, South San Francisco. The
four students were enjoying holiday
in a tiny sloop, and were on their way
to visit the battleship Connecticut in
the drydock at Hunters point when
sudden squall swept over them, cap
sizing the frail craft. Francis Derhan
of 121A Liberty street, George H. Bohm
of 457 Guerrero street and Thomas
Ryan of 1560k Kentucky street, He'll
mann's companions, were rescued by
one of dozen boats that went to the
rescue when their plight was seen.
The mishap occurred in full view of
the wharves and docks along the
messed by hundred persons. Every
available boat manned by men who
had seen the sloop overturn. was put
out to assist the shipwrecked lads. Far
ahead in the race OF the rescuers wax
the boat of the steamer Crothers. in
which was Captain Q. Waltaner and ].
Joedensan OF sos Ninth avenue, and but
for their lead the Iiishap would have
claimed Two victims instead Of one.
MOOSE ENCIRcLEs ARM
Young Derhan the Youngest of the
quartet overcome by the cold and
dragged down by the undertow, was
sinking for the last time when moose
hurled by Joedensan encircled his up
stretched arm. He was dragged into
the boat and lay unconscious in its bot
tom until the shore was reached.
Bohm, a strong swimmer, almost ex-
hausted by his efforts to keep afioat
was the next saved and Ryan. who
had seized hold of the mast of the
overturned craft. was taken up as the
other rescue boats began to arrive
Heifnann. supposed to be the strong
est swimmer of the lot. sank without
being seen by any of his comrades and
is supposed TO have been seized with
q cramp. While the three lads who
Were saved were being revived at the
Potrero emergency hospital. grapplers
set to work searching for Heilmann's
body. but without success. Their ef-
forts were continued long into the
night. but at late hour the body had
not been found.
SQUALL STRIKES BOAT
The tragedy was the outcome of an
attempt by impetuous. inexperienced
hands to manage saiIboat A party in
which Brother Lewis OF Sacred Heart
Eddie Boster, owner of the boat. and
Tnf1 -, ~
lege, were included. had been organ
ized to sail over to Hunters point to
visit the battleship Connecticut in the
drydock. Brother Lewis Cancelled his
engagement at the last minute Boster
failed to materiaize and Reilly pre-
ferred not to trust himself to the sea
manship of his less conservative COM
panions, who decided to make the trip
alone. Hardly had the boat got under
way when the squall struck it. The 12
foot sloop spun around, dipped, righted
and dipped again, when, according to
the other boys, Heilmann shouted to
jump and himself leaped into the water
Bohm found himself swimming along
side Heilmann. He turned over on his
back to float, and to disengage his ex-
ira clothing and did not miss He'll
mann until after being lifted into the
rescue boat.
Heilmann was the catcher for Sacred
Hearts baseball team. Bohm is its first
baseman and Derhan it's official scorer
RYAN is member OF the commercial
school at Sacred Heart Heilmann, with
the other three, was to have graduated
next month. BY singular coincidence
his graduating essay considered one
of the best ever turned out by a pupil
of the school. was published in the
Issue CT Sacred Hearts paper. the Blue
and White which made its first appear
ance yesterday
Heilmann was 10 years old. He prob
ably was the best known student at
Sacred Heart, for four years having
been a leader in both its athletic and
social life A short time ago he took
q leading part in the production of the
school play. THE Pied Piper of Hame-
lin He lived with his widowed moth
Ar two sisters. a Younger and an older