The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-05-28
ADRIFT ON HIGH
SEAS IN LAUNCH
Terrifying Experience of E. {.
EaSton, Wife, Nurse and
Two Children.
CAPTAIN LOST IN THE NIGHT
SAILOR DROWNED WHEN RES
CUE WAS EFFECTED.

Avalon, Island of Santa Catalina.
Cal. May 27.-Captain A. Crist of the
; launch Zeus of Avalon, and c. f. Hoo
line, ordinary seamOn of the L. 5. ;.
converted cruiser Buffalo, were drowned
and f. +. Easton, wife, two small chill
dren and colored nurse were rescued
by the Buffalo, on the high seas last
night, after drifting helplessly for two
days in a small launch. Captain Crist
was lost from the launch Sunday night
several miles of Avalon in a mysteri-
Gus manner. A small rOwbOat is miss
ing from the launch and search is being
continued for the captain in the hope
that he may be found alive. Seaman
Hooine was lost overheard from the
launch Tuesday evening while a heavy
sea was running of the western coast
of the island. Another sailor dived
overheard in an unsuccessful attempt
10 rescue HoOline and was himself
barely saved.
Two Days Without Food.
Easton is a former war correspondent
of Harper's Weekly, an author Of con-
siderable reputation, and was formerly
secretary TO Webster Davis, assistant
secretary of the interior under Presi-
dent Mckinley. Easton and his family
were brought TO Avalon today by the
Buffalo. They had a frightful expert
ence being for two days without food,
Aand all were In state of nervous col
lapse when landed from the cruiser.
After landing the Easton party here
the Buffalo returned 10 the scene Of the
drownings and is cruising about hoping
To pick up Captain Crist Gr the body
Of the drowned sailor.
Captain Was Missing.
Easton came 70 Catalina from Los
Angeles with his family several days
ago. on May Il they engaged Captain
CTist and his launch Zeus for a camp
ing trip OF several days at San Gle
mente island. thirty miles south Of
Catalina island. The party returned TO
the uninhabited western shore of Cata-
lima few days later and camped there
until last Sunday Late in the after
noon of that day they boarded the Zeus
end started to return to Avalon. The
craft encountered a heavy sea that
night, and when day dawned Monday
Mr.. Easton found that Captain Crist
was missing from the launch, together
with the small rowboat tOwed at the
stern. The gasoline engine of the
launch was still running, but Mr.. Eas-
ton knew nothing of its mechanism. A
heavy fog set in which totally obscured
soon completely lost.
Tossed About by Storm.
A heavy storm came up which tossed
the craft about and threatened TO
swamp il every moment. Easton kept
the engine going until the gasoline was
exhausted, when the boat drifted All
day Monday. Monday night and Tues
day were spent by Mr.. EastOn and his
family in the launch, which was car
ried far out 10 sea.
Late Tuesday evening the L. S. S.
converted cruiser Buffalo, CAPTAIN
Pond, sighted the little craft with the
occupants wildly waving signals of dis
tress. While rescuing the party Hoo
|. line, the sailor. was thrown from the
sdeck OF the cruiser Into the water and
drowned. Finally Easton and his fam
lily were safely taken on board the Buff
falo, which proceeded to Avalon.