The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1910-01-17
Id son, Paul Rappenhundt, jr., and


the entire crew of seven of the wreck
ed schooner San Buena Ventura, have
been saved from the sea. They ar
rived in San Francisco harbor tonight
on the steamer Fairhaven, and the
first news of them received since their
vessel 6rifted ashore Friday at the
mouth of Rogue river, came from the
Fairhaven's signal flags as the steam
or Steered in through the Golden Gate
The party was taken from the sink
ing, waterlOgged lumber schooner af-
ter three days of terrible hardship and
suffering. They had about deSpaired
of their chances of escaping death
in the ocean when the Fairhaven hove
in sight just before dusk Friday af
ternoon and their rescue was ac-
complished despite the heavy sea that
was running.
First Mate Erickson, of the San
Buena Ventura, was severely injured
on Wednesday afternoon when the
cargo of lumber shifted. Three of his
ribs were fractured and it is probable
that he is internally injured. ]. Coss-
covey, one of the seamen sustained
an injury of the right hand. These
were the only casualties.
Sends Boats to Rescue.
When the Fairhaven sighted the
disabled schooner Captain Paulsen
sent Second Mate Sivertzen and four
men to the rescue in a lifeboat After
an exciting battle with the heavy seas,
the small boat reached the side of the
doomed vessel.
Mrs. Rappmundt, the baby and the
Rappmundt boy were taken into the
life boat. Then Mate Erickson was
lifted over the side. One by one the
members of the crew, nearly exhaust
ed after their many hours at the
pumps, deserted the wrecked coaster.
But Captain Rappmundt refused to
leave the ship.
She'll stay af1Oat for a week yet,
and I'll stand with her." he shouted
to his men. They pleaded with him
in vain and it was not until Mrs.
Rappmundt threatened to leap into the
sea with the baby in her arms that
the ships master finally yielded.
The San Buena Ventura swung
away in the swish of the sea and was
lost in the darkness, a derelict.
o'clock Wednesday morning for AL
tata, Mexico, with a cargo of 10000
feet of rough wood and pine lumber.
Part of tbs was a deckload. The bar
was breaking high as she passed out
of Humboldt bay and headed for sea.
Twenty miles off shore she encount-
cred gale and early in the afternoon
was hove to and her main sail double
reefed.
Storm Increases in Fury.
AS the afternoon wore on the storm
increased in fury and before night fell
the main sail had been carried away.
and by midnight three feet of water
stood in the hold. The men were
set to the pumps From then on I'M
til they were rescued, they never left |
them.
Thursday the schooner was buffeted |
around like a cork. She was beyond |
control and her seams threatened to |
open. Captain Rappmundt ordered |
the deck load lashings cut. This was
done and the cargo above deck was
washed away in the sea. Then the !
boom went by the board.
All of this time the schooner was
driving before southwest hurricane !
She was constantly awash and was
rapidly being driven toward the Ore |
gon coast. Thursday night the men
asked Captain Rappmundt to give his
attention to the woman and child and |
all night long the two parents and the |
little one sat huddled on the after |
deck. The captain and his wife were
waist deep in water.
On Friday Captain Rappmundt took |
MS bearings and determined that he |
was off the coast near Coos Bay.
Late that afternoon, while wallowing