The San Francisco call., 1910-08-23
Young Navy Deserter Directs
the Buckman Straight for
Oregon Shore
CREW OBEYS ORDERS
AT REVOLVER'S POINT
DISgraCed Pensacola Tar EnaCts
MelOdramatic Scene in Wild
Dream of Avarice
CAPTAIN WOOD SLAIN
AS HE LIES SLEEPING

XVTITHOUT precedent in the an
w nails of the sea and too improb-
able to make logical fiction was
The tale brought to port yesterday by
the little passenger liner Buckman,
from Seattle. 1t was tale of piracy
on the high seas, the simple telling of
which sounds like dime novel gone
mad Under the blinking stars,
through the watches of the night, there
was played on the upper decks of the
coaster a crimson melodrama that be-
gan with the cold blooded murder of
the ships young commander, and
ended only when daylight came and
broke the hypnotic spell that fear and
the sight of ruthless bloodshed with
cut had cast on the whole ships COM
panv.
Lone Man Holds Ship
One desperate man, single handed
after the first few minutes. had wrested
possession of the ship from its Off
GERS and retained absolute command
for a full hour. But for the weakening
Of his accOmplice there is no reason to
doubt that the buccaneer would have
carried out his purpose, which was to
make prisoners of all on board. rob the
ships safe. and make his escape after
he had driven the steamer hard and
fast on the Oregon shore. II was the
conception of a madman, but so nearly
carried out that none Of those con-
cerned Will ever again look at a sawed
Of shotgun without 2 shudder and,
perhaps, a prayer Of thankfulness.
The pirate, young. cleancut Ameri-
can boy. a deserter from the United
/ states navy, is probably dead. He dis
appeared when there cahe a hitch in
his plans and is believed 10 have
Jumped overheard. II he did he took
a life preserver with him and there is
a possibility that he may have been
picked Up. His accomplice, also a de-
4 serter from the navy. is in the custody
~ the police and today viii be turned
over to the United States marshal 10
be held for trial before federal tribu-
nal
Deserted From Pensacola
The hero. or villain, according to the
point Of view, was Frank Edward Wood
Of Chicago who deserted August from
the L. s. s. Pensacola. His acconplice.
4 George Washington Wise, deserted the
1 Pensacola four days later. Il was be-
i tween them and the time they boarded
the Buckman at Seattle that the plot so
nearly carried out was hatched. Wise
claims to have had no foreknowledge
of his shipmate's plan beyond the
romise that there would be big money
i Asr him if he was willing TO take a
4 hance."
According to the naval authorities
Wood is the name under which the
! bandit served Uncle sam Wise. when
arrested. said that his partners name
4 was west They took passage on the
Buckman, Wood under the name Of
i FRED Thomas and Wis as Alfred Will
4 son.
4 Dramatic Scene Enacted
il was about 2:30 o'clock Suida Y
. morning Wien LIt Two pdhDilS SlSppEu
n on the bridge deck OF the Buckman 1t
* was a hne clear night and Captain
4 wood had retired to his room, Just aft
Of the wheel house. leaving the ship
n in charge Of Second Oficer Fritz Plath.
n When the men came up Plath was
pacing the bridge and ouartermaster
otto kohlmeister WAS at the wheel.
There was lookout on the forecastle
head Except for these three. and per-
baps watchman or two, all hands of
the crew were asleep The passengers
had disappeared from the decks hours
ago. Most Of them slept through until
4 daylight and learned OF the tragedy
Of the night for the first time when
they appeared for breakfast
The bandits engaged Plath in con-
ersation about a watch that Wise
Il claimed had been stolen from his room.
n they wanted to see the captain right
A away. Piath assured them that the
f,ontinued ON Page 3, Column