Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-01-14
BECAME LOST
IN DENSE FOG
ON The WATER
Three Local Young Men
Spent Night in Boat
Off Chessequake. .
TIED CRAFT TO STAKE.
WERE SEARCHED FOR

y -
Lost in the fog and missin gksince
9 O'Clock yesterday morning, gem
eral alarm was sent out this morn
Ing to locate John Christensen, twen-
ty-two years old, OF 218 Madison av-
enue; John Johnson, twenty-three
years old, and Lars johnson, eigh-
teen years old, of 1T Madison ave-
nue.. With the intention of going
ducking in the vicinity of Cheese
quake, the three left here yesterday
morning in small boat. No word
was heard from them until 8 o'clock
this morning, when it was learned
that they were safe.
In an endeavor to locate the miss
ing men an EVENING NEWS repre-
sentative heard that boat had land
ed at Morgan Station about o'clock
this morning. On calling up Will
lam F. Hartmann, OF Ye Olde Spye
Inn, information was gained that the
trio had landed near there about that
time, after having been tied to a
stake In the bay all night. With lit
tie reckoning, and dumb luck the
shore was located this morning and
the boys started working their way
toward Perth Amboy, keeping along
the shore line 80 as to not get lost
again In the fog.
Last night Fred Christensen, of
the Fred Christensen Construction
Company, father of the Christensen
boy, and Thomas Johnson, an en-
ploye Of terra Gotta works, father
of the Johnson boys, called up all
the points between Perth Amboy and
Sandy Hook in an endeayor to locate
the missing lads, but could obtain
no information as to their where
abouts. Chief Burke, of the police
department, called up Fort Hancock
this morning but obtained no infor-
nation other than that some men In
a motor boat were heard hollerine
In the fog yesterday.
| The disappearance of the trio
would have been all the more mys-
teriouE had It not been for the fact
that younger brother of the John.
son boys, Lawrence Johnson, thir.
teen years old, saw them going and
asked what their intentions were
They said that they were going gun
1 ming at Gheesequake. Other than
this no word was given as to whal
THEIR Intentions wers--I5util Mgeers ges
was received as to their whereabout,
1t was presumed that they mus
have become bewildered In the fog
land either have been picked up by
isome boat or been carried out to
! sea. Cheesequake is only about
three miles south from Perth AM
hoy, but the fog was so dense that
| they lost their way.
The parents of the trio were con-
lsiderably worried over their sons
disappearance, anu it was with
heartfelt thanks that they received
1word of their safety.
| The fog of the past few days has
caused much trouble for shipping In
local waters and has made progress
for all kinds of vehicles difficult.
| John Christensen, one of the miss
ing trio, told the following story OF
their experience on his return: He
said that they left Gregorys dock In
a row boat about O'clock yesterday
morning and landed at Seidler's
beach shortly before noon. About
| that time they started to return to
Perth Amboy. The fog was thicken-
iing In the meantime and almost be-
fore they knew 1t they were lost. All
sense Of direction was gone. BY and
| by they heard bell ringing and
thinking that 1t was the light house
they rowed toward 1T for about three
hours but could not locate the sup
posed harbor of refuge.
| A stake In the water was noticed
about this time and they tied up to
this about the middle of the after
noon, to wait for the fog to raise.
Several passing vessels were hailed
without result and darkness falling,
they made arrangements to pass the
might, catching short maps from time
to time. Around midnight they
heard loud whistle blow, which ap-
Ipeared to be the copper works siren,
which gave them an idea of their To-
Icatfon but they thought 1t best to
remain tied up for the night rather
than attempt to gain the shore in
1.-THE fog.
At seven o'clock in the morning
they heard the whistle again and,
taking their bearing from the sound,
reached the shore after about two
hours rowing, They landed in
Laurence Harbor and after getting
something to eat, for they had had
Ineither food nor water on the boat,
they started for Perth Amboy along
the shore line, reaching here shortly
before noon to the relief of their
parents.
On the beach at Laurence Harbor
practically the first persons they
say were Christensen's brother
James, and Edwin Cost, looking for
them.
Cave-Ins Are Reported.