ADRIFT AT SEA

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1932, Page 6

ADRIFT AT SEA

IN FISHING BOAT. .SAN FRANCISCO, August 25. Drifting helplessly for 115 days in a .disabled 30ft fishing boat, Captain P. A. Biggs, 42 years of age, of Seattle, xvas picked up near Point Buchon and taken to Port iSan Buis, California, in a delirious condition from 'hunger and •long exposure! The mariner had sailed from Dutch Harbour, Alaska, on April 28, and a few miles out at sea his boat had been disabled, losing its rudder, as well as sails. He had been at the mercy of the sun, wind and waves on the Pacific Ocean. According to vague, statements by Captain 'Riggs, he had spent 115 days in attempts to attract attention of ships. “T saw plenty of ships,” he mumbled, "‘but none of them saw me.” He was weak from exhaustion and hunger, after nearly four months of wandering over the sens, during which, he said, he was once driven by the .wind to a point only 900 miles from Honolulu.

•Captain' E. D. Brown, of the tug Commissioner, sighted the drifting fishing boat Novi, ten miles off Point Buchon, near Point San Buis, and coming alongside,.he heard, a weak hail. The Commiss^V' took Riggs aboard, and with the Novi in tow put into Port San Luis. Riggs explained that he had expected to make a short trip up the coast, but after four days from port he was caught in a squall, his engine was disabled, and the mast and rudder were broken.

Contriving a jury rudder and an improvised sail, h B tried to make port, but storms carried him out to sea. “Luckily I had a good supply of food on board,” he said. “I never. start out without lets of beans—all , kinds of beans—navy beans, lima Leans, string beans. But I never want to see a bean again. By July 1 everything else was go n % and I had J