Death in the Breakers
Posted by Tony Amato on
Mr. J. Kelley, an intimate friend of the late Louis C. Webber, informs us that we were in error in stating that Webber, who in THE ASTORIAN reported drowned on Thursday last, was a German. He informs us that Webber was born in Baltimore, was of Irish descent, and a shoemaker by trade. He has lived a long time in Portland and wore on his vest to his death, a badge of his membership in Wallarnet engine company No. 1, of Portland. Webber was lately working at his trade in Leinenweber and Co.'s boot and shoe factory at upper Astoria, but had quit that employment to take his chances of making more money at fishing during the salmon season.
On Thursday morning last, he and Torn Johnson, who fished with him for A. Booth & Co. 's cannery, drifted down with the tide with their net out until they had reached a point in the north channel a considerable distance beyond the cape, far out on the bar, and near the western curve of the middle sands. They allowed the net to drift on out, expecting the turn of the tide to drift it back toward them, and then, as usual, they would commence to take up and remove the salmon to the boat. At about 10:45 A.M., Thursday, the 27th inst., Webber being at the tiller and Johnson handling the net, the latter suddenly exclaimed: "Louis, we must get out of this, the fish are striking." (The salmon, touching and striking the ground and their struggling causing a peculiar tugging at the net, showed Johnson that they were getting into shoal water. They were then in about three fathoms.) Webber said "Oh, let her stop here." Almost immediately after, they heard a low moaning noise, and Webber sung out to his companion, who had let go of his net and seized his oars, "head her for the breaker!" which by this time had assumed shape and was rapidly nearing their boat, gaining in size and strength, and rapidity as it approached. In attempting to turn the boat to the now coming breaker that she might meet it head on, one of the oars broke in Johnson's hands, and the remorseless wave struck the broadside of the boat, lifting it on to its crest, turning it over and over as if it had been a cork, leaving both men to struggle for life's breath in the seething waters. Webber was washed out first. Johnson tried to maintain his hold of the boat, but, owing to its rotary motion, he was compelled to let go. The breaker having spent its force, the surface of the water to which both men had arisen, became comparatively smooth. Johnson is a good swimmer, and on looking around, he saw Webber also struggling above water near enough to hear him exclaim, "Tom for God's sake, save me!" He answered, "I will, Louis." Johnson had by this time succeeded in divesting himself of his heavy flannel shirts and was trying to remove his long gum boots which he found a more difficult task. He could do nothing toward saving his companion with these on. He then saw the boom they used for their sail floating toward Webber and told him to seize it, and soon one of the Columbia Canning Co. 's boats (which was making toward them) would pick him up. This boat soon reached Johnson, but he told the men in it not to mind him but to go for Louis who was further in the breakers than he was. Just then the second heavy breaker was fast coming, rolling relentlessly along toward the struggling man, and it would have been at the risk of almost certain death to themselves had the new comers approached the spot nearer. They would only wait to see if the poor fellow would be allowed one more chance for his life after being engulfed the second time. They could do nothing more just then. They saw the cruel wave near its crested head, and drawing the now helpless man in with the undertow, it lifted him up and then broke over him. After this they saw him no more, and it is probable that that is the last of Louis C. Webber until "the sea shall give up the dead that are in it." Johnson was picked up by the men in the Columbia Canning company's boat and with their assistance, he recovered both his boat and net. From the latter they took between seventy and eighty salmon, forty of which he turned over to the men who had aided him in recovering the property and saving his life.
Mr. Webber had been married but a few short months and the sincere sympathy of the community is extended to the widow in her sad bereavement.
—May 30, 1880 DA
