The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-07-25
DISASTER.
The CstastrOphs sn ssn Francisco hay
Mum her OF Lives LOst by the Falling
OF a Steam bOat "Draw.O


From the San Francisco Alta, Jtly6.
On Saturday afternoon u fllgntful disaster
took place at the erm linus OF the Oakland Rail-
road. at the extreme outer end OF the wharf,
which has recently been considerably extended
towards deep water. The half-psst O'Clock
reached the end OF the wharf, and the heavy
drawbridge. or suspended gan2.plank, COM
DOWN. Down rom the wharf to the lower deck % Of the he
steamer El CAPTAIN, when perfect rush to
get on board occurred, the train having been
debsely crowded and everybody In haste to
get back TO San Francisco. Suddenly. as the
crowd on "the apron" was the densest,
got on board. there came a crash, and those
Who had reached the deck on looking back
at right angle with the wharf, aud the water
filled with men, women and children, strug-
giing ior ne, whde ine women ne on h,4 p9ard inc
Other relatives in mortal peril rent the air with
their shrieks OF terror. The scene was appalling
hey ond description, and the excitement on all
sides was almost inconcetvable. There were
among the passengers by the train large de-
putaifon of the Garibaldi Guard, composed OF
Italians who had been to akland to participate
in In. celebration, and M "a ber OF these brave
fellows, without a moment'shesttation plunged
into the water, and, swimming among the
struggling mass, saved many from immediate
death by Iashing them to the piles with pieces
OF rope, where they remained until rescued by
boats or were drawn up by ropes 10 the wharf
A boat from the steamer, In charge OF the
steward and another man, was lowered, but
was Immediately stove and filled with water.
They, however. rescued two ladies and several
OF the wheel, from which they were taken
de ck, as the boat was In a sinking condition.
Life preservers, planks. etc., were thrown over
by parties ON the boat and those on the wharf,
and some were saved in this manner. One
little boy, while In the water, being luckily
able to swim caught hold OF q little girl and
kept her afoat until he was seized by man
who reached down his hand to draw them np.
boy by the leg, and said, Don't be scared,
sonny-don't struggle-you hold on 10 that
mans hand and we can all be saved" and all
three remained thus together until finally res-
cused. q. s. Davis boy attending the Oak
it fell. He Succeeded IN saving two women and
was ultimately rescued by means or rope
thrown to him from the wharf. He was seized
twice by drowning man, VINO drew him under
each time. When the water had been cleared,
and no more were left TO be rescued. the boat
left the wharf and returned To the city. None
of the bodies of the drowned had then been re-
covered, and In the confusion and uncertainty,
no one knew how many or who were drowned
Yesterday morning the Italian fishermen. to
whom unbounded credit IL due, went To work
with energy 10 recover the bodies of the Victims.
Two men in the ploy OF the railroad and ferry
The italians during the day recovered eight
bodies and the others two mOIe, making ten
in all. At 10 o'clock a cannon was brought
down 10 the wharf and fired, which aided In
the recovery of the bodies. Toe platform,
apron or draw bridge, which fell, Is IL by "a
feet in size and fastened TO the wharf by
heavy iron hinges at one side, and the outer
edge is supported by chains which pass over
pully wheels with heavy weights 10 balance 1T.
The platform IL raised and lowered by wind.
lass, and to prevent IL falling too low ratchet
wheels are used to hold the apron in the place
TO which IL has been brought by the windlass
The immediate cause of The accident was un-
doubtedly the breaking OF ooth OF the left
hand ratchet; this threw the whole weight on
the chain on the other side, and the strain was
so great that 1t broke the iron staple which
fastened the chain TO the weight; the ratchet
was thrown completely out OF gear, aud did not
catch at the second tooth, thereby letting the
chain out in full, and, throwing the whole
weight on the second chain, broke the band
which fastened IL to The platform, and let 10 fall
bodily between the wharf aud the boat. There
NAV be q doubt as to whether this draw, or
apron, is of the style best adapted TO protecting
the lives of passengers, but the accident seems
to have been the result OF no unnecessary care
lessness,. ,.oT from the lack of any precaution
against danger which could be fOreseen by the
employees of the Company