The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-09-01
SUNK In A FOG.
The Oceanic Crashes Into the City Of
Chester in the Bay of San
Francisco
noro Than Thirty Perso-s supposed
20 Have Pcrished---A Fogs
Fearful Work.

20 Have Pcrished---A Fogs
Fearful Work.
One OF the most APPALLING marine disasters
that ever occurred on the Pacific coast hap
pened In the bay Of San Francisco, short
distance from the Golden Gate, about 10
o'clock In the morning. The steamer City
OF Chester left her dock nc $3.50 and started
on her regular trip 10 Eureka. on tho north
ern coast OF California. An unusually largo
number OF passenecrs stood on her decks
and waved adicu 10 friends who had gither-
ca on the wharf. The Chester steamed
slowly down the bay. and when within two
miles OF the Heads encountered thick FOG
70 peculiar Ia that locality. Captain Wal
lace, or the City OF Chester, began blowing
MS steam whistle To warn all vessels OF his
approach. The Chester rocceded cautiously
on her course till off Port Pant, when tho
hoarse sound OF another whistle floatad
across the water. Captain Wallace answered
the signal, and gave proper warning TO the
stranger 10 pass on the port SIDE This was
evidently not underst OF. fer in moment
those on board saw the huge prov OF tho
Occidental and Oriental steam1r Oceanic
emerge from the fog. Tha Oceanic had Just
arrived from Hong Kong and Yokohama,
ana was moving up the bay 10 her locS. The
huge steamer was so close 20 tie Chester
that there was no possibil ~ for the latter TO
escape. The cabin passengers were nearly
on deck, and the captain seeing danger,
called To them 70 prepare for the shock. A
panic ersuei at OF &C. particularly among the
women and children, OF who n there was
large number. The Oceanic struck tho
Chester on the port side at the gangway, and
the shock was terrific.
Her Prov cut INTO the Chesiers upper
works, and then crushed down 10 the bull
warks, tearing through the great timbers
and iron plates and breaking into the state
rooms and cabins. The widest confession
prevailed among the passenger, who crowd
cd together, some shrieking with fear and
Others praying for help. Tho bow OF the
Oceanic crashed into the middle &c ton OF
the Chester, cutting her into halves and
causing her 20 reel under tn terrible blow.
When the vessels were locked number OF
the Chestcr's passengers We're passed up over
the Dceanic's bow and rescued IN this way,
but as soon as the large steamer could clear
herself she swung around and immediately
began To lower her boats. AT the moment OF
shock most Of the officers and crew OF the
Chester seemed 20 lose POS cssion OF their
senses and several OF the passengers stated
afterwards that some OF the crew took the
nrst opportunity 20 climb aboard the Oceanic
ana left the passengers 10 cut away the
boats, and number Of passengers taken of
In them. Others provided themselves with
life pres er,ers and Jumped overheard.
The greater portion, however, were
compelled 10 remain on this steamer,
which began 10 settle Immediately
after the collision. Torrents ofwater rushed
into her hold, and IN five minutes after the
collision the Chester disappeared and sank In
nifty fathoms OF water. Those OF the passen-
gers and crew who came the surface were
picked up by the Oceanic's boats. but great
or number were drawn down 10y the rushing
waters and never appeared again. The great
est loss OF life Is believed 10 have occurred
among the Storage passengers, OF whom
there were twenty-three aboard. They were
In the hold or lower decks OF the steamer at
the time OF the collision, and there was no
opportunity 10 warn them Of their danger or
render them any assistance aftcrward. The
cabin passengers numbered seventy and OF
these ten are lost. Three OF the crew are
also lost.
Allan A. Curtis one OF the rescued passcn-
gers OF the Chester, tod the following story:
II was standing amd'hips aud saw the
Oceanic loiring down toward us. The was
fully one hundred yards distant As She
struck there was q RI h OF passengers toward
the Oceanic, and for time there was most
horrible tumult cope who got there first
and who were the strongest clambcrd on
board the Occlnie. mad rush for boat
and helped 10 lower IL. II was tie first boat
lowerc !, and into IL I threw my wife and
child. Some fifteen people Immediately made
a leap for the vessel. We hid hardly got
clear OF The vessel when the Chester went
down head first"
J.I Munsell, another passenger, said he
also helped TO cut away boat. and that the
crew OF the Chester deserted the passengers
and only thou yht Of saving themselves
The undcrtow at this portion OF the bay is
particularly strong, while numerous currents
and cddics H. beneath the surface.
The City OF Chester was an iron steamer
which has been In the coast trade for many
years. She was built 40 Chester Pa, In 1875.
and was the property OF the Oregon Railway
4 Navigation company. She formerly ran 10
Portland, and was valued at $4,000 and
was insured In San Francisco and eastern
companies for about half that sum. She had
about 300 tons OF assorted cargo in her hol d
worth $4,000.