Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1888-09-01

A ColIisiss Of ShiEs, Resulting in ConsideFa-
S{e Loss OF Eife.

most terrible marine disasters that ever &C.
Cured on the Pacific coast happened on the
Bay of San Francisco, short
distance from the Golden Gate
at 10 o'clock this morning. The steamer
City of Chester left her dock
here at $3.50 and started on her
| regular trip to Enema, on the northern
coast of California. An unusually large
number of passengers stood ON her decks,
and waved adieu to friends standing on the
wharf The Chester steamed slowly down
the bay, and when within two miles
of the heads encountered thick
fog, so peculiar to that locality. Captain
Wallace of the City of Chester, began
blowing his steamers whistle to warn all
vessels of his approach. The Chester pro-
eeeded cautiously on her way, when the
hoarse sound of another whistle foated
across the water Captain Wallace an
swered the signal and gave the proper
warning for the stranger to pass on the
port side. This was
EVIDENTLY NOT UNDERSTOOD,
for in one moment those on board saw the
huge PROV of the Occidental and Oriental
steamer Oceanic emerge from the fog.
The Oceanic had just arrived from
Hong Kong and Yokohama, and was
moving up the bay to her dock. The
| huge steamer was so close to the Chester
that there was no possibility for the
latter to escape. The cabin passen-
gers were nearly all on deck, and
tine captain, seeing the danger, called on
them to prepare for the shock. A panic at
once ensued, particularly among the women
and children, of whom there was q large
number. The Oceanic struck the Chester
on the port side at the gangway, and
the shock was terrific. The PROV cut
into the Chester's upper works and then
crushed down into the bulwarks, tearing
the great timbers and iron plates, and
breaking into the state rooms and cabins.
THE Widest CONFUSION
prevailed among the passengers. They
crowded together, some shrieking for fear
and others praying for help. The bow Of
the Oceanic crushed into the middle Of the
Chester cutting her almost in halves
and causing her to reel under
the terrible blow. When the vessels
were locked number Of the
Chester's passengers were passed up over
the oceanic's bow and rescued ia this way,
but as soon as the large steamer could clear
herself she swung around and i'm
mediately began to lower her boats
At the moment of the shock most
of the officers and crew of the Chester
seemed to loose possession of their senses,
and several passengers stated afterwards
that some Of the crew took the first oppor-
tunity to climb aboard of the Oceanic and
left the passengers to cut away the boats,
and one of these was lowered as
soon as possible, aud number
of passengers taken off in them.
Others provided themselves with life
preservers and jumped overheard. The
greater portion, however, were compelled
to remain on the steamer, which began to
settle Immediately after the collision. Tor
rents of water began to rush into her hold,
and in five minutes after the collision
THE CHESTER DISAPPEARED.
sinking in fifty fathoms Of water. Those
of the passengers and crew who came to the
surface were picked up by the Oceanies
boat, and the greater number were drawn
by the rushing water and never appeared
again.
As soon as it was known around the bay
that the collision had occurred number OF
tugs and boats of all descriptions went to
the assistance and rendered what aid they
could in picking up the living or dead who
were footing among the wreckage. The
greatest loss of life is believed to have
occurred among the steerage passengers,
among whom there were twenty-three
aboard Only two Of these were accounted
for this afternoon, and it is believed the
others were lost. They were in the hold or
the lower decks of the steamer at the time
of the collision, and there was
no opportunity to warn them
of the danger and render them
any assistance afterward. The cabin pas
sengers numbered seventy, and of these
ten are lost. Three of the crew are also
lost. The names Of the cabin passengers
lost are as follows
@. W. ANDERSON, Oakland, Cal.
MRS. s. L. PORTER, sandiego.
MRS. G. Fl. HANEY, Eureka, Cal
A HAMPTON and WIFE, Virginia,
New.
G. /. DAVIS, springville, Cal.
MISS DAVIS.
J. GREEN, Napa, Cal.
MRS. MECH.
MRS. PORTER.
The following members of the crew were
lost:
e. r. CHAMBERS, steward.
B. SUTTON.
ADAM Richmond