Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-08-23
A Frightfni Marine Disaster.

One of the most terrible marine disasters
that has ever occurred on the Pacific coast
happened yesterday morning in the Bay Of
San Francisco, at short distance from the
Golden Gate. In dense fog the steamship
Oceanic crashed into the steamer City Of
Cheater, causing the latter vessel TO sink
within FIVE minutes after the collision.
Twenty OF the steerage passengers and ten
of the cabin passengers of the i'll fated yes
sci lost their lives. The steamer City Of
Chester left San Francisco at $50, and
started on her regular trip to Eureka, on
the northern coast of California. The
Chester steamed slowly down the bay and
when within two miles of the Heads en-
countered thick fog. Capt. Wallace began
to blow his steamers whistle to warn all
vessels of his approach. The Chester pro.
ceeded cautiously on her course till off Port
Paint, when the hoarse sound of another
whistle doated across the water. Captain
Wallace answered the signal, and gave pro-
per warning TO the stranger to pass on the
port side. This was evidently not under
stood, for in moment those on board saw
the huge bow of the Occidental and Orien-
tai 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 pos.
sibiity for the latter to escape. The cabin
passengers were nearly all on deck, and the
captain, seeing tue danger, called to them to
prepare for the shock. a panic ensued at
once, particularly among the women and
children, Of whom there was large num-
ber. The Oceanic struck the City of Cbes.
ter on the port side at the gangWay, and the
shock was terrific. Her bow cut into the
Chester's upper works, and then crushed
down the bulwarks, tearing the great tim
bers and iron plates and breaking into the
ststerooms and cabin. The widest coniu-
sion prevailed among the passengers, who
crowded together, some shreking with fear
and Others praying for help. The bow of
the Oceanic crashed into the middle sec
ton of the City of Chester, cutting her al.
most in halves, and causing her to reel under
the terrible blow. When the vessels were
locked q number OF the City of Chester's
passengers were passed up over the Ocean
ic's bow and rescued in that way. As soon
as the large steamer could clear herself, she
swung around and Immediately began to
lower her boats. At the moment of the
shock most of the officers and crew of the
City of Chester seemed to lose possession
of their senses, and several passengers stated
afterwards that some of the crew took the
first opportunity to climb aboard the Oceanic.
leaving thepassengers to cutaway the boats.
One Of these was lowered as soon as pos.
sible and number of passengers taken OFT.
Others provided themselves with life pre-
servers and jumped overheard. The great
er portion, however. were compelled to re-
main on the steamer, which began to settle
Immediately after the collision. Torrents
of water rushed into her hold, and in five
minutes after the collision the City of Ches
ter had disappeared. She sank in fifty
fathoms of water. Those of the passengers
and crew who came to the surface were
picked ZIP by the Oceanic's boats, but the
greatest number were run down by the
rushing water and never appeared again.
As soon as it was known that the collision
had occurred, a number Of tugs and boats of
all descriptions went to the scene and rem
dered what service they could in picking
up the living and dead floating among the
wreckage. The greatest loss of life is re-
ported to have occurred among the steer.
age passengers, of whom there were twenty
three on board. Only two of these are &C.
counted for. The others are regarded as
lost They were on the lower deck of the
steamer at the time of the collision, and
there was no opportunity to warn them OF
danger, or render them assistance after
wards. The cabin passengers numbered
seventy, and of these ten are lost. There
is still much doubt as to the number of per-
sons lost.