Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-08-23
UNDER THE WAVES.
Great Disaster Near The
Golden Gate.
HE CITY OF CHESTER SUNK.
Run Down in Fog by the Oceanic
Thirteen Lives Known to
Be Lost.

SAN Francisco. August 22.-One of the
most terrible disasters that ever occurred
on the Pacific Coast happened in the Bay
of San Francisco, short distance from
the Golden Gate about 10 o'clock this
morning. The steamer City of Chester
left her dock here at 9 80 and started on
her regular trip to Eureka on the north
ern coast OF California. An unusually
large number of passengers stood on her
decks and waved adieu to the friends
who had gathered on the wharfs. The
Chester steamed slowly down the bay
and when within two miles of the heads
encountered thick fog bank, so familiar
in that vicinity. Captain Wallace
began blowing his steamers whistle
to warn all vessels of his approach.
The Chester proceeded cautiously on her
course until off Fort Point, when the
hoarse sound of another whistle foated
across the water. Captain Wallace
answered the signal and gave the proper
warning to the stranger to pass on the
port side. This was evidently not under
stood, for in moment those on board
the Chester saw the huge PROV of the
Occidental and Oriental steamer Oceanic
emerge from the fog bank and bear
down upon them. 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 the
Captain, seeing the 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 number on
board. 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 on down to the bulwarks, tear
ing the great timbers and iron deck
plates and breaking into the staterooms
and cabins. The widest confusion pre-
vailed among those on the ill-fated ves-
sci. The passengers crowded together,
some shrieking with fear and others
praying for help. The bow of the
Oceanic crushed into the middle section
of the City of Chester, cutting her al
most in halves and causing her
While the vessels were locked together
a number of the City of Chester's pass
engers were passed up over the Oceanic's
bow and rescued in this way; but as
soon as the large steamer could clear
herself she swung around and imme-
diately 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 of he passengers stated
that some of the crew took
the opportunity to climb aboard the
Oceanic and
LEFT THE PASSENGERS
To cut away the boats. One of these
was lowered as soon as possible and
OF passengers taken off in it.
Others provided themselves with life
preservers and jumped overheard. The
greater portion, however, were counselled
to remain on the steamer, which began
to settle Immediately after the collision.
Torrents of waters rushed into her hold
and in five or ten minutes after the col
lision the Chester disappeared and sank
in fifty fathoms of water. Those of the
passengers and crew who came to the
surface were picked up by the Oceanic g
boats. The greater number were drawn
down by the rushing water and never
again. AS soon as it was
known around the bay that collision
had occurred number of tugs and other
boats ci all descriptions went to the res
cue and rendered what service they
could in picking up the living or the
dead who were floating among the
wreckage. The greatest loss of life is be-
lieved to have occurred among the steer
age passengers, of whom there were
twenty three. Only two of these were
accounted for late this afternoon and
it'll is believed all the others are
the lower decks of the steamer at the
time of the collision, and there was no
opportunity to warn them of the danger
or to render them any assistance after
wards. Tho cabin passengers numbered
seventy and of these ten are lost. Three
of the crew also are lost.
NAMES OF THE LOST.
The names of the cabin passengers lost
are as follows: u. w. Anderson, Oak
land; Mrs. 8. E. Prather, San Diego Mrs.
@. H. Haney, Eureka; M. @. Hampton
and wife, Virginia City, New; G. T.
Davis, Springville, and Miss Davis, his
niece; M. Greer, NaPa; Mrs. Mech and
Mrs. Porter.
The following members of the crew are
lost E. r. Chambers, steward; Robt.
Fulton and Adam Richmond, walters.
None of the survivors were landed un-
til after O'Clock this afternoon, and at a
late hour this afternoon there was still
much doubt as to the exact number of
those lost.
A sORRoWFUL SIGHT
Was witnessed upon the arrival of the
tug, with the Misses Prather, of San
Diego, who had experienced very rough
handling. Miss Emma, just as the
steamer was sinking, was struck with a
heavy rope and knocked overheard, but
was soon dragged aboard the Oceanic by
some passengers. She suffered both
bodily and mentally, and had, like her
sister, to be supported while awaiting the
arrival of carriage. Her sister was in
the water for over an hour, and was tax
en- aboard just in time to hear OF the
death of her mother.
THE CAPTAINS STORY.
Captain Wallace, of the Chester, de
scrihes the fog as having been so thicl
that it was impossible to see more thar
a few yards. He said he was standing