Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-08-24
sICKENING SIGHTS.
A Passengers Vivid Description of the
Catastrophe.

a Passengers VIVID Description of the
Catastrophe.
Many gentlemen and ladies, among the
Oceanic's passengers, despite the fog, which
rendered the deck of the vessel the reverse
OF agreeable, were out endeavoring to dis.
cern the outlines of the bay. Among others
was Mr.. w. Wood, son of the we'll known
stock broker. Mr.. Wood gave vivid ac-
count of the catastrophe, which he had a
very good opportunity of seeing.
Il was standing on the hurricane deck, :"
he said, under the starboard corner of the
bridge, and while looking ahead heard the
whistling of a vessel two points off our
starboard bow. The whistling was heard
at the same time by the Captain and the
pilot on the bridge above me, and heard
distinctly an order given to whistle twice.
We appeared to be going very slowly,
though there was very strong food tide in
our favor. The fog was not too thick to
render the outlines of Lime and Fort Point
undicsrnible:, The Oceanic whistled
twice, as said. and shifted her course few
points port toward the Saucelito shore.
Two whistles came from the City of Chester
apparently in answer to our signals, and
everything appeared all fright, when sud-
denly the approaching steamer loomed up
out of the fog, and, strange to say, she ap-
peared to be coming directly toward us.
Instead of heading starboard she was
being steered as though her Captain in
tended passing US on the port side. Our
whistle was again sounded twice The
Chester answered, but the collision was
then unavoidable. Into her we crashed
with irresistible force, cutting her Just as
though she was cheese. Her deck at the
time was black with passengers, who ap-
peared as they drew closer to us in a state
of terrible excitement. Some rushed to and
fro; Others threw their arms up. shouted
and cried out; others, apparantly, hardly
grasped the danger and stared around
quietly
"Then when our boat struck them, the
people-men, women and children-com-
menced streaming over our bow as quickly
as they could. The scene for a few mo-
ments was one of utter confusion. 1t was
impossible to understand or to realize what
was occurring. Then those who were
watching saw the City of Chester was
slowly sinking. and, as she gradually went
down, the scene became terrible and tragic.
People scrambled up ropes. others endeav-
ored to catch hold of the sharp bows of the
Oceanic. Mothers. having lost their child
ren, hurried TO and fro, anxiously looking
for them. Husbands, separated from their
wives, hung auxiously over the Sides en-
deavcring to discern if the faces of those
still on the deck of the fated steamer were
those of their dear ones.
"When at last she sank beneath the
waters. with the men and women on her
deck, the sight was sickening. After the
explosion the surface of the water was
covered with wreckage, and here and there
| we could discern heads floating. Our boats
were in the water Few minutes after the
collision aud the crews did splendid work
in picking up the survivors. So far as the
event appeared to me-" concluded Mr..
| Wood, +" l don't see what the Oceanic could
have done other than what she did,"
Mr.. Wood has been enjoying a tour
through Japan, having been away from
San Francisco about three months.