Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-08-23
CUT In TWO.
Awful Disaster in the
Golden Gate.
TWO VESSELS In COLLISION.
The City Of Chester Sunk by The
China Steamer Oceanic.
THE DISASTER CAUSED BY The FOG.
Most of the Steerage Passengers and
Grew Reported Lost.
SEVERAL OTHERS YET MISSING.
| Stories of the Survivors-A Terrible
Affair that Should Have
been Avoided.
SEVERAL OTHERS YET MISSING
Stories of the Survivors-A Terrible
Affair that Should Have
been Avoided.


was startled at about 1870 o'clock this
morning by the news that there had been
terrible collision on the bay, in which o
large number of lives had been lost. The
vessels which collided were the Oceanic of
the Occidental and Oriental Steamship
Company's line, and the City of Chester,
which belongs to the Pacific Coast Steam
ship Company. The Oceanic was just en-
tering port from voyage from Hongkong
and Yokohama, and the City of Chester,
with large passenger list, was passing
out on her trip up the coast to Eureka,
Fields Landing and Arcata. The two YES
sells collided nearly off Fort Point, and the
City of Chester was sunk. The first re.
ports received were, of course, meager and
unsatisfactory, but it was learned that the
accident was of such a character that il
would be miracle if a large number OF
lives were not lost. The steamer San Ra-
fael, of the Saucelito line, which heard OF
the collision, went to the rescue of the I'M
fortunate passengers of the sunken vessel.
Tugs from the city front were also sent out
and the bay was soon alive with craft bent
on the work of rescue.
Before the ferry steamer San Rafael
reached the scene the boats of the
Chester and of the Oceanic had picked up
the majority of both passengers and crew,
and none were brought to the CITY on the
latter vessel, which Immediately put back
for Saucelito, as it was said that several
had been landed on the Marin county
shore.
A STORY OF SURVIVOR
The first survivor of the wreck to reach
this city was John Walker, an able seaman
of the City of Chester. He was seen lust
as he came from the boat at Valleio-street
wharf, and gave the following particulars
of the discsler to reporter of the Bulletin:
II was employed as an able seaman on the
! City of Chester, an iron vessel of 1000
tons, in the line of the Pacific Coast Steam
ship Company. At 8 o'clock this morning
We cast off from Broadway dock and
started on our voyage for Eureka. As
usual, we had large passenger list, and 1
Should judge there were not less than
eighty passengers on board, large num-
Der of whom were women and children.
On the bay the fog was very thick, and as
We turned from the end of the seawall, for
straight run out through the heads, it
was almost impossible to see ships length
ahead, although it was clear in toward the
shore. The fog was hanging just in the
channel which deep water vessels are
obliged to take.
Down the bay the steamer proceeded at
half speed, and as we approached the
Heads the speed was again lessened. Mean
while the usual danger whistles were blown
from the steam whistle continuously. from
the time we left the dock When near
Fort Point the signal of another steamer
was heard. the whistle continuing for from,
five TO six minutes before the Oceanic
loomed up in the fog, bearing directly down
upon us. AS soon as she struck us Captain
Wallace began looking after the safety of
the crew and passengers, and ordering the
men to their stations, commenced lowering
the boats. Meanwhile the passengers be-
came panic stricken and wild rush was
made for the boats and life preseryers, and
it was all that the officers could do to pre-
vent the boats from being let down by the
men and swamped. Finally order was re-
! stored and the Decentralization of the pas
sengers was commenced. During all this
while, however, the Chester was slowly set
ting and the horrible gurgling of the water
could be heard in the lower hold, while the
surrounding water was fast being Uttered
with wreckage. Many did not wait for the
boats, but, placing life preservers about
their waists, jumped overheard and were
afterward picked up.
ION the Oceanic the Chinese crew SEEM
ingly became terror-stricken as soon as the
accident occurred, and much time was lost
in the lowering boats of the latter steamer II
the crew had been white, there would have
been more lives saved. Finally the boats
of the Oceanic were lowered and did good
work picking up those who were floating
in the bay, sustaining themselves on life
preservers and bits of wreckage. Captain
Wallace, the second mate and John
Walker, one of the seameD, did heroic
work in rescuiDg persons who were unable
to swim, the second mate jumping from
the boat four times and saving life each
time while Walker rescued three. Among
those picked up in this manner was the
steward of the Chester. He had life.
preserver Cd and was alive when rescued,
but expired shortly after. Captain Walker
was badly bruised about the body and was
scratched about the face and head, but sus-
tanned no other injury"
None of the passengers or crew saved
anything except the clothes in which they
stood. Walker estimated that at least
twenty lives had been lost, and stated that
Purser Gibney was among the missing.
THE NUMBER LOST.
Reports concerning the number of per-
SOhS AOob tnc way ATOIu elcNtu "
twenty-five. That the loss of life must
! have been great can hardly be doubted, as
the Chester carried. with her crew, over
one hundred people. As those rescued
were widely scattered by the various craft
employed in rescuing them, il was impos.
sible to ascertain readily the number oi
those saved, their names, or the number oi
those lost. The only definite reports are
those given above.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE DISASTER.
A. A. Curtis of San Rafael, wife and two
| boys were going to Eureka on the Chester
in company with friends, J. c. Hampton
and wife of this city. Mr.. Hampton is an
old resident here, member of the firm o.
Gage, Shattuck & Co., commission mer.
chants on Front street. They were al
talking together a few moments before the
disaster Both Mr.. Curtis and his wife say
they saw the Oceanic coming in and an
parently crossing the channel. There
was no other way for the Chester to turr
| than the way she did" said he. "Th,
Oceanic was coming down at fair speed upor
US and crashed right into our bows.
naturally looked out for my family, and dit
not see Mr.. Hampton again. He must hag
been drowned. saw bis wife rescued. on
she was about gone then and died yer
soon after. ran forward to see if ] coul
put people on the Oceanic, bat il was the