New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-23

THE HELM TURNED WRONG AGAIN-LIVES
THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SAVED
IBr TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE
San Francisco, Aug 22.-One Of the worst marine
disasters known here for many years occurred at
10 o'clock this morning, when the coast steamer
City OF Chester was run down near the Golden
Cato by the incoming China steamship Oceanic
and sunk involving loss of over thirteen lives
There was dense fog over the bay and the City
of Chester, which was outward bound to Eur ka
Humboldt County, was going slowly, sounding her
whistle, when the captain heard shrill whistle
dead ahead He signallcd the engineer TO STOP
but. before the order could be executed the huge
bow of the four. masted China steamship loomcd
up through the fog and crushed in the Chester
lust aft OF the main hatch cutting
her 10 the waters edge. The Chester remained
aloat ten minutes and during that time the pas
sengers could have been saved had it not been for
the cowardice of the crew. who left the passengers
to their fate Even the boats that were got out
were lowered By passengers Most Of the steerage
passengers went down TO death, the captain
failed to warn them of their danger. They were
either crushed by the Oceanics Prov or enianged
in the wreck thus perishng mserably in sight OF
land and within a stones throw Of great steamer
amply provided with life boats. To add TO the cow
ardice OF the Chcsters crew was the Incompetence
OF the Chinese deckhands. who were only forced
with much difficulty into the boats. The loss
Of time due TO this no doubt swelied the death
roll
The scene the two vessels was terrible.
The passengers on the doomed steamer
were crowdng fore and aft. some
shrieking with fear and others praying for
help.
PANDEMoNIUM ON THE CHESTER
Of -ho seemed
their senses, and pandemonium for few moments
reimed The groaning, crashing sound OF burst
ing iron plates and the smashing Of hte-boats
mingled with hoarse orders of eXcltcd officers ana
the wells OF the passengers and crew, were enough
to deprive the most experienced men OF presence
OF mind This was OF short duration. Tor the
Oceanics bow passed on into the mid-section OF
the Chester. cutting her almost into halves.
knocking and smashing her upper works into
pieces. The Chester reeled under the terrific
blow. Passengers on her deck Werc I
AFTER ,GtoTH riWins fSm: she Chester her death
wound the Oceanic swung to one side ana passed
astern OF her victim. A. she cleared the caPulin
OF the Oceanic saw that the whole side OF 'De
Chester from amidships ait, had been den onsh9d
and he knew she Was IN slnflnS coniluoh; nI
immediately ordered the life-boat- lowered and
uulIcd toward the Chester On board the latter
all was excitement ali connection, SO much 30
that il was imL LOssbi' I" get the boats INTO Naur
he steamer began se,tuns rapdy ana NAM toI %
the passengers providing themselves WIN NE
prescrver, slIanE int the water while others tooN
the first prccaution but stayed on thc snip
GISn, asc Of Te, s src rrsSne 9san into p the Rod Of
the Chester and lilled her compartments ana shc
went TO the bottom with a rush-storn toremoSt-
carrying most of her passengers gnd caSw WIN tbo
Chester disa appeared were picked up by the DoatS
of the Oceanic and brought to this city.
While the two steamers were locked together q
.lo
of the Oceanic from the upper deck OF the CheSter
and thus saved themselves.
THE FAULT OF THE CHESTER's OFFICERS.
The captain of the Chester declares that the
collision was unavoidable. but the accounts OF
those on his own ship as well as those on the
Oceanic did not bear out his story. Although
tho fog was thick near the water, those on the
Chester could see the huge China steamer long
before the vessels came together. Signals were
exchanged. but it was the error Of the Chester
officers in turning to port instead of starooard
The Chester turned sharp 70 port when very near
the Oceanic with fatal result
The accounts of the survivors present fear,,
ful pcture of disorder on board Of the chester anu
criminal carelc>sncss Allen A. Curtis paSscnIr
said: 81 was standing amldshlpS on inc, NlO
hand side Of thc vessel and saw the Oceanlc oe'f-
ing down toward US She was full 90 ya-ts as
ta1t I saw her strike us. She s'ruck H. forty
feet from the bows on the lef' hand s!de OF lhe
vessel As she struck MS there was ruSa ol pls-
I
was a most horrible tumult II was lhneeu ar an
awful sight It was, save who can INC pco
plc who got there first and who were strongest
climbed on board the Oceanic or made rusn ior
tLe boats and helped 10 lower them. When
the first boat was lowered threw my wlie ana
child into il and some fifteen people lElme,
diatcly made leap. for the boat. We ."u
hardly got clear of the vessels when the Chester
some four minutes aftcrward, went down head
first. The crew OF the Chester, with thc eNccp;
tion Of the chief steward, were saved. we s'IEn a
the second officer. l don't think any OF lne
steerage passengers were saved 60, ~.
s H. Davis, q merchant at Springfield, Hum-
boldt County was returning to his home IN com
panv with his invalid sister. hls brother, !. l.
Davis. and the latter's little 5-vear-od daugn-
ter The four were standing on eecS
when tho accident occurred Mr.. Davis states
thar thn fog was n very light one; not more thah
haze lie saw the Oceanic long before the VcSseS
came together She was fully half mule away,
heading straight for the Chester, Inc h,ter
turned to get from the way WAen nc sharp UoM ;
Of tho Oceanic strucl: her amdshlps, cuttinS
through her side like a knife into cheese NLr
Dav; rang into the Tc tF EcSe w.n recod m S' and them
vent Down. Davis turned his head and obtained
last view, of his brother ot ana ana
on Tho stcarner's rail. and were cngulfcd with
tho fated vessel The brother and sister were reS-
Ono ~ thc sailors on the Ches'cr declared that
the cantain n moment after the collision gave the
order " Each man fos himself but thlS eouiu
not be corroboratcd. There Is ample PROOF, now
ever, of shameless cowardlce ana lheincicncS ~, -.
the crew and of total lack OF wa:ning 70 tlo
/ Storage passengers who had no opportunity 10
even ret on deck after the collision
DEAD BODIES on THE WHARF
Most hcartrending scenes were witnessed AZ inc
dock when the bodies were brought in. Eighteen
were lying on thc wharf az one time awaiting
Identification The body Of Chief Steward Cham
bsrs. Of the Chester was brought to the wharf
with Hte-prcscrvCr strapped about him When
he was taken on shore a young woman Du1st
through the Gordon Of police and threw he'selt
on the corpsc kissing the dead face passionately.
She was the young mans betrothed, to whom ne
trip. /.
4 little baby. three years old, was rescued by
Charles Spratt Both its parents arc lost:
SIGHT was witnessed upon the arrival OF tug
with the Misses Prathc- Of San Diego, who had
experienced very rough handling. Miss Emma
Just rs he steamer was SINKING was struck Witn