Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-25
. SIN FRANCIseo,s HORIZON.
Fhe Sinking of the Ocean steamer City of
Chester ON Wednesday.

1
Chester on Wednesday.
SAN FRANCISCO, August 22.-0ne OF the
most terrible marine disasters that ever
occurred on the Pacific coast, happened in
the Bay of San Francisco short distance
from the Golden Gate at IL o'clock this
morning.
The steamer City of Chester left her dock
at $50 q. M, and started on her regular
| trip to Eureka on the northern coast OF
California. An unusually large number OF
adieus to friends on the wharf.
The Chester steamed slowly down the
bay, and when within two miles of Heads,
encountered q thick fog. The Chester
began blowing its whistle. Presently the
whistle OF another vessel was heard, and
the proper signals were given, but there
was some misunderstanding, for ia q few
| moments those on the Chester saw the
huge prov OF the Occidental 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
caDiE p.sro.1 gers seie le4tl - sssl - Ssse9ts
and the captain, seeing the danger, called
to them to prepare for the shock. A panic
ensued at once, particularly among the
omen and children, of whom there were
large number on board. The
Oceanic struck the Chester on the
port side at the gangway and the shock
was terrific. Her prov cut through the
Cbesters upper works and thel crushed on
down to the bulkwater. tearing the great
timbers and iron deck plates and breaking
into the state rooms and cabins. The
widest confusion prevailed among those of
the ill-fated vessel. Passengers crowded
together, some shrieking with fear and
Others praying for help. The bow OF the
Oceanic crushed into the middle section of
the Chester, cutting her almost in halves,
and causing Ter to reel
UNDER THE TERRIFIC BLOW.
While tine vessels were locked together O.
number of the Chester's passengers were
passed up over the Oceanic's bow and res
eued in this way, but as soon as the large
steamer could clear herself, she swung
around and Immediately began to lower her
boats. At the moment of TIE shock most
OF the officers OF the crew OF the Chester
seemed to loose possession OF their senses
and several passengers stated afterward
shat some of the crew took the first oppor-
tunity to climb aboard the Oceanic, and
left the passengers to cut away the boats.
One OF these was lowered as soon as posi-
BILE and IL number OF passengers taken off in
them. Others provided for themselves with
70 or,1 ,al
Immediately after he collision torrents
of water rushed into her hold and in five or
ten minutes after the collision the steamer
aad
SANK rrFTr FArHoMA OF WATER.
Those passengets and crew who came to
the surface were picked ap by the Oceanic's
boats. The greater nualber were drawn
down by The rushing water and never ap-
peared again.
As soon as it was known around the bay
that ii collision. haqeccurred d number OF
tugs and other boats of all descriptions
went to their assis Stance and rendered what
service they could in picking up the living
or dead WHO were floating among the
wreckage.' The greatest loss OF life is be-
lieved to have occurred among the steerage
passengers, OF whom there were twenty
three on board.
They were either in the hold or on the
lower decks OF the steamer at the time of
the collision, and there was no opportunity
to warm them OF the danger .r render
them any assistance aftSi wards, Tie cabin
passengers numbered seventy, and OF these
ten are lost. Three OF the crew also are
lost. The names OF the cabin passengers
lost are as follows:
G. W. Anderson, Oakland, Cal.
Mrs. S. E. Pratt, San Diego.
Mrs. c. Haney, Eureka, Cal.
j. G. Hampton and wife, Virginia City,
Nevada.
c. I. Davis, Sprinvil e, CAL, and Miss
Davis, his niece.
j. Green, Napa, Cal.
Mrs. Mech and Mrs. Porter.
The following members OF the crew are
lost: E. r. Chambers, steward; Robert
Fulton and Adam Richmond, walters.