Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-08-30
THIRTY-FOUR DROWNED.
The City of Chester Run Down by
the Oceanic
In San Francisco Bay, Almost In Sight of
land.

Land.
The steamer City of Chester left her dock
In San Francisco at 1880 the other morning
and started on her regular trip TO Eureka,
on the northern coast of California. An
unusually large number OF passengers
stood on her decks and waved adieu TO
friends who had gathered on the wharf.
The Chester steamed slowly down the bay,
and when within two miles of the Heads
encountered the thick fog so peculiar in
that locality. Capt Wallace of the City Of
Chester, began blowing his steamers
whistle to warn all vessels off his approach.
The Chester proceeded cautiously on her
course till off Port Paint, when the hoarse
sound Of another whistle floated across the
water.
Capt. Wallace answered the signal and
gave the proper warning 10 the stranger to
pass on the port side This was evidently
not understood, for in "A moment those on
board saw the huge Prov OF the Occidental
and Oriental steamer Oceanic emerge from
the fog. 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 cap
tain seeing the danger called 10 them TO
prepare for the shock. A panic ensued at
once, particularly among the women and
children, OF whom there was alarge number.
The Oceanic struck the Chester on the
port side, 1t the gangway, and her Prov
cut into the Chester's upper works, and
then crushed down to the bulwarks, tearing
great timbers and iron plates, and breaking
int staterooms and cabins. The widest
confusion at once prevailed among the pas
songers. They crowded together, shrek
ing with fear, while others were praying
for help. The bow Of the Oceanic crashed
into the middle section of the Chester, cut
ting her almost into halves, and causing
her TO reel under the terrible blow.
When the vessels were locked a number
OF the Chester's passengers 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
Immediately began TO lower her boats AT
the moment OF the shock most of the officers
and crew of the Chester seemed TO lose pos
session Of their senses, and several passen-
gers stated afterward that some of
the crew took the first opportunity TO
climb aboard the Oceanic, and left the pas
sengers TO cut away the boats, and one Of
these was lowered as soon as possible and
number of passengers taken off in 1t.
Others provided themselves with life pre-
servers and Jumped overheard, but the
greater portion were compelled TO remain
on the steamer, which began 10 settle i'm
mediately after.
Torrents OF water rushed into her hold
anu III ANC AAAhhbS =
after the collision the Chester disappeared
and sank in so fathoms of water. Those Of
the passengers and crew who came TO tho
surface were picked up by the Oceanic's
boats but the greater number were drawn
down by the rushing water and never APP
peared again.
As soon as il was known around the bay
that q collision had occurred a number of
tugs and boats Of all descriptions went to
their assistance 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 believed TO have
occurred among the Storage passengers, of
which there were % aboard. They were in
the hold of the steamer at the time of the
collision, and there was no opportunity TO
warn them Of danger or render any assist
ance afterward.
Aside from the 81 Storage passengers 10
of the cabin passengers and three Of the
crew were drowned.