St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-08-23
IN SIGHT OF LAND.
Two Ocean Steamers Collide
in the Bay Of San Fran
cisco.
The City Of Chester Cut in
Two by the
Oceanic.
Panic Stricken Sailors Leave
the Passengers to Them
selves.
AS a Result Thirty-Four Find
Graves in the
Deep.

most terrible marine disasters that ever
occurred on the Pacific coast happened
in the Bay of San Francisco, short dis
tance from the Golden Gate about 10
O'Clock this morning. The steamer
City of Chester left her dock here at $50
and started on her regular trip to Eureka
on the northern coast of California.
An unusually large number of pas
sengers stood on her decks and waved
adleu to friends who had gathered on
the wharf. The Chester steamed slowly
down the bay. and when within two
miles OF the Heads encountered thick
fog so peculiar in that locality. Capt.
Wallace, of the City of Chester, be-
gan blowing his steamers whistle
to warn all vessels of their approac h.
The Chester proceeded cautiously on her
course till off Port-Point when the
hoarse sound of another whistle floated
across the water. Capt. Wallace an
swered the signal and gave proper
warning to the stranger to pass on the
port side. This was evidently not un-
derstood. for in moment
those on board saw the huge
bow of the Occidental and Oriental
steamer Oceanic emerge from the fog.
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 Ches-
ter that there was no possibility for the
latter to escape. The cabin passengers
were nearly all on deck, and the cap
tain, seeing the danger, called to them
to prepare for the shock.
A PANIC ENsUED AT ONCE,
particularly among the women and
children, of whom there was large
number. The Oceanic struck the Ches-
ter on the port side at the gangway and
the shock was terrific. The Oceanic cut
into the Chester S upper works and then
crushed down to the bulworkS, tearing
away great timbers and iron plates and
breaking into the state rooms and cab
ins. The widest confusion prevailed
among passengers. They crowded to-
gether, some shrieking with fear and
others praying for help. The bow of
the oceanic crashed into the middle sec
ton of the Chester, cutting her almost
into halves and causing her to reel
under the terrible blow. When the
vessels were locked number
of the Chester's passengers were
passed up over the Oceanic's
bow and rescued in this way, but many
were obliged to jump into the water.
lowered and picked up as many as pos
sible. The Chester sank within five
minutes in fifty fathoms of water. Those
of passenger and crew who came to the
surface were picked up by the Oceanic's
boats, but the greater number who were
DRAWN DOWN BY RUSHING WATER
never appeared again. AS soon as it
was known around the bay that the col
liSiOn had occurred, number of tugs
and boats of all descriptions went to
the rescue 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
were twenty-three aboard. Only two of
these were accounted for late this ter
noon, and it is believed the others were
lost. They were in the hold or on the
lower decks of the steamer at the time
of the collision, and there was no oppor-
tunity to warn them of the danger or
render them any assistance afterward.
The cabin passengers numbered seven
ty, and of these ten are lost. Three of
the crew were also lost. The names of
the cabin passengers lost are as follows:
D. W. ANDERSON, Oakland, Gala.
Mrs. S. E. PRATER, San Diego, Gala.
Mrs. G. II. HANEY, Eureka, Gala.
j. C. HAMPTON and wife, Virginia City,
New.
c. F. DAVIS, Springville, Gala.
Miss DAVIS. his niece.
j. r. GREER, Napa, Gala.
Mrs. MEECT.
MRS PORTER.
The following are the members of the
crew lost:
E. R. CHAMBERS, steward.
r. FULTON.
ADAM RICHMOND.
None of the survivors were landed
until after 1 o'clock, and at late hour
this afternoon there was still much
doubt as to the number of those lost.