Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-08-30
ANOTHER OCEAN CALAMITY.

me Steamer City of Chester Coilides VILE
the Oceanic i'm = Fog on the Pacific Coast
-rhirty-four Persons Drowned.
SAN Francisco. Aug. 23.-The most ter
rible marine disaster that ever occurred
on the Pacific coast happened in the Bay
OF San Francisco a short distance from
Golden Gate about ten o'clock yesterday
morning.
The steamer City of Chester left her dock
here at $3.50 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 adieus 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.
Captain Wallace began blowing his
steamers whistle to warn all vessels of his
approach, and the Chester proceeded eau
tiously on her course till of the port point,
when the hoarse sound of another whistle
foated across the water. Captain Wallace
answered the signal and gave proper
warning to the stranger to pass on the
port side. This was evidently not under
stood, for in q moment those on board saw
the huge prov of the Occidental and
fog. The Oceanic had just arrived from
Hong Kong and Yokohama and was NOV
ing up the bay to her dock.
The huge steamer was so close 70 the
Chester that there was no possibility for
the latter to escape The cabin passengers
were nearly all on deck and the captain
seeing the danger called to them to pre-
pare Cor the shock. A panic ensued at
once, particularly among the women and
children of whom there were q large
number.
The Oceanic struck the Chester on the
port side at the gangway and the shock
was so terrific that tie screw cut into the
Chester's upper works and then crushed
down the bulworks tearing great timbers
and iron plates and breaking into state
rooms and cabins.
The widest confusion prevailed among
the passengers-who crowded together
some shrieking with fear, others praying
for help. The bow Of the Oceanic crushed
tnto the middle section of the Chester,
cutting her almost into halves and causing
her to reel under the terrible blow. When
the vessels were locked a number of the
Chester 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 Immediately swung
around and began to lower her boats.
At the moment of the shock most Of the
officers and crew of the Chester seemed to
lose possession of their senses and several
passengers stated afterward that some Of
the crew took the rstopportunity to climb
aboard the Oceanic and left the passengers
to cut away the boats. Some of these
were lowered as soon as possible and o
number of passengers taken Off in them.
Others provided themselves with life pre-
servers and jumped overheard. The
greater portion, however, were compelled
to remain on the steamer.
The vessel began to settle Immediately
after the collision. Torrents of water
rushed into her hold and in five minutes
after the collision the Chester disappeared
and sunk in fifty fathoms of water.
Those of the passengers and crew who
came to the surface were picked up by the
Oceanic's boats, but the greater number
were drawn down by the rushing water
and never appeared again.
The greatest loss of life is believed to
have occurred among the steerage passen-
gers, of whom there were twenty three
abord. Only two of these were accounted
for late yesterday afternoon and it is be-
lieved the others were lost. They were in
the hold or lower decks of the steamer at
the time and there was no opportunity to
warn them of danger or render them any
assistance afterward.
The cabin passengers numbered seventy
and of these ten are lost. Three of the
crew were also lost. The names of the
cabin passengers lost are as follows: G..
W. Anderson, Oakland, CAL; Mrs. s. E.
Prater, San Diego, Cal; Mrs. c. H. Haney,
Eureka, Cal; ]. A. Hampton and wife,
Virginia, New; C. T. Davis, Springfield,
CAL; Miss Davis, J. Green, Napa, CAL;
Mrs. Mech, Mrs. Porter. The following
members of the crew were lost: E. r
Chambers, steward; r. Fulton, Adam
Diohr