Los Angeles herald., 1890-05-17
A DAYS EVENTS.
A Steamer Stranded Near
RedOndO Beach.
Run Ashore During a Dense
Fog.
The Breakers We're Not Heard Until
1t Was Too Late.
Tax Collector Platt Heard Before the
Board of Supervisors-A Tilt
With Warm Words.

Word was received in this city yester-
day morning that in the dense fog which
hung over the coast Thursday afternoon
the steamer Santa Maria, of San Fran
cisco, was beached three miles north of
Redondo. The accident occurred at 4
O'Clock in the afternoon, while strong
current was running up the coast, and in
a fog denser than has prevailed in this
region for fifteen years.
The Santa Maria lies in any easv posi-
ton, stem on, and with decks level. She
ran ashore at high tide, and at low water
her bows are uncovered, her stern being
in about four feet of water.
Captain j. G. Denny gives the follow
ing account of the accident We were
coming down and making for Redondo
wharf. The fog was one of the densest /
have seen on the coast for fifteen years.
We could not see boats length ahead.
After hearing the sound of the breakers
through the fog, put about and steered
slowly seawards. The current was too
strong, however, and swung her around,
the ship going ashore, stem on Not a
single plank or seam was strained, and
everything is in perfect order.
The Santa Maria is a small steamer
of 300 tons gross burden, and is owned
by the California Steamship Company,
OF which d. j. Meherin, of San Fran
cisco, is the chief factor. She has been
running in opposition to the Pacific
Coast Steamship Company's steamers
Tor the past year, and has been carrying
freight at reduced rates to obtain bust
ness. AT the time Of the accident she
had eighty tons of miscellaneous freight
IN the hold for Los Angeles and San
Diego. This has been mostly taken out
on the beach in order to tighten the
vessel as much as possible.
AS soon as the accident became known
Captain Banning, of San Pedro, volun-
teered the use of the Pelican, and that
tug went to the scene of the accident
Immediately. An effort was to be made
last night at high tide to pull the
steamer off, but the chances of doing
this were not very great. One thing
favorable to the vessel is the fact that
she went ashore at the lesser of the two
high tides. If the wreckers are not sue
cessful tonight a more powerful tug will
be dispatched to the scene from San
Francisco. The damage to the steamer
can not be estimated as yet, but will be
very light.
The following message was received
from Redondo last evening over the tele-
phone:
This morning at o'clock word was
received here that the steamer Santa
Maria had stranded on the beach five
miles above. She was bound from San
Francisco to Redondo Beach with sixty
tons of merchandise, and when visited
in the morning was found to be high
and dry on the beach. 1t is stated that
there were two factions on board, one
headed by the captain and the other by
the chief engineer. The faction headed
by the chief engineer deserted the
steamer for quite time, and it was
only after persuasion that they would
help take the merchandise out. which
was quickly accomplished by the aid of
people from Redondo Beach. 1t was
considered strange that as the steamer
had gone ashore at 3 :35 of THURSDAY
afternoon no word was received at Re-
dondo until yesterday morning at 6
O'Clock. AT the time of the accident
there was a dense fog, through which
the breakers could not be heard until
too late. This statement was confirmed
by the statement of all on board. The
wrecking steamer from San Francisco is
expected to arrive early this morning.