The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-04-23
Wreck OF the Steamer Los Angeles
Thirty Miles From Mon
terey, Cal.
SuffsrinRs OF Those Left on the
Vessel Whom the Boats
Pulled OF
The Women and Children and Most of ths
other Passengers sAVsd-Orders
Not Obeyed.

Aohht bteenhuip couhhn1 rtohmof Asoe
Angeles. bound north from Newport CAL.
and way points 10 san francisco. went on
the rocks at Point Sur lighthouse. thirty
miles sonth Of Monterey, between nine aad
10 o'clock last night. The steamer sank in
few minutes and the passengers and crew
took TO the hoAts. Three boat loads
reached the shore at Point Sur aud the frat
news OF the disaster was Brought here by
messenger to-day. Two other boat loads
and a raft containing othef passengers and
members of the crew we're met by tho
steamer Eureka this evening and brought
10 Monterey. Ftom those who arrived on
the Eureka 10 was learned that the Los
Angeles reached Point Sur lighthouse
about nine D. IN. Tue captain. who had
retired, had given orders 10 his third
mate 10 call him when a certain number
Of revolutions of the wheel had
been noted. The mate failed to do so and
the steamer went upon the rocks as 9;l5 and
I'm ten minutes sank. The captain imme-
diately ordered out the boats. -Four boats
and a raft of two floats. containing about
hftv men, succssdod in reaching shore.
Two other boats and a raft kept out 20 sea.
Chief Engineer Wallace. in charge OF ons
Of the boats. saw the steamer Eureka and
succeeded ia getting within hailinR dis
tancs. The steamer lay 90 and sent ont
boats 10 search for the other party. TheI
soon found the raft with seven persons
aboard, whom they rescued, and this morn
ina about seven o'clock picked up the
other boat, containing fourtesn more per-
sons. They then seat boats 10 those on
shore and offered 20 taks them aboard the
steamer, but owing to the rouQhness OF the
aurf they failed to go. -Four dead bodies
had been recovered and Capt. ii. ID. Le-
land Of tho Los Angeles. was reported in q
critical condition by his brother, Capt
James Leland. Of ths Eureka. All the la
dies and children were saved and brought
here on the Eureka.
From one OF the crew OF the wrecked
steamer the details of the disaster have
been learned. His ts a tale OF suffering and
death. when the Los Angeles struck upon
the teaeheEous ooka the passengers we're
nearly all in their berths. The nrat Awful
crash Was followed by scenes Of the widest
confusion. I'VE are lost" was she CRY
that escaped from the captains lipa.
Frightened men and screaming womsn and
children swarmed the decks Nearly all
we're In their night clothes. The officers
and crew were the hrst 10 recover thsii
senses and then preparations were made 10
abandon the rapidly sinking steamer.
simultaneously with the giving of the or
ders TO lower the life boats and the sXecu-
we're brought and wrapped about the
shiveiing women and little ones and life
preservers strapped uUon them. Then they
we're lifted aboard the lifeboats. When all
the boats and the life raft had been loaded
TO their capacity ten men still remained on
| the decks of the doomed CRAFT. Three oil
these did net live TO soc daylight. Those
/ OF the crew who remained behind sought
/ hrst 20 save their personal effects. but %
rapidly did the vessel settle down into tha
sea that only few minutes elapsed befors
the second mate called out the warning
IAN hands 20 the rigging and every man
/ for himself" The vessels stern Was ali
under water. aad the water was rushing IN
forward. Capt. Leland took 30 the rigging
with the men. They pulled themselves NJ
as far as they could. One sea
man rested awhile on the fore boom
Ihe water then was up to bis
waist aud be was forced TO keep on climb
ing. though two others were pc ohsd on the
foromast above HIM. All we're 80 ex-
hausted they could barely maintain theil
psrllous position and keep above the waves
IL was while the men were thus imperiled
that three of their number were drowned
One OF them WAS Fireman Nolan, smother
was =. N. Sheridan, au aged citizen oi
Ventura and the other was q passenger
not known to the seamen. The seeonC
Enate also lsat his hold and was saved ftou
drowning only through his ability TO swim
to rope lowered by sailor who Wal
perohed on the top OF the mainmaat.
Daring oil this time the boats bsArinl
away the more fortunate passengers wer'
within sight. Seven men we're remaining
on the sinking vessel, who believed ever
moment would be their last. They yelled
frnntically fof some of the boats to rsturn
and finally one Of the boats did stop. heal
about and come towards them. 10 add o
the despair OF the mon in the rigging th
hfst sounds that reached their ears from
the lifeboat were the words of the steam
or's porter, HAIRY Hall, who cried 10 th
men at the oars; "Don't mind them; ls
them GO aud save us" The lifsboat 81
about sgain. headed toward she shore, AM
lott the seven men still In she rigging.
Providence intervened. however. and th
vessel. spiked fast upon the rocks. settle
no further into the sea. Tho men on IN
spars remained in their positions until on
Of ths boats returned from the shore {
rescue them. The we're eventually laude
with others OF the survivors on the rocks a
the foot OF Point SUR lighthouse. one G
the passengers. a youth who had clunu wit
the sailors 90 abe masta and was rescue
with them, diel in the arms OF sailor 500
after being carried ashore. The poor bo
he'd beea inoold water and without cloth N
ia the raw air and died from exposure. tn
survivors who rsacht q the lighthouse in th
life boats arrived hero tonight In wagon
and joined the passengers who escaped I
sea IA two life boats aud on one raft an
who we're rescued this morning By Oh
steamer Eureka.
The rseks AZ Point Sur. which are a
ugly cluster OF spurs about a mile out fror
shore. have loRR been a maaAes 10 navigu
tion on the southern route. In 1885 tt
Venture. a handsome steamer IN the ssTv. 4
Of the Paciho Coast Steamship companl
was Lost on these rocks. Tho stsnms
Eureka which rescued the survivors IN
mo nlng. also struck the rocks sever
years ago. shatttring be stern and barrel
eseAlinR destruction. Tho steamer 10
B Angeles aiso strnck tho rocks once befor
though she escaped without serious iniury
The ioeRtion of the rocks 10 peculiarly dar
, esrous in that ~ - very near tha poir
where steamers from the south change the
, course IN entering Monterey bay.
\ Ihe steamer Los Angeles Was a very ol
vessel, having been used by the pscif
/ CoHsa steamship company for twsul
3 years. Before that abe wRs Uuited Stat
. svenuo cutter aud called ths Wyand
, She bscane useless TO the goysrnm snt an
the faciho Coast Steamship companV ~
n chased her and rut her into service as
freight aud passenger boat between ~
Francisco and southern war ports. ~
was . small steamer Of not quite 300 ton
md for a5me time had not bsen rated
frat class. The steamer Was due IA ~