The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-01-28
THE PUEBLA WENT ASHORE,

While the steamer Columbia was moving
In to the seawall yesterday morning at 8 rs
O'Clock she cOlided with the ferry-boat
San Rafael, which was on its way from
SauSalito with an unusually large crowd
OF passengers who were en- route to the
Midwinter Fair a dense fog covered the
bay and shut out the view from all objects
less than fifty yards distant. The Column
bia was moving slowly ahead, but the San
Rafael was not so tardy.
Captain BOlleS of the Columbia stopped
his vessel entirely and Captain Mckenzie
of the San Rafael succeeded in stacking
the Roadway of bis boat in time to evade
a serious collision. However, the bow of
the Columbia swung with the tide, striking
the ferry-bOat on the port side Just aft of
. the wheelhouSe.
Not the slightest damage was done to
either vessel There was some excitement
among the passengers of the San Rafael
when the Columbia Grifted down on the
latter. Inc excitement subsidized in a few
minutes and the San Rafael locked with
out any trouble. The Columbia went
alongside of the seawalI, where she will
remain 10 load grain.
Captain Mckenzie states that the acct
dent occurred AT about 9 o'clock and con-
-rary TO the statements made by others he
says that he forced his vessel ahead when
he saw that the Columbia was bearing
down on him.
1t was very lucky escape" be said,
and | am sure that if | had not forced the
-. san Rafael ahead the Columbia would
have struck US just forward OF the pilot
house. The fog was exceedingly thick a..
the time, and l could not make out an OBJ
lect 100 yards from either bow"
A passenger on the San Rafael was in
inK cd nd
henZie acted with admirable GOODNESS.
There was no excitement 10 AMOUNT to
anything among the passengers.
The Pacific Coast Steamship C0mpany's
steamer City of Puebla. in charge of Cap
tain Debney, made a successful run past
the heads at 45 in the morning, but half
an hour later she was stuck fast on a mud
bank about 200 yards directly west of the
United States revenue Office. at the foot
OF Taylor street.
The Puebla was from Victoria and
Puget Sound ports with large number OF
passengers and very heavy freight
There was far more excitement anon 2
the Puebla'S passengers than there had
been among those of the steamer San
Rafael when she was struck by the COlum.
~hla. The Puebla's travellers crowded on
deck. and some made anxious inquiry as
to the location OF the vessePS lfebOats.
Having been persuaded that the steamer
had simply drlfted onto a bank Of soft
mud, the frightened people turned away
their scare by Jokes and laughter.
The Puebla whstled for assistance. and
in remarkably short time the redstack
tugs Sea King and Sea Queen were along
side aud hooked on"
Both tugboats tried but failed to move
the steamer, and it was decided to wait
until high water small, at o'clock in the
afternoon, before making a long and
strong pull.
All The passengers were sent ashore on
the tugs, together with their baggage.
At about 80 o'clock Captain Debney
discovered that his vessel WAS moving
astern. He rushed into the piot-housp
and signaled to the engine-room. In
fifteen minutes the screw was churning
the water and the vessel moved few feet
from the shore. Al order was shouted
below to give her full speed asterD, and at
few minutes before o'clock she slid
Into deep Pater.
Where the Puebla grounded is a bottom
cf sand and mud. and 1t is not supposed
that any damage has been done by her
stTandng.
The Puebla was locked a little after 2:15
o'clock q; Broadway wharf,
still another bay accident was added
10 the list by the coliding of the
stern-wheel steamer Caroline with the bark
CD. Bryant. The latter was anchored
- in the stream when the Caroline punched
into her. striking her port side gIaucing
blow. No damage res vi, ed.
Tire steamer Belgc arrived Yesterday
morning from China with seven cabin and
. seven steerage passengers and seventy
90 Chinese.
: All the German ships in the harbor were
uro1useiy decorated yesterday, but there
was great lack OF bunting on most of the
American vessels at the wharves. The
American ship r. d. Rice and one or two
others mQ0A JOod sbowIpo