St. Paul daily globe., 1896-04-10
A SINGULAR AND FATAL MISHAP
TO THE BRITISH SHIP BLAIR
MORE.
soUALL TIPPED HER OVER.
SIX OF HER MEN WE'RE DROWNED
LIKE RATS IN A
TRAP.
After Drawing Many Storms in Open
Sea She Was Lost in San Fran
cisco Bay.

SAN FRANCISCO, CAL, April 9.-No
stranger accident ever happened to a vessel
than that which befell the British ship Blair
in Mission Bay the vessel was struck by a
violent squall, which, together with the swift
food tide, threw the craft on her starboard
side, capsizing her completely and sinking
her In less than fifteen minutes.
Fifteen seamen struggled in the water. Six
were confined in the hold and were probably
pinned down by the falling dunnage used to
hold the ships ballast in place. The impris-
oned sextette never reached the deck and
the bodies still imprisoned in the steel
hull. The Blairmore's masts lie level with
the bay bottom under seven fathoms of water,
and not a sign Of the sailors sunken tomb is
visible above the waves. Here and there on
the surface of the water near the scene Of the
calamity is piece of drift from the wreck,
but beyond this the vessel and the six men
have been completely swallowed up. The un-
fortunates who lost their lives were: T. Lud-
wig, first mate; Henry Clark, seaman; Rol-
and Siegel, apprentice; G. Reinbaum sea-
man; H. Sinstrand watchman; Sam Kerry,
native of Brooklyn N Y. The balance of
the men on board were the seamen usually
held to stand by vessel after she has dis
charged her cargo. The regular foremast
hands were all discharged on the arrival of
the vessel from Newcastle two months ago.
The squall that caused the disaster was
the most severe experienced on the south arm
OF the bay for many years. The wind was so
severe that number of ships anchored near
the Blairmore signaled for tugs to move them
up the bay. The flood tide working at the
keels Of the ships had a tendency, being
counter to the wind, to upset those whose
hulls were not weighted with cargo,
The Blairmore was keeled over 30 far that
passing tug captain hailed her and asked
Capt. Kaw, her commander. If he did not
wish tow to the north end of the bay. Mean
while the squall blew it's hardest, the sea was
heavy and rain fell In torrents Capt Kaw
did not think his vessel had braved the perils
OF a number of ocean voyages to be wrecked
in the bay Of San Francisco, so he refused
tow, saying he would hold on little longer
The tug had scarcely drawn away when the
Rlairmors gave sudden lurch, dipped her
yards and fell on her starboard Quarter. The
water flushed Into her hold in torrents. The
rapidly escaping air blew the water fountain
like, as high as the lower yards The men
scrambled wildly out on the outer ladder A
passing tug with another vessel in tow dropped
her lines and blew for help to speed the res
cue, but it was too late. boat was also sent
from the British ship Yoeman, one thousand
yards ahead Of the Blairmore. In three min
ptes this boat was alongside the upturned yes
sci and picked up the men clinging to the
Blairmore's sides. Two men had struck out
for shore and were picked up By the British
ship Cromdale The Yoeman picked I'D sew
eral, including Capt. Kaw. The captain at
once reported to his agents and to the British
consul. He said the wind was blowing as
stifly as he had ever seen it at sea. Both of
the Biairmore's anchors were out and he
thought they would hold her all right.
The tide was at food, and SQUALLS were
blowing from the southwest" said the can
tain. 1t was nasty combination, the water
proadsided on the ship, and she light. with
squalls bearing her over hard to starboard
she went over in twinkle. The first thing T
knew she was sinking with five of nv moor
men In the hold and one thrown overheard
The second and third mates and number of
the men had reached the rails and were wait
ing boats from the ships Cromdale and Yoe-
man. These boats saved those not in the hold
VINO were drowned like rats or else killed bv
being struck by flying ballast
Inc BIafrmore was comparatively new She
was Quilt as Glasgow in 1S93 and was repis
tered ,161 TONS There were 26O tons of ballast
In the hold. and 1t is thought the ballast shift
ed and covered the bodies. The loss on shin
and furniture will exceed $125, 900. The task
OF raising the Blairmore will be expensive
Seven fathoms of water cover the shin wbero
she went down