The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-08-10
Pacific Coast Steamer st. Paul
hedged Fast on Moss Beach.
ALL THE PASSENGERS SAVED.
Ine Accident Said TO Be Due to the
Very Heavy Fog.
The On1cers Instructed Net to Give
Any Information About the Wreck
Two Passengers Tell the story of
How They Escaped and Walked to
Monterey.

Monterey Cal. Aug s--The Pacific
Coast Steamship Company's steamer 81.
FAa3s. bound for San Francisco. rar ashore
a. ls-7 lest n.ght near Moss Beach and is
how "edged an the rocks on which she
strHck. TIE forty passengers on board
were safely landed a. o'clock this morn
inS. ard most os them took the afternoon
train for San Francisco.
Inc first rews OF the accident was
brought TO the conpzny's Offices in this
csiy by seven passengers who walked
from the beach anz arrived here at
O'Clock this morning. W. n. Craig OF
tae University of California. who was
one % tae -assengers. tells the following
story OF the wreck:
7 boarded the steamer at San Simeon
a. s:i5 Saturday morning. and the trip up
Was comparatively pleasant and smooth
Al 2. m. however. heavy fog came up,
and tho captain informed US that IL was
an unusually heavy one lie seemed some
what disturbed About $50 retired, but
as ] vas somewhat anxious for the boats
safety / could no, sleep. As near as I
can Judge. the boat first struck about
Ie;so. ! thought nothing OF this and went
20 sleep again. Soon I was awakened by
neaFy lar which I at first thought was
the usual humping OF the steamer al the
Monterey wharf. Capt. Taylor came rush
ing into my berth and informed ne that
We we're ashore. and said 10 dress hur-
rledly and go forward without causing
any excitement. BY the time / was dressed
everybody was up and there was small
panic among the passengers and crew.
EsFeryo body was ha'f-dressed ana nearly
every one had a life preSeryer
Gapt- Downing then gave First Officer
RAN instructions 10 lower boat and go in
search or landing. This was done. but
after fruitless search toward Point PI-
nos lighthouse the boat returned
hss al tn4 I'll
lowered and the women placed IN the first
one. The men were then lowered into the
otner boats. In one boat under him were
besides myself. Capt Taylor. Purser
ChTisman and three others whose names
| did not know. The fog vas so dense
tnat We could not see fifteen feet ahead OF
US. and II is a mystery to me how we
ever came out alive. About 1:30 after
bobbing around on the water for several
hours. We ran into a cove at Pebble beach
and landed in safety. We went TO a farm
house and Informed the inmates of our
condition. bat the man would not get up.
fearing we were parties trying 10 rob him.
We then managed TO find our way into
Monterey
Ihere are many r1lmors current as TO
the cause of the disaster. One story IS
that the captain struck a rock aud fearing
the boat would sink ran her ashore for
safety. Others say the captain missed his
Point Pinos. and ran ashore. thinking
that he was going into Monterey.
capt. NJ Il. Taylor. of San Luis Obispo.
who was aboard, was seen today and gave
this version Of the wreck:
I cannot attach the blame 20 any one
When came aboard I found the shin
crowded Capt. Downing induced ma N
take his berth, as he did not intend 70 turn
IN On account OF the unfavorabie weather.
know that he never came into the state
room but once. when ne came to look at
the chart ] had scarcely get to sleep
when the boat struck the rocks, and I
eoala clearly hear the signals 10 reverse
the engines. which was promptly done
bu, 10 no avail. The boat was ALREADY
last. was induced 10 accompanv the
frst officer 70 go in search OF a landing
which we could not at first fInd Wa
returned to the boat and were instructed
70 60 south In search OF landing. After
ROWING hard Tor TWO hours We ran into
a cove at Pebble beach Too much urafsa
cannot be given 20 First oaicer Han for
the SKIN and coolness he displayed IN feel
ing his way Into this little cove in sur,
a dark and dismal night"
The boat IS lying on her port side ana
does not move an inch, though the ssa e.
constantly raising. II IS feared that she
cannot De pulled of. The crew will nroh-
ably stay on board tonight as the a., a.
smooth. In her position and In the nan
ner of running ashore the st psuI srrest1,.
resembles the wrecked Colonhia rv,a
officers have been instructed no. - sar
ythlng regarding the wreck. on hasrg
were =" head or cattle and s,0sa sacks az
wool and grain. The passengers -
very crowded.
The latest reports from the St Pan, ~.
that the water IS getting higher ana AZ
least six feet az Mater Is IN ne hcia ~
tugs or Wreokers are In sight