The San Francisco call., 1896-08-10
FAST ON A SUBMERGED REEF.

ward hold and much greater depth aft
much OF the cargo, especially the grain, Is
undoubtedly loss.
The vessel lies of Mess Beach, about
half way between a point known as Seal
Rocks and Point Pinos. Her bow is some
what elevated and the stern low IN the
water, and. as she is tightly wedged in
sort of cradle between two Iedges of rock
she is steady. excepting for slight swing
and roll when a sea rolls in against her.
There is a heavy fog coming in, but the
ocean is still and but little wind blowing.
Captain Minor Goodall came N from
the wreck late this evening, having ar
rived on the Santa Rosa. He believes
there is possibility that the vessel can be
saved, but can not state positively until
an examination is made by divers to-
morrow.
"The rocks have pierced through the
iron plates OF the hull about amIdships,"
said be to q CALL correspondent. ''AIl of
the compartments are flooded with water.
The fire and engineRroo are awash and
the machinery is useless for any work.
All of the cargo, especially the wheat and
wool, in the holds is ruined, entaiIing
Cruz will come down from San Francisco
in the morning and the livestock and
what can be recovered will be taken off.
Captain Downing thought he was round
ing Point Pinos, and, changing his course
to the eastward, went on the rocks. The
fog was SO thick that nothing could be
seen, and neither breakers nor buoy could
be heard. Consequently he was not aware
that he was near the shore until he felt
his vessel strike. 1 was only aboard of the
St. Paul this evening q few minutes and
cannot tell much of what occurred prior to
the time she went ashore. If she can pos
sibly be saved no effort will be spared to
rescue her. If the sea remains smooth we
can do much toward tightening our loss,
even if We don't get her on the dry dock"
However hopeful Captain Goodall is, the
rocks are sharp all around her and every
roll and fall on the reef starts plate and
the st. Paul win probably keep the Colom-
bia company on their hard rocky beds
until the seas batter them out of shape.
When the shipwrecked passengers were
seen sitting on the veranda of the hotel
this afternoon they were waiting patiently
for the train that was TO carry them city
wards. Mrs. George Swain of Berkeley
was one of the ladies lowered into the last
boat. After being settled in the small
craft tossing alongside the humping
steamer, she saw that her husband was
still on deck and resolutely crawled back
onto the deck.
There was nothing of heroic nature
in nv action" said she. II simply thought
if my husband could stay there could
keep him company"
Captain Taylor, one of the passengers
who landed at Pacific Grove and footed it |
getting ashore knocked at the door of
Keeper Hitchcock, who has charge of the
Southern Pacific Railroad Company's
track, known as the Seventeen Mile drive,
and asked for assistance.
He was requested to send messenger
to Monterey for help, but he refused and
was indignant that he should be aroused
from his bed at o'clock in the morning
even to assist shipwrecked people. He re-
sumed his slum bers and they trudged on
through the fog and darkness.
There is belief among the passengers
that the light on Point Pinos was not
burning. Soon after the vessel struck
rockets we're sent up, and they say that
until this time no gleam came from the
point. Then the light shone out.
Captain Downing was the first officer of
the st. Paul when she was purchased by
the Pacific Coast Steamship Company, and
he was promoted to her command last
month. He has the reputation of being a
careful. Jealous and faithful officer. and
being so well acquainted with these waters
one would wonder at him running ashore,
and why his ship out yonder. within a bis
cults throw of the beach, is grinding of
her plates tonight.
According to the accounts of some of the
and several of the crew, there
was considerable confusion just after the
vessel struck. Men and women for few
moments rushed out of their rooms half
dressed around the boats. Some of the
employees of the ship lost their heads, put
on life preservers and crowded around the
boats. They were forced by the officers to
take of the belts and 90 below by threats
of summary punishment. 1t is also said
that the colored Iignts of Point Sur wers