The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-11-23
A STEAMER wRgc1ED,
Iiig lsouth Pacific Collier Aground,
Twenty.elGht Lives In Peril.

Big tlsouthi Pacific Collier Aground.
Twcnty.eiGht Lives In Peril.
SAN FRANCISCO, }, Nov. 22.--The big
Southern Pacific collier San Banlto Is
reported wrecked near Point Arena, on
the California coast. The San Benlto
was a four masted iron steam vessel OF
1850 tons. She was $50 feet long and
was built in Glasgow, in 1854. Foryears
she was used as a collier by the Southern
Pacific to bring coal from Tacoma to this
port. Shewas due here yesterday. Ac-
cordlns to u brief message received from
near there last night in heavy storm,
and will be a total loss.
Another dispatch from Point Arena
says the San Benitn Is ashore three miles
from Point Arena. three miles from
Bruces Creek. She Is on the rocks about
an eighth of o mile from shore, Chief
Engineer. Woods and five men are on the
steamer Point Arena and twenty-eight
men are still on board the wreck. The
life saving station sent It's line gun and
life boat to the scene, but 1t is thought
the gun Will not be of service as the ship
lies too far out. The San Benito was
commanded by Captain Smith and car
rled crew OF forty men. The San BENZ
to left Tacoma Wednesday with 44G0O
tons Of coal. This was GOO tons short OF
her usual winter cargo. - ~ e
A later report gives tho following ia
talities:
Drowned:
E o. w. Scott, first assistant engineer.
{ T., .,Condcn, second engineer.
l. NJ. Penuergast, fireman.
John Sheridan. messenger.
+ One seaman. -
Thirteen saved so far Ii ~ Y,
I Capital Smith and twenty-five others
are still in the rigging. e,
z The vessel struck about l o'clock In
the morning and an hour later broke
Just aft the smoke stack. Boats were
lowered but one capsIzed Immediately
with five men in 1t, four OF whom were
drowned. Another boat with four OF
the crew capsized nine times, losing two
men. Three men, by heroic means
reached shore. Daylight found the rest
OF the crew. clinging to the rigging. Such
a heavy. sea Is running that it is impos-
sible to render assistance.
The steamer Point Arena reached the
scene at II o'clock this morning and sent
out boat and by great bravery and
skilled seamanship, rescued seven men,
in making second trip the boat was al
most swamped and was compelled, to
abandon all efforts on account of the
great breakers washing over the wreck.
A sailor was washed overheard and
reached shore almost dead. He was re-
yived by doctor on the beach.
At O'clock this afternoon sailor
jumped overheard and attempted to
swim ashore with a.line. The shoulder
straps OF his life preserved broke and
the man went down. Light house
keeper Brown and an Indian named
Lazarus, William Comprey and AL Cum
ningham. manned a boat, and lmadestwo
heroic efforts to connect the wreck to the
shore with a line but were unsuccessful,
The Steamers Point Arena and Alcazar
are off the wreck but can render no as,
sistance until the sea calms. a passing
steamerSlanded a gun lat Point Arena
this afternoon and the line will be shot
to the wreck tonight. Both parts OF the
ship are fast In the sand fifty feet apart.
The sailors claim the accident was on
account OF the fog horn not blowing, but
the night was clear and the light could
be seen many miles. e n II 531