The record-union., 1896-11-23

Southern Paclflc halfway Company
steam collier San Benito, which left
Tacoma for San Francisco on Thursday
last with a coal cargo of 5000 tons and
a crew of forty-three men, was driven
ashore early this morning two miles
north of Point Arena by a heavy gale
Five of the crew We're drowned, ten
others We're picked up by the steamer
Point Arena and the Captain and tWeil-
ty-seven men are clingfng to the rig
ging with slight hope of their being
saved The vessel will be total loss
The drowned are: O. w. Scott, first
assistant engineer; f. Condor, second
assistant engineer; NJ. Pendergast, fire
man; NJ. Sheridan, mess boy, and one
seaman. On the steamer Point Arena
are Chief Engineer J. w. Wood and nine
others, whose names cannot be learned
Captain William Smith is lashed to the
crowsnest of his vessel and encourag-
ing those about him not to give up
hope.
The personnel of the crew follows:
Captain William Smith; Chief Officer
r. SolIing, Second officer j. Swan, Third
Officer c. Ziel, Seamen J. White, j. X.
johnson, c. Blanburg, c. Jansen, }.
Perry, j. Benson, j. A. Barclay, o. Sem
mems, n. Wilson, H. Fehm, T. q. Fos-
ter: Chief Cook J. w. Wilson, Second
Cook J. j. Wilson, Messboy NJ. Sheridan,
Walters c. Myers, j. Sheeran, f. Dean;
Chief Engineer j. w. Wood, First Assis-
tant o. W. Scott, Second Assistant T.
Condor, Third Assistant T. Cleary;
Water Tenders w. II. Jeffs, j. McKeon,
men ]. McDavid, B. Fahey, NJ. Pender-
gast, G.. Christopher, j. Reilley, E. ta-
hey, H. Jackson, j. Walsh; Coal Passers
c. Brown, n. Leyva, w. Sheehan, n
Fitzgerald, NJ. Fernandez, NJ. Kelly.
The San Benito encountered a heavy
southeast gale with a driving rain when
off Point Arena and it is supposed that
Captain Smith lost his bearings, owing
TO the thick weather. When the vessel
struck an effort was made to launch the
boats. The first one, containing First
Engineer Scott and his companions, was
capsiZed and all We're drowned. The
second boat in command of Chief Engi-
neer Wood with nine others on boarI
was more successful and kept afloat
until picked up by the steamer Point
Arena The other boats We're dashed
to pieces after leaving the davittS and
those one board We're obliged to take to
the rigging for safety, as heavy seas
Were breaking over the decks and the
collier gradually settling down upon
the rocks, broke in two amidships. The
Point Arena was unable to approach
the wreck on account of the high seas
running and no assistance could be rem
dered from shore, as the collier was fully
an eighth of mile from the nearest
point of land. a life-saving crew with
a rocket gun was summoned from Point
Arena station, but the gun would not
carry far enough to reach the wreck.
The wrecker Whitelaw left San Fran
cisco tonight for the scene but II is
doubtful If those on board the San
Benito can Withstand the beating of the
waves until succor reaches them.
The San Benito was a steel screw
steamer of 3, ,1S9 tons, built on the Clyde
in 1884. and first known as the Kimber-
ly. Subsequently il was remodelled at
Newport News and renamed the San
Benito. being purchased by the Southern
Pacific.
At = o'clock the steamer Weott came
up and after trying to assist found she
could do nothing, so steamed back to
the port at Point Arena and landed her
gun for throwing life lines, which was
started overland at once to the scene
OF the disaster. The watcher on shore
tried to send a line over the wreck by
shooting from shotguns and rifles but
without success.
After the vessel parted just abaft the
smokeStack and about midShips. the
stern portion swung around and driftei
to within 800 feet of the beach, While
the forward section, to which the crew
were slinging, turned br>oadside to the
Sea and then remained stationary A
huge wave washed three sailors from
the main mast two Of them sinking
and the third being dragged ashore by
the life saving crew more dead than
alive After dark great bonfires were
them could be seen the poor seamen
struggling to retain their hold in the
rigging, continually dTenched by foam
topped waves. The sea is not running
quite so high, but Is still rough enough
to prevent any attempt at rescue by
means of small boats.
The scene is heartrending. Men, wo-
men and children have remained on the
beach since daylight without eating
Kind-hearted farmers brought provis-
Ions and milk for all, though none
cared to touch morsel Men We're