New-York tribune., 1896-11-23
PRICE THREE CENTS
AT THE MERCY OF THE SEA.
A SOUTHERN PACIFIC VESSEL WRECKED
WITH LOSS OF LIFE.
FIVE OF CREW OF FORTY-THREE ARE
DROWNED, TEN ARE RESCUED AND TWENTY

FIVE OF Crew OF FoRTYrHREE ARE
DROWNED, TEN ARE RESCUED AND TWENTY
SEVEN CLING TO THE RIGGING WITH
SMALL HOPE or BEING SAVED.
San Francisco. Nov 22-The Southern Pacific
Railroads steamer San Benito, which left Ia
coma for San Francisco on Thursday last with
a coal cargo OF 5000 tons and crew OF forty.
three men, was driven ashore early this morn.
ing two miles north of Point Arena In heavy
gale. Five of the crew were drowned. ten
others were picked up by the steamer Point
Arena, and the captain and twenty-seven men
clinging to the rigging with slight hopes OF
their being saved The vessel will be total
loss. The drowned are as follows:
SCOTT o. W. first assistant engineer.
CONDON. f.. second assistant engineer.
PEEDERGAST. NJ. fireman.
SHERIDAN. NJ.
one seaman
On the steamer Point Arena are Chief Engi-
neer J. w. Wood and nine others whose names
cannot be learned. Captain William Smith 10
lashed to the crow'snest of his vessel and en-
couragng those about him not to give up hope.
The personnel OF the crew follows: Captain
William Smith, Chief officer Zolling; the secone
officer. j. Swan: the third officer. c. Zile; sea-
men, A. White. G. Johnson. c. Blanberg. c. jan
sen. ]. Perry. ]. Benson. j. A. Barclay. o. Sc
mems, ~ Wilson, II. Fehm and T. E. Foster; the
chief cook, J. w. Wilson; second cook, J. j. Will
son; messboy. NJ Sheridan: walters c. Meyers,
j. Sheeran and A. F. Dean; chief engineer. ]. w.
Wood; first assistant engineer o. w. Scott; Sec
ond assistant engineer, c. Conton; third assist
ant engineer. T. Cleary; watch-tenders. NJ. H.
Jeffs, j. McKeon and J. Ward; storekeeper. w.
Sloan; fremen. ]. McDavid. b. Fahey. NJ. Pen
~ ,lrict I Rai
Jackson and ]. Walsh; coal-passers. c. e.
Brown, n. Leyva, w. Sheehan n. Fitzgerald ID.
Fernandez and NJ. Kelley.
The San Bonito encountered a heavy southeast
gale with 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 10 launch the
boats The first one containing First Engineer
Scott and his companions, was capsiZed and all
were drowned. The second boat, in command OF
Chief Engineer Wood with nine others on board,
more successful and kept af1oat until picked
up by the steamer Point Arena.
The other boats were dashed to pieces after
leaving the dayits and those on board were
obliged to take the rigging for safety, as
heavy seas were breaking the decks. and
the collier gradually settling down upon the
rocks. broke in two amdships The Point Arena
was unable to approach the wreck on account
OF the high seas running and no assistance could
be rendered from shore. as the collier was fuily
an eighth of mile from the nearest point OF
land.
fe-saving crew. with 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 to-day for the scene but II is doubtful II
those on board the San Bonita can Withstand
the beating of the waves until succor reaches
them.
The San Bonita was a steel-screw steamer Of
37S9 TONS built in Clyde in 1883 and hrst
known as the Kimberly. subsequently II was
rernodelled at Newport News and renamed the
San Bonita, being purchased by the Southern
Pacific.