The San Francisco call., 1896-08-10
Passengers Safely Removed in
Small Boats to the
Beach.
SMALL HOPE OF SAVING THE
STRANDED VESSEL.
Water Fills the Hold and the Cargo
Is Loss-The Colombia Dis
aster Repeated.

MONTEREY. CAL, Aug. 9.-The Pacific
Coast Steamship St Paul lies on the rock
Just south of Point Pinos, full of waite
and total loss. The Pacific Mali Steam
ship Colombia lies on the rocks just soutl
of Pigeon Point, full of water and a tota
loss. The two luckless vessels-sisters II
misfortune-are about fifty miles apart
The causes Of their destruction are 81
identical as to be remarkable. Both wer,
feeling their way to San Francisco; both
became bewildered in a dense fog, and
both went ashore.
The St Paul struck her fatal reef at ter
minutes past eleven o'clock last evening
The deck was in charge OF First Officer
Andrew Hall, with Captain ]. C. Downins
on the bridge, personally directing the
movements of the vessel The night wa:
dark and the thick fog made it impossible
to see ten feet ahead of the bow. The
steamer was running under slow bell anc
Just before her stem touched the rocks tht
heavy white veil ahead lifted little and
the lookout on the bow saw the foam of
the engine-room bell sounded to stop and
then back full speed, but before tn,
doomed ship could be checked she grounc
into the rocks and several succeeding
sWells lifted her higher up.
In the meantime the engines had been
reversed and the propeller was churning
the water astern into foam in its efforts to
free the vesseI-Fne attempt was useless
and the st. Paul settled down on her bed,
just as did the Colombia four weeks ago.
The sharp rocks pierced her bottom in
several places and the water began tc
come in to the amidships compartment
flooding the fire and engine rooms. Nc
further attempt to get her of was made
and the order was given by Captain Down.
ing to clear away all the boats.
The shock of her striking and the quickly
succeeding grinding and humping awak'
ened all the passengers, as well as the
officers and crew in their hunks below
There were sixteen women and four chill
dren on board, and among these there
was ct first considerable confusion. They
were, however, quickly given to under
stand that there was no danger, and they
were soon dressed and ready to leave the
steamer.
As the boats were swung over the side
into the sea and manned the passengers
were taken aboard, the women first. There
was no confusion nor any mishap, as the
water was smooth ana only a light wind
was blowing. Captain Downing directed
the officers in charge TO make their way to
Monterey, which port he believed was
close by. Nothing could be seen nor heard
and even the breakers close aboard were
at times hidden by the fog.
The i've boats put OF IN the darkness.
cautiously feeling their way. The night
was cold and the passengers, especially
the women, being lightly clad, were soon
chilled. The boat commanded by Second
Officer Philip Ward made q landing near
Pacific Grove, and seven of the passengers
started overland for Monterey, reaching
this place about o'clock this morning
and bringing the first news of the wreck.
The other boats got into the harbor few
hours later and all the passengers were
then safely domiciled at the Pacific Ocean
House.
The st. Paul lies as she struck, heading
due east within about 100 yards of the
shore, something like three miles south of
Point Pinos light. That three miles was
the extent of Captain DoBning's error.
He was Just that distance off his course
and away from the position in which he
should have been. Like Captain Clark,
who made the fatal mistake of believing
that the Colombia had rounded Pigeon
Point light, Downing headed his ship east
ward. Instead of steaming safely into
Monterey he plunged the st. Paul squarely
on the beach.
The coast all along this locality is a bed
of kelp which extends for miles out into
the sea. This indicates shallow water.
from one to four fathoms deep. Conse-
ouentIy the ST. Paul. drawing twelve TO
fifteen feet of water, must have been plow-
ing her way under q slow bell through
this bank of Iuxuriant marine vegetatio 4
for hours. The question naturally arise s.
If the captain, his bearing gone in the
binding fog, did not know that the
deadly reefs were al times only few feet
below his keeI. why did he not use his
lead?
Moreover. those waters are charted and
the shoals and currents plainly indicated.
About a mile west of Point Pinos as q
whistIing buoy, marking the outer verge
Of dangerous reef. II sounds its warn
ing pipe increasingly, and can often be
heard in Monterey, four miles away. The
officers stated yesterday that they could
not hear it from the locality OF the vessel.
Through the dense fog no ray could come
from the lighthouse.
The ST. Paul was heavily laden, having
among her cargo 5000 sacks of grain be-
sides great quantity of butter and cheese.
There is also on board over 100 head OF
calves, shipped by Captain W. F. Taylor
of San Simeon. They viii be transferred
to another vessel tomorrow and for
Warded to their destination.