The San Francisco call., 1896-10-21
northward of the ietty. in the midst of the

breakers.
In few moment ts all of her houses and
upper works were carried away, as were
also the life-rafts and some of the boats.
The purser was washed overheard, but
was returned by the next wave. Grasping
the rail, he climbed on board, and, seeing
boat, jumped into it. At this time
steerage passenger was seen to go over
board, and second later John Norman,
leading citizen of Marshfeld, who had
been hanging to the rigging, was washed
away and was not seen again.
In the midst of the confusion two boats
had been launched. The first and
crew and one passenger had taken to the
rigging, and the rest, with the exception
of the chief engineer, who was not visible,
took to the boats. The captain, from his
position in the rigging, directed the officers
in the boats.
A few seconds later the chief engineer
was seen floating on quantity of wreck
age and was assisted into the first officers
boat much exhausted. For over two hours
the boats were tossed about, at one
moment controlled by the oars, the next
wholly at the mercy of the sea, the hands
that guided them >endeavoring to find a
favorable opening to break through the
breakers. The first officers boat finally
capsized, and all of its occupants were
drowned with the exception of the first
officer, the first and second assistant en-
gineers and sailor, who swan to and
was assisted into the second officers boat.
Without further mi,hap the latter craft
was finally piloted safely through the line
OF breakers and into the bay, landing
at the Government works.
The lie saving crew had been called
upon, but, owing to the great distance OF
the station from the scene of the wreck,
did not reach it until about three hours
afterward. When they did arrive on the
scene, however, they did noble work, and,
after much difficulty succeeded in reach
ing the wreck and taking off the captain
and the six others who clung to the
rigging.
At the time of the disaster the bar tug Co
lum bia, Captain Magee, was following
closely in the wake of the Arago and, it
would appear, ought to have rendered
valuable assistance. All she did, how
ever, was to notify the caretakers at the
Cured, then steam off to North Bend,
some seven miles distant, to report. Had
the tn returned to the scene of the wreck
or adjacent thereto she could have rem
dered valuable assistance IN towing the
lifeboat and thus saved much time. Had
the life-saving crew been able to get to the
scene without loss of time there is but lit
tie doubt that all or nearly all of the lives
could have been saved. Captain Magee
of the tug justifies his course by stating
at his owners instructions are that
whenever any trouble occurs on the bar
to report to headquarters at North Bend
for instructions.
Nothing is to be seen of the wreck at
this time but her mast. A portion of the
hull will probably .De visible at low tide.
Although the vessels manifest shows a
cargo of but 750 tons. vet many persons
who saw her before leaving Empire City
this morning express the opinion that she
was more heavily laden than ever before,
and while she may not have been danger
ousIy sothey question the wisdom Of load
ing her to her utmost capacity.