The herald., 1896-11-24
THE COLLIER SAN BENITO
Win Be Beaten to Pieces by Gale
and Surf
Eight Men Drowned, the Remainder of
the Crew Being Taken Off by
the Steamer Westcott.

forty-five, after suffering terribly from
exposure, were taken from the wreek
today by boats from the rescung steam
er Westcott. The San Benito crashed
asore in a dangerous locality, and Is
now resting on the rocks and being grad
ually beaten to pieces by the combined
gale and surf. When the steamer flrst
grounded two boats We're lowered. but
they were quickly capsized in the SURF
and eight men were drowned. The cap
tain and the remainder of the crew
stuck to the ship until taken off by the
rescuirg steamer. So far as known
those drowned are as follows:
O. w. &cott, first assistant engineer.
c. H. Condor, second assistant engi-
neer
NJ. Pendergrast, fireman.
John H. Sheridan, mess boy.
Three seamen. names unknown.
Following are the names of survivors
of the San Benito, who were rescued by
the steamer Point Arena and taken to
Mendocino: William Smith. Captain; X.
Zolling, chief officer; j. Swain aecond
officer: C. Viii, third officer; G. f. Nell
son, carpenter; J. w Wood, chief en-
gineer; Pete Cleary. third assistant en-
gineer: ]. Wilson. cook; W. w. Sloane,
storekeeper; w. H. Jeffs, j. Mckeon,
water tenders; Frank Dean mess boy
j. Ward, water tender; C. Meyers wait
er; G. ]. Johnson, quartermaster; }. W.
Stewart n. Nelson. J. Benson. j. II. Bar
clay, O. Semens, A. White, seamen j.
Perry. lamp trimmer: j. j. Riley, hre-
man; ]. Kehoe. F. j. McDade. B. Fahey.
e. Fahey, NJ Pendergast, flremen; w.
Shean. NJ Fernandes. NJ Kelly, coal
passers.
Six others have been landed at Point
Arena and the fate of the balance of the
crew, who left the steamer in boats, is
as yet uncertain.
The Chronicles Mendocino special
says: The steamer Point Arena arrived
here today with the survivors of the
wrecked steamer San Berito.
Martin Kelly. one of the rescued men,
told the story of the wreck as follows;
..She struck at about rs and broke in
two in twenty minutes. parting through
the engine room. When the ship struck
the two port boats swung out seaWard.
A terrible sea was running, and s the
ship swung around these boats We're
rendered useless. The men went to the
lee side toward the shore and launched
the forward boat. Captain Smith asked
the mate what he thought about get
ting into the boat and the mate replied
we don't know where we are The
master said further that he thought
there We're rocks all around them, as the
surf was breaking high on all sides. and
l. tl,re. !, tn,
Probably some did embark in this boat,
but in the confusion that followed Mr..
Kelly does not know Just at this mo-
ment there was an awful crashing of
timbers and the gallant ship broke in
two pieces. AS soon as the forward part
of the ship became so placed that the
men could do anything they launched
starboard boat No. .. The captain said
to his men: We might as we'll stick by
the ship
THE captain. while advising all to
stay on the vessel allowed those who
thought it tended to their safety to so
In the boat. He told them they could
not get to the shore through the breakers
and advised them to keep out to sea.
In this boat went o. w. Scott, first as
sistant engineer; C. Condor, second as
sistant engineer: II. Jackson, fireman;
N. +. Fitzgerald, N. l.. Brown, coal
passers F. Fester and c. Jansen. sea-
men; j. Shreran, messman. 1t was very
dark and hazy after the boat pushed
off and it was not seen again by those
left on the wreck. But some of these
men We're certainly saved, as six men
We're reported to be at Point Arena
OF those who left the ship some time af-
ter the boatload named above, one.
George Christopher, swan to the shore
and was saved. 1t was Wilson who
tried to swim to the shore but the eb-
bing tide carried him out to sea and he
was drowned. II. Fohen was washed
off the ship and, although unable to
swim. was thrown upon the shore and
saved. After this boatload of men left
the ship the remaining men and officers
took to the foremast rigging and STAYED
there until they We're rescued, as even
after the sea had become somewhat
calmer the waves still washed over the
deck.
1.-THE only ones who were not in the
rlgglng We're Third Assistant Engineer
Peter Clary, Chief Cook l.. W. Wilson
and j. j. Wilson, second cook, and three
or four others who went under the fore
castle house and locked themselves in
to keep out the waves that swept over
the helpless wreck. At 2:45 a cry was
heard from the shore and the crew re
Joicing in the safety of their comra des
responded with a cheer. They felt sire
1t was some one from the ship, as up to
this time they had neither seen nor
heard anything on shore, although as
long as the engine would work a con-
slant whistlinS had been kept up. Soon
after this fires were built on the shore.
and they could see people moving about.
Had there been a life saving service or
rocket gun at the lighthouse, it would
nave been easy to have sent a rope TO
the wet and freezing men hanging In
the rigging, and all might then have
reached the shore in safety. No effort
SO far as the men on the wreck knew
was made to save them by the people
on shore, and they remained in their
terrible plight all day Sunday and until
Monday morning
The men from the unfortunate San
Benito cannot praise the captain of the
Point Arena and his gallant crew
enough for their humanity and skill.
As soon as possible boat was sent
to them. and six men were carried to
the deck of the Point Arena. The boa
I,,< .