The herald., 1896-08-10

soon I was awakened by a heavy jar
which ] at first thought was the usual
humping of the steamer at the Monterey
wharf. Captain Taylor came rushing
into nv stateroom and informed me
that we were ashore, and said to dress
hurriedly and go forward without caus-
ing any excitement. BY the time was
dressed everybody was up and there was
q small panic among the passengers and
crew. Everybody was half dressed and
nearly everyone had a life preserver.
Captain Downing then gave First officer
Hall instructions to lower boat and go
ashore in search of a landing. This was
done, but after a fruitless search tow
ard Point Pinos lighthouse the boat re-
turned.
1.-THE captain then had all the boats
lowered and the women placed in the
first one. The men were then lowered
into the other boats. In one boat under
him were besides myself, Captain Tay-
1or, Purser Chrisman and three others
whose names / did not know. The fog
was so dense that we could not see fif-
teen feet ahead of us and it is mystery
to me how we ever came out alive.
About 1870, after bobbing around on the
water for several hours. we ran into a
cove at Pebble beach and landed in
safety. We went to a farm house and
informed the inmates of our condition,
but the man would not get up, fearing
we were parties trying to rob him. We
managed to find our way into Monte
rey"
There are many rumors current as to
the cause of the disaster. One story is
that the captain struck rock and fear
ing the boat would sink. ran her ashore
for safety. Others say the captain miss
ed his bearings. mstaking Point Cy
press for Point Pinos and ran ashore
thinking he was going into Monterey.
NO ONE TO BLAME
Captain NJ. +. Taylor of San Luis Obs
20, who was on board, was seen today,
and gave this version of the wreck:
Il cannot attach the blame to anyone.
When I came aboard I found the ship
crowded Captain Downing induced me
to take his berth, as he did not intend
to turn in on account of the unfavora-
BILE weather. 1 know that he never came
to the stateroom but once, when he came
to look at the chart. l had scarcely got
to sleep when the boat struck the rocks,
and 1 could clearly hear the signals to
reverse the engines, which was prompt
~ done but to no avail. The boat was
already fast. l was induced to accom-
pany the first officer to go in search of
landing, which We could not at first
find. We returned to the boat and were
instructed to go south in search of
landing, and after rowing hard for two
hours, we ran into cove at Pebble
Beach. Too much praise cannot be given
to First Officer Hall for the skill and
GOODNESS he displayed in feeling his way
into this little cove in such a dark and
dismal night
The boat is lying on her port side
and does not move an inch. though the
sea is constantly rising. 1t is feared
that she cannot be pulled off. The crew
will probably stay on board tonight, as
the bay is smooth.
In her position and in the manner of
running ashore the st. Paul greatly re-
sembles the wreck of the Columbia.
The officers have been instructed not
to say anything regarding the wreck
On board are nearly 500 head of cattle,
and 6000 sacks of wool and grain.
The latest reports from the boat are
that the water is getting higher, and at
least six feet of water is in the hold.
No tugs or wreckers are in sight