The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-04-10
HOW IT DID II.
The Strange Disaster in San
Francisco HarbOr.
Struck by a SqUall in Mission
Bay.
SIX SEAMEN DROWN ED.
The Strong Flood Tide Aided
the Wind,
Sending the Ship to the Bottom
in Five Minutes.
SIX SEAMEN DROWNED

SAN Francisco, April 10. = No
stranger disaster ever happened to a
vessel than the accident which befell
the British ship BlairmOre at o'clock
yesterday morning. While riding at
anchor in Mission bay, the vessel was
struck by a violent squall, which, to-
gether with the swift flood tide, threw
the craft on her starbOard side, cap
sizing her completely, and sinking her
in less than five minutes.
Fifteen seamen struggled in the
water Six were confined IN the yes
sells hold and were probably pinned
down by the falling dunnage used to
hold the ships ballast in place. The
i'm prisoned sexLette never reached the
deck, as did their comrades engaged
with them in handling the ballast be
low, and the bodies of the six are
imprisoned in the steel hull The
Blairmore's masts lie level with the
bay bottom, under seven fathoms Of
water, and not d sign of the sailor S
sunl1en tomb is visible above the
waves.
The squau that caused the disaster
was the most severe experienced on
the south arm of the bay for many
years The wind was 50 severe that
number of ships anch 0red near the
BluirmOre signaled for tugs TO move
them up the bay. The hOOdtide work
ing at the keels of the ships had
tendency, being counter to the wind,
to upset those hulls not weighted with
cargo. The BlairmOre, with her head
toward the Union Iron works, was
keeled over so far that a passing tow
boat captain hailed her and asked
Captain Cav, her commander, If he
did not wish to tow to the north end
Of the bay. Meanwhile the squau
blew its hardest, the sea was heavy
and rain fell in torrents. Captain
Cav did not think his vessel had
braved the perils of a mum bel OF ocean
VOYAGES to be wrecked in the bay of
San Fran cisco, so he refused q tow,
saving he would hold on a little
longer. The tug had scarcely drawn
away when the BlairmOre gave d sud
den lurch, dipped her yards and fell
prone on her starbOard quarter
The water rushed into her hold in
torrents. The rapidly escaping air
from the hold blew the water fOun-
tainlize as high as the lower yard
The men scrambled wildly out on the
outer ladder. A passing tug, with
another vessel in tow. dropped her
lines and blew for help to speed the
rescue, but it was too late.
The tide was at food and squalls
were blowing from the southwest, .
said the captain. 1t was a nasty
com animation, the water broadside on
the ship, and she light, with squalls
bearing her over hard to star board
She went over in a twinkle. The first
thing knew she was sinking beneath
us with five Of my poor men in the
hold and one thrown overheard. The
second and third mates and number
of the men had reached the rail and
were waiting boats from the ships
Cromdale and Woman. These boats
saved those not in the hold, who were
drowned like rats or else killed by be
ing struck by flying ballast"
The BlairmOre is comparatively
new. She was built at Glasgow in
1893 and was registered 1857 tons
There were 26O tons of ballast IN the
hold and it is thought the ballast
shifted and covered the bodies The
loss on ship and furniture viii exceed
SIPS. 600. The task of raising the
Blalrmore will be expensive. Seven
fathOms of water cover the ship where
She went down.