The record-union., 1896-10-21
be Steamship AragO Strikes on the Rocks
at the HarbOr Of Empire City,
Knocking Great Hole in Her Bottom
Under the Engine Room.
Sinking a Few Seconds Later in Eight
FathOms of Water-FOur Passen-
gers and Nine Members of the
Grew Reported to Have Lost Their
Lives.

MARSHFIELD (Or.), Oct. 20.-The
Oregon Coal and Navigation Company's S
steamship Arago, Captain Reed, was
wrecked this morning on the Coos Bay
bar, and four passengers and nine
members of the crew were drowned.
The names Of those supposed to be
lost from the steamship AragO were
received by the Oregon Coal and Nav
igation Company late this evening.
They are as follows:
John Norman of Marshfield, Or, cabin
passenger; F. Sparks, G, Patience, T..
M. McGraw, steerage passengers; Wal
ter e. Brown, chief engineer; Richard
Patterson, chief steward; Francisco
Fernandez, chief cook; William Whit
tie, A. McDade H. E. Wall, firemen;
J. Kruger, Harry Sander, seamen; Ben
jamin, mess boy.
The saved SO far as known are: Cap
tain A. Reed, master; A. Paynter, b.
Mosler passengers; H. Brown, Spaulos,
Martin, Ross, Bergman, McKipping,
seamen; ]. Moore, fireman; White, fire
man; p. Muset, second cook; Bargat,
Holden, walters; G. F. McCOllum,
purser; T. Warner, first officer; j..
Bandas, second officer; F. Croghan,
first assistant engineer; P. Friel, sec
Ond assistant engineer.
1t is not known how many passengers
were aboard the vessel at the time Of
the wreck.
The Arago was the first steel ship
ever built by the Union Iron Works Of
San Francisco. She was 947 tons gross,
zoo feet long, thirty feet beam and 16
feet deep.
The vessel was endeavoring to enter
the harbor at Empire City, and the en-
gines were slowed down while the bar
was being crossed. A strong tide rip
carried the vessel on the submerged
rocks of the partially constructed Gov
ernment jetty. She struck so hard that
hole was knocked in her bottom di-
rectly under the engine room, and a
few seconds later the vessel sank in
eight fathomS of water. The deck
houses and upper works We're carried
away, as were also the life rats and
boats.
In the midst of the confusion the pas
sengerS and crew clung to whatever
debris they could reach Two boats
were captured, and into these eighteen
persons climbed, leaving the Captain
and five of the crew clinging to the
rigging, which was still above water.
For two hours the boats endeavcred to
make land through the breakers. A
huge wave capsized one of them and
al Of its nine occupants We're drowned.
The other boat was finally piloted safe
" into the bay, and the life saving
crew notified. With much difficulty the
Captain and remaining seamen were
removed from the rigging which was
rapidly being submerged.
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 20.-The Ara
go is owned by the Oregon Coal and
Navigation Company, with headquar-
ters in this city. She was built by the
Union Iron Works in 1885 and her gross
tonnage Is placed at 947 tons.
The craft has long been in the coast
ing trade and is one of the best known
boats in this port. Of late years she has
been engaged as a, collier, carrying coal
from Coos Bay ports to this city. She
very competent and careful navigator.
Her full complement of men and officers
was twentysiX.
AT the office of the Oregon Coal and
Navigation Company in this city but
very meager reports of the disaster had
been received.
At this season Of the year the Coos
Bay bar, as it is known. is usually not
very rough, though at times, if the wind
IS in the right quarter, the seas roll
mountain high. During the months Of
October and November 1t is very diff
cult to tell lust how the bar may act and