The Saint Paul globe., 1901-02-23
Steamer Rio de Janeiro Strikes Sunken Rock
Off the Golden Gate and Sinks in
Twenty Minutes.
Loss OF LIFE IS REPORTED TO BE ~
Struck in Dense Fog Maintained an Even
Keel for Fifteen Minutes, Then Went
Down Like a Stone.

SAN FRANCISCO Feb. 22.-The Pacific
Mail steamer Rio de Janefro ran on a
hidden rock while entering the Golden
Gate early this morning, in a dense fog.
She sank a few minutes after strik-
ing.
The latest figures place the loss at 122
persons, most of whom We're Chinese and
Japanese.
At o'clock this afternoon ten bodies
mad been recovered, Two white women,
one white man and seven Chinese
The most prominent passenger of the
steamer was Rounseville Wildman, Unit
ed States consul at Hong Kong, who was
accompanied by his wife and two chill
dren. 1t is thought all were drowned.
The ship was in command of Pilot
Frederick Jordan when she struck. He
was rescued.
Capt William Ward went down with
his vessel.
THE SHIPS COMPANY.
AS nearly as can be learned there were
POI people on board the Rio de Janeiro. as
follows:
Cabin passengers, 30; second cabin. 7:
steerage Chinese and Japanese 5S; Of
hcers and crew. 107: total, 201
The saved number 70, classified as fol-
lows:
Cabin passengers. 12; white officers IL:
steerage (Asiatic), Is; crew, Chinese, A.
The lost number 122, classified as fol-
Passengers. "a; officers, 10; crew, Chi
nese. &c; steerage (Asiatic), 43.
Following is the cabin passenger list,
almost complete:
Consul General .RounseviIIe Wildman,
Mrs. Wildman and two children and
nurse, from Hong Kong; Mis-. and Miss
Wakefield, of Honolulu; James J. Car
penter, mining engineer, Oakland, Cal;
Miss Rowena Jehu, Honolulu; William
Rrander London; NJ. s. Matthewson,
Shanghai; Capt. Hecht, German navy;
Capt. Holtz, Shanghai; Mr.. Dowdell,
Shanghai; j. F. Seymour, editor of the
american, Manila; Mrs. K. West, San
francisco; Miss I4eheran; Russell Har-
per, Journalist, Nagasaki; Mr. and Mrs
Hart Manila; Miss Gabriel Hoarou. DR.
Dodd, Butte, Mont; Attorney Hsnshaw,
Futte, Mont Mr. and Mrs. WoodW orth;
Dr. Okawhara, of Japan.
THE MISSING.
The following are missing:
Rounseville Wfldman, wife. two chil-.
dren and nurse, Mrs X West, J. q. Sew
n4our, H S. Matthewson, Mrs. and Nj
Wakefield, Miss ROWena Jehu, Zong
Chong, DR.. Okawhara, DIR. Dodd, O. H
Henshaw, Mr.. and Mrs. Woodworth, c.
powdell.
The following people were rescued:
William Brander. London; James K.
Miss Leheran, Russell Harper, E. c.
Howell, r. H. Long. G. Heintz, Capt.
Hecht, r. Holtz; William Caspar, To-
iedGi 6o O.. steerage; Philip Nqzenblatt,
Japanese, Honolulu; Second Officer a.
CCghlan. Third Officer Holland. Chief En-
glneer q. Herlihey, Ship Carpenter Frank
Cramp, Freight Clerk G. ]. Englehardt
son, Quartermaster Fred Lindstrom
Storekeeper E. Bergg, Steerage Steward
H. Donahue, Seaman Howard, twenty
nine Chinese at mail dock, nineteen Chi
nese and four japanese at Meiggs' wharf.
The following officers and crew are
missing:
William Ward, captain; w c. John-on
first officer; John Rooney, purser; Rus:e
Brighton, quartermaster; -. McCoua,
first assistant engineer; =. Brady, second
assistant engineer; -. Monroe, third as
sistant engineer; DIR. ONeil, ships doc
ter; -. Smith, water tender; -. Savage,
water tender; -. Rennis, water tender;
II. Scott, steward; =. Borgg storekeep-
er; Albert Malcolm, saloon watchman;
-. Macarthur, steerage watchman; Ed
ardeSS.
N.
The Rio de Jane1ro was three days over
due fom Hongkong, via Honolulu, when
she arrived off the Heads last night. and
the dense fog prevailing at the time In
duced Pilot Jordan to bring her to an
chor until he could see his way clear
through the gateway. She lay to until
about 4:30 o'clock, when the atmosphere
and she was started under a slow
bell toward Point Bonita. All went well
until $40 o'clock, when she struck.
Most of the passengers were below at
the time, and it is believed that many or
them were drowned in their pertbs
The first news of the disaster reached
here at 7:30 this morning, and soon after
ward a boat load of rescued passengers
and petty officers arrived at the mail
dock.
Tugs were Immediately dispatched to
render any service that might be need
ed, but no living persons were afloat
when they reached the wreck number
Of drowning people were rescued by
Italian fishermen, and the bodies of two
white women, three Chinese and Jap
anese were brought in by the tugs.
The search for more of the victims has
continued all day.
From all accounts it appears that the
officers were cool and gave tho neces-
sary orders with the least possible excite
ment.
Capt. Ward, who was on deck when
the vessel struck, at once gave orders
to the crew on watch to hurry the pas
sengers onto the forward deck. At the
same time the quartermaster on duty
sounded the signal for fire drill, and with
in five minutes all the men were at their
stations. There was no way of telling
the extent Of the damage to the vessel, as
she remained of an even keel for fifteen
minutes after striking the rock. But Capt.
Ward, with the instinct of a long expert
ence knew the gravest danger threat
ened the 200 souls in his charge, and,
pacing the deck, he gave orders to lower
away the life boats and life RATS. There
was not much confusion until fifteen min
utes after striking the bow of the vessel
suddenly
PLUNGED UNDER WATER.
Then there was wild rush for the
boats. Two boats had already been low
cred, and others were getting away rs
rapidly as the trained discipline of the
crew could prepare them. A thick fog