Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-02-28


but it was apparent that in the midst
OF the awful confusion a systematic
effort to save the passengers would be
OF no avail. Everybody was scrambling
for his own safety.
1t was at this time that Lindstrom
says he saw Capt. Ward standing on
the forward deck. Suddenly the cap
tain turned and, walking hurriedly to
his cabin. disappeared behind the door,
which he closed. A second later the
vessel was plunging to the bottom Of
| the sea.
That the stsamer sank almost i'm
mediately after striking is the report
of majority of those rescued. Some
| of the passengers say that she instantly
listed forward, and that in five minutes
she went down, while others declare
that she staid atioat for half an hour
after she struck. The confusion CO.
casioned by such disaster was in
| tense, and it is not surprising to find
that there Is lack of unanimity as
to the length of time the vessel re-
manned above water. The wreck lies
about three-fourths of mile south of
Fort Point and about Thousand
yards oil the rocky shore. The smok-
stack and a portion of the upper works
of the Inflated steamer are visible.
San francisco, CAL, Feb. %. The
sinking of the Pacific Mail steamer
Rio de 1aneiro, after striking a rock
in the Golden Gate during the dense
fog yesterday morning, was the most
appalling disaster this coast has known
for many yeara. Most of the bodies of
the 100 or more victims are at the
bottom of the sea, and many of them
may never be recovered. The water
where the ship lies is deep, and the
current swift, and the dead, with most
of the wreckage, probably will be
carried far out iuto the Pacific. The
number of lives lost may never be
known exactly, owing to the fact that
the ships records were lost, and 1t is
practically impossible to tell Just how
many Chinese were in the steerage.
The Call, today, basing its figures on
statements of the Pacific Mail officials,
says that l22 persons perished; the
Chronicle gives the number at 1873, and
the Examiner states that Ill cannot be
accounted for.
The vessel, with its valuable cargo,
will be total loss.
THE CAPTAIN DIsoBEYED oRDEss
| AZ anu
, general manager of the Pacific s1ail
! Steamship Co., 10 discussing the loss
} of the Rio de Jaueiro, said he thought
J the blame was due to Capt. Ward in
bringing his vessel in during fog.
Thine and again. said Mr..
J Schwerin, I'VE have warned oui
captains never to leave or enter port
during fog 1t is erroneous to think
, that when pilot boards vessel tbs
captain has no more responsibility. A
} pilot is simply guide for a captain.
1.-THE statements made to me b,
{ Pilot Jordan indicate that there was
] fog hanging around the Heads, and
think that undue haste was shown by
. the captain in bringing his vessel in
cannot understand why there should
! have been so much haste shown, con
Q sidering the vessel lay outside all night
9 Capt. Ward was careful officer, anC
l learn that when he reached Honolulu
9 with the Rio he waited outside the ba
Q for ii hours rather than take an,
Q chances in the rough weather.
c "Of course, he Is not here to speak
8 l wish that he was, for he was one o
our best officers. He was brought VI
It in our service and We all feel deepl
Q his loss and those of his comrades
9 81 cannot state exactly the value o
n the Rio de Janeiro, but it is betwee
q $500, 900 and $500. 600. We have be
% tween s400, 900 and $500, 600 insuranc
q on the vessel, part Of which is carrie
r by insurance companies, and part G
y which we carry ourselves. The valu
II of her cargo was probably betwee
$3.50, 900 and 100000. do not thin
Z she had any amount of specie O
10 board.'
N In response to further questions MI
t. Schwerin stated that he did not thin
e there was the slightest chance {
or raising the vessel.
9, No attempt has been made to plac
g. the blame for the disaster, hut tt
OF Pacific Mail officials state that til
es pilot was subject to the orders OF Gap
81 Ward, who went down with ths vesse
ID The wreck of the Rio, which for
9; while hung on pinnacle of the roc
30 where she struck in the Golden CAT
~ SO that parts Of the upper works we
w visible, has slid off into deep wat
n and is now entirely out Of sight.
On Fort Point where Pilot Jordan CLAIM
- the vessel struck, marks the narrowe
Tn point of the entrance to the bay and
ne usually given a wide berth by mariner
The tide there runs high and at tim
n has swirling motion. OFF Fort Poi
OIL lie several sunken rocks, forming
rs. dangerous ledge on the southerly ed
20, Of the Fair Way channel OF the Gold
lp' Gate, hut close under the shore. The
", is light on top OF the fort and 4
ter bell, but the latter cannot be heard /
no when westerly wind is blowing.
+, Pilot Captain Jordan declares {
py loss of the steamer could not have be
ere foreseen. According to his story, t
vessel drifted half mile broadside
lrd the fog that enveloped the homebou
er, steamer like pail, and no man COZ
ose have judged either the direction
as the velocity of the invisible cure
sea that changed her course and sent
all on the Fort Point ledge.
len
am
in Was Built at Chester.