Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-02-28
MANY LIVES LOST BY
SINKING Ar GOLDEN GATE
About 30 of the Passengers
Not Accounted For.
STRUCK A ROCK IN A DENSE FOG
Then Foundered and Sank In a
Few Minutes.

Ex-Consul wildman Lost-He Was Aboard
the City of Rio de Janeiro, with His wife
and Two Children, as She Entered San
Francisco Bay--Only 80 of the 234 Per-
sons Aboard Resoued-Capt. Ward Went
Down with His Vessel.
San Francisco, CAL, Feb. 22.--The
Pacific Mail steamer City of Rio de
Janeiro ran on q hidden rock while
entering the Golden Gate early this
morning in dense fog. She sank a
few minutes after striking. 1t is
thought that nearly $50 persons were
drowned, but 1t is impossible to ascer
tain the exact numEer, owing to the
fact that Purser John Rooney, who
had the passenger list and roster Of
the crew, is among the missing.
At O'Clock this afternoon ten bodies
had been recovered, two white women,
one white man, and sever Chinese.
The most prominent passenger on the
steamer was Rounsevelle Wildman,
United States Consul at Hongkong,
who was accompanied by his wife and
two children. Ii is thought all were
drowned. The ship was in command
Of Pilot Frederick Jordan when she
struck He was rescued. Capt Will
liam Ward went down with his vessel
As nearly as can be learned, there
were 234 persons on board the Rio
de Janeiro, as follows:
Cabin passengers, 29 second cabin,
q; storage, (Chinese and Japanese),
So; officers and crew, no.
The following have been accounted
for:
Rescued, 70; bodies at the morgue,
10: total, SO; missing, 145.
The City of Rio de Janeiro was three
days overdue from Hongkong, via
Honolulu, when she arrived off the
heads last night, and the dense fog
prevailing at the time induced Pilot
Jordan TO bring her to anchor until he
could see his way clear through the
gateway. She was laid to until about
4.S0 O'Clock this morning, when the
atmosphere cleared, and she was
started under a slow bell toward Point
Bonita. All went we'll until $40
o'clock, when she struck. Most of the
passengers were below at the time, and
it is believed that many of them were
drowned in their berths. The frs.
news Of the disaster reached here at
7.3o o'clock this morning, and soou
afterward boatload OF rescued passen.
gers and petty officers arrived at the
Mail Dock.
Tugs were immediately dispatched
to render any service that might BIZ
needed. but no living persons were
afioat when they reached the wreck.
A number of drowning people were
rescued by Italian fishermen and the
todies of two white women, three
Chinese, and Japanese were brought
in by the tugs. The search for vIotiml
has continued all day.
From all ACCOUNTS it appears tina
the officers were cool and gave the
necessary orders with the least possible
excitement. Capt. Ward, who was or
deck when the vessel struck, at ono,
gave orders to the crew on watch &
hurry the passengers to the forwar'
deck. At the same time the quarter
master en- duty sounded the signal TO
fire drill, and within five minutes al
the men were ut their stations.
There was no way of telling the OK
tent Of the damage TO the vessel, as sh
remained on an even keel for fiftee
minutes after striking. But Cap,
Ward, with the instinct of long ez
perience, knew the gravest DANCE
threatened the 200 souls in his charge
and he gave orders to lower the lift
boats and liferafts. There was nc
much confusion until. fifteen minute
after striking, the bow of the vess,
suddenly plunged under water. The
there was a wild rush for the boat
Two boats had already been lowere
and others were getting away as rapid
as the trained discipline OF the GRE
could prepare them. A thick fog 81
veloped everything, and as yet no sig
had come from the life saving station
Darkness was all about, and wit
this added horror, the people on Il
steamer had to cope
One boat got clear Of the vessel wit
out damage. This contained the fc
lowing persons: Mrs. West, Mr.
Ripley, Chief Engineer Herlihe
Second Officer Coghlan, Frank Cram
j. r. Russell, Stolekeeper Brog
Water tender D. Lane, Quartermast
r. Mathieson, and Capt. Hecht of Il
German Navy.
After the boat got clear it stood
to help in picking up those who we
in the water.
Another boat containing Thi
Officer Holland and j. X. Carpent,
got away, but was drifted around ole
mp under the bow of the steamer.
the forward end of the vessel plung
downward the PROV caught the SIN
boat and cut it in two. The two m
in the boat were uniniured, and sw,
away from the sinking steamer Just
time to avoid being caught in the sw
Of water caused by the settling Of |
big ship. Carpenter was picked up
the other boat. The fate of Holla
is not known, but he is supposed
have preished.
number of italian fishermen "
were Just starting out this mornil
saw the sinking of the steamer, and
once hastened to render every ass
tance 10 their power.
While all this was going on ca
Ward was directing the passenge
and trying TO keep them from par
lie succeeded only partially, as MI
of the terrified people rushed to
ratings and jumped overheard. Sc
of these were picked up; others "
drowned. The Chinese crew, to
number of more than bundled, "
tsrrorized. Some of them huddled
little groups chattering in fear. Otf
crouched close to the deck, moan
pitifully. Many jumped into the {
Capt. Ward remained on the
until the vessel had settled to such
extent that the water was engulf
him. Then he went up on the brio
and from there continued to issue
directions, although by this time
confusion was SO great that few 7
any attention to his commands. I'll
are several conflicting stories oonot
ing the fate of the captain.
steward of sthe steamer says thai