The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1901-02-28
LOSS OF LIFE IS APPALLING
Accident Caused By Heavy Fog.
Consul WHdman and His
Family Reported Among
the Victims.


the Victims.
A San Francisco special says: The
Pacific mail steamer City of Rio de
Janeiro ran on q hidden rock while
entering the golden gate early Friday
morning in dense fog, and sank in a
few minutes, It is thought that near
~ $50 persons were drowned, but it is
impossible to ascertain the exact num-
ber, owing to the fact that Purser John
Rooney, who had the passenger list
and roster of the crew, is among the
missing.
At p. m. ten bodies had been re-
covered, two white women, one white
man ana seven Chinese. The most
prominent passenger was Rounseville
Wildman, United States consul at
Hong Kong, who was accompanied by
his wife and two children. It is
thought all were downed. The ship
was in command of Pilot Frederick
Jordan when she struck. He was res
cued. Captain William Ward went
down with his vessel.
AS nearly as can be learned there
were 234 people on the Rio Janeiro,
as follows:
Cabin passengers, 20; second cabin,
Z; steerage (Chinese and Japanese)
58; officers and crew, 1A0; total, 234.
The following have been accounted
for: Rescued, 70; bodies al the NOR
que, 10; total, 49,; missing, 145.
CAUGHT N A DENSE FOG.
The Rio de Janeiro was three days
overdue from Hong Kong, via Homo
lulu, when she arrived off the heads
Thursday night and the dense fog pre-.
vailing at the time induced Pilot Jor-
dan to bring her to anchor until he
could see his way clear through the
gateway. She laid to until about
4:30 o'clock, when the atmosphere
cleared and she was started under q
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
many of them were drowned in their
berths.
The first news of the disaster reach
ed the city at 7:30 q. M, and soon
afterward boat load of rescued pas
sengers and petty officers arrived at
the mall dock. Tugs were Immediately
dispatched to render any service that
might be needed, but no living per-
sons were afost when the tugs reach
ed the wreck. A number of drown
ing people were rescued by Italisf
fishermen and the bodies of two whit1
women, three Chinese and Japanese
wer6 brought in by the tugs. The
search for bodies continued all day.
All accounts show that the officers
gave the necessary orders with the
least possible excitement. Capt. Ward
was on deck when the vessel struck
and gave orders to the men on watch to
hurry the passengers to the forward.
AT the same time the qusrtermaster on
duty sounded the signal for fire drill
and within five minutes all the men
were at their stations.
There was no way of knowing the
extent OF the damage to the vessel, as
she remained on an even keel for ff-
teen minutes after striking the rock.
But Captain Ward knew the gravest
danger threatened the 200 souls in his
charge and he gave orders to lower the
lifeboats and RATS. There was not
much confusion until, fifteen minutes
after striking, the bow of the vessel
suddenly plunged under water. Then
there was wild rush for the boats.
Two boats had already been lower
ed and others were getting away as
rapidly as the trained discipline of the
crew could prepare them. A thick fog
enveloped everything, and as yet no
sign had come from the ife-savine
stations. Darkness was all about and
with this added horror the people on
the Rio had to cope. One boat got
clear of the vessel without damage.
This contained the following persons:
Mrs. West, Mrs. Ripley, Chief En-
ginecr Herlihey, Second Officer Cog
Ian, Frank Cramp, J. R. Russell,
Storekeeper Borgg, Water Tender D.
Lane, Quartermaster r. Mathieson,
Captain Hetch, of the German navy.
This boat got clear of the sinking
vessel and then stood by to help in
picking up those who had no time tc
get into the boats and were in the wa
ter. Another boat, containing Third
Officer Holland and J. Z. Carpenter,
got away, but was drifted around close
up under the bow of the steamer. As
the forward end of the vessel plunged
downward the PROV caught the small
boat and cut it in two. The two men
in the boat were uninjured and swan
away from the sinking steamer just in
time to avoid being caught in the