The Irish standard., 1901-03-02
GOES TO THE BOTTOM,
Steamer City Of Rio de Janeiro
Sinks in San Francisco Harbor,
After Safe Voyage Across the Pacific
Over 100 Persons Are Drowned
in Sight of P0rt-Consul Wild
man Among the Lost.

IN Sl8At OF POrt-COn8ul Wild.
man Among the Lost.
San Francisco, Feb. 23.-The Pacific
Mail steamer City of Rio de Janeiro
ran on hidden rock while entering
the Golden Gate early Friday morn
ing in dense fog. She sank a few
minutes after striking. The loss is
placed at 1872 persons, most of whom
were Chinese and Japanese.
Ten Bodies Recovered.
At five o'clock Fri:ay afternoon ten
bodies had been recovered, two white
women, one white man and seven Chi
nese. The most prominent passenger
on the steamer was Housewife Wild
man, United States consul at Hong
Kong, who was accompanied by his
wife and two children. 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.
AS near as can be learned there
were 201 people on board the Rio de
Janeiro, as follows: Cabin passen-
gers, 30; steerage (Asiatic), IS; sec
ond cabin, 2; white officers, 30; Ash
attic crew, ". The saved number 70,
classified as follows: Cabin passen-
gers. 10; white officers, II; storage
(Asiatic), IS; crew (Chinese), Al. The
lost number 1922, classified as follows:
Passengers, "a. officers, 10; crew
(Chinese), 36: steerage (Asiatic), 43.
Struck in 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
prevailing at the time induced Pilot
Jordan to bring her to anchor until
he could see his way clear through
the gateway. She lay to until about
1880 O'Clock, when the atmosphere
cleared, 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 be-
]ieved that many of them were
drowned in their berths.
Officers Were Cool.
From all accounts it appears that
the officers were cool and gave the
necessary orders with the least pos
sible excitement. There was not
much confusion until, Is minutes
after striking, the bow of the YES
sci suddenly plunged under water.
Then there was wild rush for the
boats. Two boats had already been
away as rapidly as the trained dis
cipline of the crew could prepare
them. A thick fog enveloped every
thing, and as yet no sign had come
from the life-saving stations. Dark
ness was all about, and with this
added horror the people on the Rio
had to cope.
! Many Jumped Overheard.
Capt. Ward directed the passen-
gers and tried to keep them from
panic. He succeeded only partly, as
many of the terrified people rushed
to the ratings and jumped over
board. Some of these were picked
up, others were drowned. The Chi
nese crew, to the number of over a
hundred, were terrorized. Some Of
them huddled in little groups, chat
tering in fear. Others crouched close
to the deck, moaning pitifully. Many
jumped into the sea. Capt. Ward re-
manned on deck until the vessel had
settled to such an extent that the
water was engulfing him. Then he
went up on the bridge and from
| tions.
Consul Wildman.
Housewife Wildman, who was lost,
was we'll known in this city, where
he resided for number of years.
He first came into prominence To-
cally when he purchased the Over
land, which he owned and edited for
some years prior to entering the con-
sular service at Hong-Kong. He re-
signed recently the post of consul
general at Hong-Kong and was on his
way home with his wife and family,
all of whom were drowned.
Bodies May Never he Recovered.
San Francisco, Feb. 1880 far as
can be ascertained from reliable data
1913 lives were lost in the wreck. No
more bodies of victims have been re-
covered and it is not expected that
any will rise to the surface before
next Thursday or Friday At the
spot where the vessel is supposed to
lie the water is SO fathoms deep,
which is said to be twice the depth
at which divers can work. 1t is
thought by expert wreckers that the
bodies of those who went down with
in the ship will never be recovered.
| Value of the Cargo.
The value of the cargo of the Rio de
Janeiro has not been determined, ow-
ing to the absence of important papers,
but it is variously estimated at from
100000 to 100000. The cargo con-
sisted principally of silk, tea, rice and
other oriental products. There was no
treasure aboard, as was at first re-
ported.
| Winter in Germany.
Berlin, Feb. 22.-Intense cold con-
tinues throughout Germany. In some
parts of the country the weather is the
coIdest in rs years. At Cologne young
lady reveler was frozen to death in the
street and coachman fell from his
carriage with both legs frozen. Near
Remage bicyclist was found dead. In