Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-02-22
SANK LIKE A SHOT
Steamer Rio de Janeiro Wrecked Off
Golden Gate.
STRUCK LEnGE OF ROCK In FOG
Believed That Many of Passengers
and Crew Drowned.
JU ST IN FROM OR1ENT 7

SAN FRANCISCO, February 22-The
steamer Rio de Janeiro, Captain Ward.
from the orient and Honolulu, struck on a
rock early today, just outside the Golden
Gate, and sunk in twenty minutes.
A large number of persons were drowned.
The steamer had been lying off the Heads
all night. an unusually heavy fog prevent
ing her from entering the harbor. At )
O'Clock this morning she weighed anchor
and headed for the city in charge of Pilot
Frank Jordan.
Shortly afterward the vessel struck a MD
den rock and Pilot Jordan shouted for all
on board to take to the boats.
The widest confusion prevailed the pas
sengers and crew alike scrambled for the
boats and in their endeavors to escape from
the rapidly sinking vessel many jumped
overheard.
Captain Ward ordered several of the boats
alongside, and the ladies of the cabin and
some of the male passengers We're placed
in them. The boats were manned by part
of the crew and headed cityward
So far known but three of the ships
We're twenty-nine cabin passengers, 100 in
the steerage and 40 in the crew.
Tugs Go to the Rescue.
out from this city for the scene of the dis
aster, and already they are arriving with
large numbers of the rescued.
There is an unverified rumor to the effect
that Consul Wildman of Hong Kong and
his son were among those who were
drowned.
Following is list of known saved: Mrs X
West, Mrs. Reilly, Miss Lehrman, j. X.
Carpenter an Oakland, Cal. capitalist:
Capt. Hechts of the German navy, VIM.
Caspar of Toledo, Ohio; r. H. Long of
Honolulu, Freight Clerk Englehart, Chief
Engineer Hurley of the Rio, Second Officer
CoghIan. Carpenter F. X. Tramp Watch
man j. Russell, Storekeeper Boggs, Water
tender d. Lane. Quartermaster r. Mathie-
son. r. S. Leary, Fred Lunsted
The steamer Sequoin brought in twenty
persons not included in the above list.
II is reported that Captain Ward locked
mself in his stateroom and went down
" tn the vessel.
Pilot Fred. Jordan was picked up by one
OF the boats He was severely injured and
was taken TO the hospital
Passenger Phil Mussenblatt of Honolulu
was saved.
The vessel sank in less than twenty min
utes, and 1t is certain the list of fatalities
Will be large. Her smoke stack and part
OF the pilot house are above water
have been rescued.
Captain Hechts' Story.
IL Hechts, German officer. was rescued
Dy the life saving crew, and Immediately
upon being taken ashore he was driven TO
the California Hotel. He said through an
interpreter that the fog prevented him from
seeing what was going on in the work of
rescue. Hechts procured a life preserver.
n
overheard. He was in the water only
short time when rescued
Pilot Jordan was taken on board vester-
day afternoon inside the Farallones. The
ship then laid to until 4:30 o'clock this
morning, when the weather cleared some-
what The steamer then started, under
haif steam toward Point Benito.
She held to her course until so a m
when she struck a rock. There was ter
rlble Jar. The steamer kept an even keel
Tor hfteen minutes. when she suddenly
plunged downward, bow first. boat had
becn launched to examine the vessels no.
sition- The boat contained Third on;cor
Holland and ]. X. Carpenter. a capitaIist
OF oakland. The Rio, in her plunge. struck
the httle craft and it was destroyed
carpenter was picked up but II is not
known what became of the third officer
captain Ward stood on the deck and su
perinteded the launching of lifeboat and
RATS. "-''
'ohsui "iidman Among Lost.
Ihe number of lives lost in the wreck Of
the Rio Is variously estimated at from
90 to $50
II Is almost certain that Consul Wildman.
MS wife and two children are among the
number lost. Nothing has been seen Of the
"fldman family since the vessel struck the
rock.
Purser John Rooney is missing and all
his papers are thought 10 have gone down
with the vessel Unless he is found alive
OF his pouch is recovered it will be i'm
possible 10 fully determine the total loss
or life until the agents of the companv in
the orient and in Honolulu send their pas
senger lists. f
one of the rescued passengers gives If as
MS belief that the loss of the vessel was
caused by the explosion of her boilers