The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1901-12-07
COLLIDE. IN A FOG
CROWDED STEAMERS CRASH TO.
tETHER IN SAN FRAN
2 CISCO BAY.
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FIFTY lives RtroRIfD losI
cRAzED PASSENGERS INDULGE N
WILD FIGHT TO REACH
i, SAFETY.
fifty lives RtPoRTfD losI
DUE 10 A lMIsTAkf IN SIGNALS
suRyIvIxG SHIP STANDS BY AND
PICKS UP THE PAS
fl 800 4& sN-45T
sENGERs.

rneaVl0StT lux GAW144cu 4ldS& OCCuIICu 11ClC
for years the ferry boats San Rafael
and Sausalito, plying between this city
and Sausalito in Marin county, collided
off Alcatraz island. The former vessel
was sunk.
The earlier reports place the number
of lives lost at. fifty, but SO far as can
persisted. About twenty passengers
were more or less injured.
The San Rafael left this side Of the
bay with some 800 passengers. ,mostly
women and children, at $50 o'clock.
When half way between the city and
Alcatraz island, about twenty minutes
later. the whistle Of a steamer, appar-
emily on the port bow, al heard, and
the captain OF the San Rafael slowed
down his engines and proceeded, at less
than half-speed.
Mistake In Signals.
Whistles were exchanged between the
two vessels, but the captain Of the Sau-
salito evidently misunderstood h San
Rafael's signals, for a few minutes at
ter her first whistle had been heard the
Sausalito emerged from the fog and
crashed stern-on into the port side of
the San Rafael just abaft the paddle
box, opening a great gap in the latter
vessels side for some distance below
the water lire. The crash was fol-
lowed by the utmost confusion on both
vessels, but ns the Sausalito reversed
her engines and backed away from the
San, Rafael, the passengers n crew
of the latter vessel, imagining that the
former was. about. to abandon them to
their fate, gave way to their fears and
a scene of indescribable confusion en-
sued. Life belts were. cut down from
their hangings and served out to
The Frantic People
by their cooler companions, while the
terror-stricken crew rushed to the
ships boats. In the midst Of the con-
fusion the Sausalito steamed slowly
alongside the sinking San Rafael and.
with some difficulty. succeeded in get
ting a couple of lines aboard, with
which they were moored together. In
stantly there was a frantic rush over
the side of the sinking ship to the Sau-
salito, and men and women fought
despeeately at the bulwarks Of the
doomed vessel in their haste to reach q
place Of safety. The crew of the Sau-
salito attempted to restore some sort Of
order, but they were utterly unable to
stem the surging tide of humanity. To
add to the scene of horror, many Of the
fear-crazed people jumped into the bay
from the sinking ship, while the shrieks
OF the injured and frightened women
and children. for
Many Had Been Hurt
when the collision occurred, added to
the confusion. Suddenly, when most OF
the San Rafael's passengers, had been
transferred to the Sausalito, the former
vessel gave q lurch, and, just as the
lines mooring her to the sausalito had
been cast OF, the San Rafael sank be-
meath the waters of the bay. The nf-
ficers and crew Of the sausalito lowered
her boats and picked up a number Of
the San Rafael's passengers, but as the
Sausalito herself was slightly damaged,
it was not considered safe to remain
leng after the disappearance Of the
former vessel, and she was headed, as
her captain thought. for this city. In
stead, she steamed out to the Heads in
the dense fog; and was picked up some
two hours later by q passing tug. which
conveyed her to her slip.