The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-01

about half way between Lombard-street
wharf and Aicatraz island when the
Sausalito crashed into us. was smoking
a cigar the forward deck of the San
Rafael and it seemed to me that the
Sausalito struck us just about midships.
There was a terrific crash and Immediately
there was wild confusion. Men, women and
children rushed for life preservers. There
were from 150 70 200 people on board the
San Rafael. Some of them jumped over
board as soon as the steamers collided,
but made up my mind to stay by the ship.
l had put on a life preserver and knew
that l would float for a while al least
There was an attempt to lower a boat on
the San Rafael, but do not believe many
people got of In 1t. There was too much
confusion and fog for much to be done;
Shanghai bank, was with me and he agreed
we would stay on the boat as long as we
could.
WENT DOWN IN A HURRY.
Between ten and fifteen minutes after
the first crash the San Rafael went un-
der. AS she went down 1 jumped for the
lqSneo puB 40 esoIo uoIqM 'ol!TssuBS
on her rail. l was not strong enough TO
haul myself up L hung and shouted
for help. None of the crew of the Sausal-
ito heard me and 1 finally let go my hold
from exhaustion and dropped into the wa
ter. My life preserver kept me af1oat and
twenty minutes later l got hold of a rope
lowered from the SauSalito and was pulled
on board. / was almost completely exhaust
ed and had given up all hope when L was
finally rescued
Mr. Moore who is about sixty years of
age considers his escape was miraculous.
In his opinion most of the passengers on
the San Rafael were saved He said:
These two boats stayed together after
the collision. II was soon learned on the
Sausalito that she was not seriously in
Jured and those on board her took i'm
mediate steps to rescue the unfortunate
passengers the San Rafael. She
a gang plank over to the sinking vessel
and many of our passengers escaped in
that way. After the San Rafael went down
the Sausalito stayed by and lowered ropes
10 those floating in the water. Of course
l cannot pretend TO be accurate, but L
would not place the loss of life over twen-
ty. 1t seems to me that most of the pas
passengers escaped in life preservers and
a large number were rescued by ropes from
Alcatras island"
Attorney Thomas ]. Lennon. one of the
passengers on board the San Rafael, tells
the following story: The San Rafael was
struck by the SausalitO about twenty min
utes after leaving her berth. | was in the
restaurant at the time and had just left the
table when i was knocked fifteen or twenty
feet by the collision. l fell face downward
and was covered with the wood of the par
tition. After scrambling out with great
difficulty l went on the upper deck in
search of my sister-in-law, Miss Joseph
Lenhart. L then noticed a boat at the side
of the vessel which had been lowered by
the passengers. J. Hyres, of San Rafael,
who was on board, called to me to lower
Miss Lenhart into the boat. This l did. l
should Judge that there were already ten
or twelve people in the boat at the time.
After looking around for more women,
and not seeing any, told Hyres to pull to
the Sausalito. which was standing by and
then TO return.