The age-herald., 1901-02-23
STEAMER SINKS AT GOLDEN GATE
 CARRYING 122 SOULS WITH HER

see the Cliff House and the north end light, and I told the mate to heave short After we started heaving short the wind came in from the northeast and the fog settled in thick, and I told the mate to stop heaving. Then the captain came up and said:
 "'Let her go. We can go ahead
 "You see, my watch stopped at twenty minutes to G. When the vessel struck I ordered all the boats out The first boat out half filled with water no sooner than she struck. I got a ladder and placed a woman on it and we began to descend. She had boy of years whom I held in my arms. The woman and I were about half way down the ladder when the Rio gave a tremendous pitch. l was flung off the ladder. I saw nothing after that of the woman or the boy. l went down with the ship about fifty feet. I worked my way up to the surface and got hold of some wreckage. I had sense enough left to turn on my back and drift with the wreckage. Then I came across whaa seemed to be the top of house with a Chinaman on 1t. He helped me to climb on the roof and with him I drifted out toward the North heads. I was then res cued by the fishing boats"
 M. Donohue, the steerage steward, said:
 "I was below decks but partly dressed when we struck the rocks. I suddenly thought of the steerage and ran to the steerage cabins where hauled and yank- ed people out of bunks-white and Chi nese and what not. I threw them about with clothes on or not and finally got D or 30 of them on deck. I told them to save their lives then, if they could, ask ing them to get life preservers. By this time the ship was turning over and I fled for the rigging. I climbed with all my strength and just as I reached the cross trees I looked below. There I saw Captain Ward-Tm sure it was he-stand at the bridge and wildly swinging his arms. Then saw the waters swirl about at his feet and suddenly cover him. At that instant I realized that we were plunging to the bottom. Soon l was torn from the cross trees and plunged be- low. held my breath and fought against the terrible suction. coming finally to the surface again, and just as my senses were slipping from me I was picked up. l am confident saw the captain go down at the bridge.''
 Fishermen Went to Rescue.
 At the instant the Rio went on the rocks Andrew Ademi, an Italian fisher man, was not great distance away !n T small smack. Near to him was c. Albert, another Italian fisherman. Both men saw the Rio Janeiro in the gloom and mar voled that she could be so close to the shore, The next moment they knew something was wrong and headed for the ship proceeding cautiously in the fear they might get entangled in the wreck. They heard voice shouting through a Megaphone telling them the ship was sinking and to stand by with help. send ing word to San Francisco - soon there after as they could. When the ship dis appeared the Italians hurried to the scene. Ademi picked up three persons who were struggling in the water, then his SIT all craft could hold no more, set ing out for shore immediately. Albert picked uI a number of Chinese. These boats proceeded to Meiggs wharf where the rescured people were put ashore. Ademi says that whoever the officer who shouted to him through the megaphone he was a man of surpassing heroism. He stood with the megaphone to his moutf shouting instructions even as the shir sank. The Italians saw him go beneath | the surface The Italian fishermen brought ashore 12S bags of mail which l they picked up. These included twc pouches from the United States military station in China, also two bags of regis | tered mail.
 Registered Mail Stolen.
 The registered bags had been ripped | open with knife and all their contents | stolen. When this crime was committed is a question, but the fishermen who | brought them are not suspected The Rio | carried POO bags of mail. There Is one | sack of mail from Tokio for Germany and one sack from Tokio for Londan, all di- | lapidated. Rounseville Wildman, who Is | presumed to be lost, was well known In | this city. where he resided for num- | Der of years. He first came into prom | thence locally wphen he purchased The | Overland, which he owned and edited for | some years prior to entering the consular service at Honk Kong. He resigned re- gently the post of consul general at Hong Kong, and was on his way home with his wife and family.
 l Concerning the cabin passengers. tn following has been learned: The Wake fields of Oakland, Cal, boarded the shir | at Honolulu. MT. Woodwork and wife oi
 Denver were evidently quite wealthy
 The gentleman was a consumptive ant | had gone to China for his health MT | Matheson, statstician of Shanghai, was l on his way to London. Two Japanese gen. | tlemen with their wives, names unknown | were cabin passengers. J. F. Seymour
 editor of The American at Manila, wa: a well known newspaper man. He intend
 ed to spend a vacation among relatives ir
 this country.
 MT. Hart was a wealthy diamond ex- pert of Manila. and he and his wife were
 on their way to London and Paris
 Dr. Dodd and Attorney Henshaw, O
 Butte, Mont, had gone to Honolulu on
 vacation trip. MT. Dowell. a solicito l | (Continued on Second Page.)