Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-02-25
1913 WERE: LOST.
Latest Figures from Scene Ct
the Pacific Horror.
Capt, Ward, Who Met Heroic DEATH,
Blamed for Disaster.
Had Always Been Considered an Eificicn. and
Careful officer.

metro.
Some ii.hc, men, carly Yesterday
morning found a packet containinc the
papers of Purser Rooney. Among these
was the passenger list and 4 bunch of
Cancelled passenger tickets, and as
there were names on the list whose
Cancelled passenger tickets did not APP
pear among those recovered il is as
suned that they laid over either at
Yokohama. Kobe or Honolulu. That
thcv were not on the vessel at the time
che " cnt down is certain.
Thus far only II bodies have been re
covered, six whites, four chinese ana
one Japanese.
Surveyor of the Port Spear has cS-
tablishcd d patrol along the ocean near
Dakota beach and along the bay shore
inside Fort Point Thus far his men
have picked up four mail bags, one of
these washing in near Bakers and the
others near tire Fort Point life saving
station. The surveyor has given or
Grrs that all fishing boats must report
at the customs Office.
Al bodies brought in by them and all
y,r,ckage and hotsam picked up by the
officials at tie barge Office. In this way
it is thought that looting Of mail bags
and trunks may he stopped.
Among other effect. picked w by
fishermen was the box containing capt
Wards papers.
The police have established z patrol
outside Of the beach south NJ Fort
Winfield Scott.
The value of the cargo u the Rio De
Janciro has not been ascert1'ned, oW-
ing 10 tho absence Of important papers,
but ii IL variously estimated at from
s3e0. 900 to $500 600. Among some papers
foj.nd floating near the scene of the
disaster was a copy of the manifest,
showing al the ccnsigEces. with the
exception Of the Chinese firms.
The cargo consisted principally OF
silk tea. rice and other oriental pro-
duets. There was no treasure aboard
as was ut first reported.
Nf the geo sacks Of mail carried by
ihc Eio dc JJRqiro only II have come
10 tro surface.
rho Investigation into the loss Of the
81 Gamer will proba bly, be held TINS
week. Graham Coehlan. the senior sur
Nfving officer Of the vessel. called on
capt Bolcs. this afternoon, 70 report.
ana he was instructed IT, make ms
statement Monday morning.
Thu irsnectorS are in a peculiar posi-
ton in the matter. Capt ward. me
man he'd responsible for the naNiga-
zion Of TIE steamer. is dead. and the
Investigation of Pilot Jordan VIII be
under the direction of the state piiot
,olumi. sicnrrs. The government IN
epcCtnrs can cn!y inquire into the nav
igation Of the ship as far as the sec
ond officer knows. and Will inv eStt@ate
The. r,ani cement of the boats and stint
lar matters Pilot Jordan will be sum-
moncd as a witness
TIE pilot commissioners, who arc
capt. Leland ana MeSsrs. Alexander
ana Pratt will held Il regular meeting.
Monday. but in courtesy to the govern
treDt officials the state inquiry IS al
ways held after that Of the inspectors
Tie licences Of capt. Ward. First Of
ticer johnson ami Second OFFICER Cogh-
land were found floating in the bay
near Alcatrcz islan nd, by capt. Lund-
uust Of the steamer Acme and were
turned over to capt. Coles
while hung on "A pinnacle Of the rocf
where she struck in the Golden Cate.
SO that parts of the upper works We're
visible. has slid Off into deep water.
and is entirely ont Of sight
Fort Point. where Pilot Jordan
claims the vessel struck. marks the
narrowest point of the entrance of the
bav. and is usually given Il wide berth
j. L.,
and at times has d sWirling motion.
off Fort Point lie several sunkcn
rocks. forming a dangerous ledge or
the southcrly edge of the Fairway
iFairvay channel of the Golden Gate.
but close under the shore.
There is . light on top of the fort
md a fog bell but the latter cannot
be heard far when a westerly wind is
blowing.
Pilot Jordan has been a master ,la"-
tnar on this coast more than 20 years
He came here from the Atlantic coast.
lie tiectores the loss of the steamship
could not have been forcsecn.
According to his story, the vessel
dfifted nalf 4 mile broadsid" i'll TIE fog
Inst envsloped everything Ike q pan,
a nj no ma ttuiu IttNt either
the direction or TIE velocity If the in
visabie current that changed ! er course
and sent her on the ledge.
Since 1890 the Rio has had several
accidents. In August. 1850, sh" was in
olliaion in Hong Kong harhor with
the British steamship BOMBAY. auc
was badly damaged
In March, 1896, the Rio started from
Honolulu for Yokohama. Continuous
heavy head winds We're encountered.
and when the japanese coast WAS still!
zee miles away. it was found that
there were only 80 tons of coal in the
bunkars. The steamship vas run back
% Honolulu. but before she got there
he cabins and StateroomS had been
Quilted in order to provide fuel for the
furnaces.
In the past % years the Pacific. Nail
60. has lost 10 or its fleet
lie laundering Of The Rio De .Janiero
}oes not result in the greatest loss of
ifc as POO of the 600 passengers on the
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