New-York tribune., 1901-12-01
MANY LOST IN COLLISION.
MEN AND WOMEN FIGHT FOR SAFETY
AS FERRYBOAT SINKS.
tBT TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuSE.l

tBF TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNE.1
San Francisco Nov 30-In the heaviest fog
| which has occurred here for years the ferry
boats San Rafael and Sausalito. plying between
this city and Sausalito in Marin County, came
into collision off Alcat Island at $50 o'clock
this evening The San Rafael was sunk. 1t is
believed that fully twenty people pershed. most
ly women and children.
The San Rafael left this side of the bay with
about three hundred passengers When nan
way between the city and Alcatraz Island the
whistle of a steamer apparently on the port
bow was heard, and the captain of the San
Rafael slowed down his engines and proceeded
at less than half speed. Whistles were ex-
changed between the two vessels. but the cap
tain of the Sausato evidently misunderstood
the San Rafaels signals. for few minutes after
her first whistle had been heard the Sausalito
emerged from the fog and crashed into the
port side of the San Rafael just abaft the pad
die box, opening great gap in the side of the
latter which extended for some distance below
the water line.
The crash was followed by the utmost contu-
sion on both vessels but as the Sausallto re-
versed her engines and backed away from the
San Rafael, the passengers and crew of the
San Rafael imagining that the Sausaiito was
about to abandon them to their fate gave way
to their fears and a scene of indescribable con-
fusion ensued Iifebelts were cut down from
their hangings and served out to the frahlic
people by their cooler companions, while the
terror stricken rushed TO the boats. In the
midst Of the confusion the Sausalito steamed
slowly alongside the sinking San Rafael, ana
with some difficulty succeeded In getting
couple of lines aboard, with which they were
moored together.
Instantly there a frantic rush over the
side of the sinking ship to the Sausalito. and
rnan and women fought desperately at the bull
varks of the doomed vessel in their haste to
reach a place of safety The crew of the
Sausalito attempted to restore some sort OF
order and calm the fears Of the San Rafael S
passengers but were utterly unable to stem the
sureing tide of humanity. To add to the scene
Of horror. many OF the fear crazed people
Jumped into the bay from the sinking snip
while the shrieks of the injured and frightened
women and children, for many had been hurt
when the collision occurred. added to the con-
fusion.
SuddDeIy when mcst of the San Rafaels pas
sengers had been transferred to the Sausaiito.
the vessel gave a lurch. and just as the lines
roooring her to the SausaIito had been cast or
| the San Rafael sank beneath the waters OF the
! bay.
The officers and crew of the Sausallto lowered
/ her boats and picked UP number Of the san
! RafaeI's passengers. but as the Sausallto hers
| safa "a remain long after the disappearance OF
! the former vessel, and she was heaoeu' as t nel
captain thought, for TINS ci'y; listeau tar and
steamed out to heads in the dense Ios' anu u
| was picked UP about two hours later Dy d
passing tug, which conveyed her to her sup:
| According to stories told by Survivors OF tne "
| disaster the San Rafael was struck Amos nos ! !
| amfdships The SaCsolitos stem ciashIls ~
! the restaurant of the former, which was fairis
| t.au r,atronized Almost every one in the place
va =. -. I,asfs o. less sef3ouSx2 by spfhite!S
80. - - = r,e hroken timbers but almost twenty
1 collision
SINKING of the vessel before the ajority of the
| injured were safely transferred to the sausoh'o
| when she came alongside ,.,
| George. was at the restaurant door when the ne
crash vas knocked down ana q.i piilr,eq
the deck by section of the tarail- ms S5 =;
| with the aid of another passenger, succeeieu III
| releasing him from his perilous position anu
| after the Sausaiito backed away the pioLAei
| rrshed aft and lowered one of the boats just
as they jumped into it they We're followed by an an
| unknown wolaan. but there being no plug IN
| the bottom Of the boat it began to fill imne-
| diately and George Cuthbert scrambled TO the
| San Rafael's side. and after climbing up II
| safety lent a helping hand TO his wounded
| brother When they regained the deck the
! Cuthberths found men. women ana chlldrer
! about the decks and the Sausalito came
alongside they became mixed UP IN the cro"o
| which scrambled to the San RafaeTs side in an an
effort to get aboard tha vessel which had cut
| them down. The greatest disorder preFailed
| and the weaker We're trodden under loot and
| thrust aside in the mad rush Tor safety flnc-
| Ing their escape cat off by the struggling mass
| of humanity, many of the terror stricken women
| jumped into the bay some without even a life
| belt Sorce of these were subsequently picked
| up more dead than alive by boats from the
| Sausalito and tugs which had been attracted
| to the scene.
On the arrival here of the Sausato the
| wounded were conveyed to the Harbor and Re-
| ceiving hospitals The news of the disaster
soon spread and caused great excitement. the
ferry depot being crowded with people lookins
for friends and relatives whom they believed
to have been aboard the ill-fated San Rafael
~