The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-02-26
OVER one HUNDRED LIVES LOST
Captain Stays With Sinking Vessel and Is Among Those
Drowned-Consu1 General Whdman Of Hong
Kong Also on List Of Victims.

his charge and pacing the deck, he
gave orders to lower away the life
boats and life RATS. There was not
much confusion until Is minutes
after striking, the bow Of the vessel
suddenly plunged under the water.
Then there was a wild rush for the
boats. Two boats had already been
lowered and the others were gotten
away rapidly as the trained discipline
of the crew could prepare them. A
thick fog enveloped everything. and
as yet no sign had come from the life
saving station. Darkness was all
above, and with this added horror the
people on the Rio had to cope.
One boat got clear Of the vessel
without damage. This contained the
following persons: Mrs. West, Mrs.
Ripley, Chief Engineer Herlishy,
Second Officer Coghlan, Frank Camp,
Storekeeper Bergg, Water Tender D.
Lane, Quartermaster R. M%atthewson
and Captain HEIGHT of the German
navy. This boat got clear of the sink
ing vessel and then stood by to help in
picking up those who had III time to
get into the other boats and we're in
the water.
Another boat, containing Third
Officer Holland and J. K. Carpenter
got away, but was drifted around close
up under the bow of the steamer. AS
the forward end of the vessel plunged
downward the Prov caught the small
boat and cut it in two. Two men in
the boat were u%ninjured and swan
away from the sinking steamer just in
time to avoid being caught in the
swirl of the water caused by the set
thing Of the big ship. Carpenter was
picked up by the other boat. The fate
of Holland is not known, but he is
supposed to have persisted.
A number of Italian fishermen, who
were just starting out this morning,
saw the sinking Of the Rio and at once
fastened to render every assistance in
their power. While all this was 60
ing on Captain Ward wa directing the
passengers and trying to keep them
from panic. He succeeded only
partially, as many of the terrified peo-
pie rushed to the railing and jumped
overheard. Some of these We're picked
up, others were drowned.
The Chinese crew, to the number of
over 100, was terrorized. Some of them
huddled in little groups chattering IN
fear. Others crouched close to the
deck moaning pitifully. Many jumped
into the sea.
Captain Ward remained on deck
until the vessel had settled to such an
extent that the water was engulfing
him. Then he went upon the bridge
and from there continued to issue his
directions, although by this time the
! confusion was so great that few paid
any attention to his commands.
That the steamer sank almost i'm.
mediately after striking is the report
) Of a majority of those rescued. Some
of the passengers say that she instant
ly listed forward and sank in five
minutes, others that she stayed af1oat
for half an hour after she struck. Al
the confusion occasioned by such al
incident is intense, it is not surprising
to find that there is a lack, of unanim
ity as to the length of time the vesse
remained above water.
The wreck lies about three fourth!
t of a mile south of Fort Point ant
about 1000 yards off the rocky shore
The smoke stack and a portion of thu
upper works of the i'll fated steame
are visable.
l There are several conflicting storie
/ concerning the fate of Captain Ward
t The steward Of the Rio says that h
: stood beside the captain when tn
Q vessel went down. Two other sur
3 vivors say that they also saw the cap
i tain to the last, but Frederick Lind
g strom, q~uartermaster of the vessel
: emphatically declared that Captain
Q Ward emulated Admiral Trion of he
British majesty's ship Victoria, in go
ing down to his cabin, where he me
s his doom behind a locked door.
! Lindstrom was one of the first t.
Q land at Meggs wharf this morning
8 and one of the first statements h
made was that Captain Ward had gon'
q down with the wrecked steamer.
8 According to his story Captain
Q Ward, after consulting with Pilot Jor
dan came down from the bridge. 81
was standing on the deck when tn
Q vessel crashed upon the rock. Their
Q was a cry of MAN the boats" bu'
it was apparent that in the midst o.
: the awful confusion a systematic effor
8 to ave the passengers would be of NJ
avail. Everybody was scrambling fol
t his own safety. It was at this time
that Lindstrom says he saw Captain
: Ward standing on the forward deck
. Suddenly the captain turned and