Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-02-26

washed Oh the Marin county shore al
obscure points. One or two bodies
have been recovered. but the tide is
now on the turn and any who may be
afloat will be carried to sea. Wreck
age strews the shore on both sides of
the Golden Gate and beach combers
and fishermen are reaping harvest.
Captain Ward Responsible.
San Francisco, Feb. 25.-R. p,
Schwerin, vice president and general
manager of the Pacific Mail Steam
ship company, in discussing the loss
of the City of Rio de Janeiro, said he
thought the blame was due to Capt
Ward in bringing his vessel in dur,
ing fog.
"Time and again" said Mr.. Schwerin,
I'VE have warned our captains never to
leave or enter port during fos. 1t Is
erroneous to think that when pilot boards
vessel ths captain has no more re-
sponsibility. A pilot is simply guide for
a captain.
1.-The statements made to me by Pilot
Jordan indicate that there was fog nang-
ing around the Heads. and think that un-
due haste was shown by the captain, in
bringing his vessel in. l cannot under
haste shown, considering the vessel lay
outside all night. Capt. Ward was a care
ful officer and I learn that when he
reached Honolulu with the Rio he waited
outside the bar for II hours, rather thar
take any chances in the rough weather
wish that he was. for he was one of oui
best officers. He was brought up in oul
service, and we all feel deeply over hi.
loss and those of his comrades.
~ cannot state exactly the value of thu
Rio de Janeiro. but it is between $500 0O'
and 100000 We have between $500 600 ahd
$500 900 Insurance on the vessel. part OF
which is carried by insurance companies
and part of which we carry ourselves. The
value of her cargo was probably between
$3.50, 600 and 500, 900. / do not think she had
any amount OF specie on board"
Cannot Raise Vessel.
In response to further questions
Mr.. Schwerin stated that he did no,
think there was the slightest chance
of raising the vessel.
The wreck of the City of Rio d.
Janeiro, which for awhile hung or
a pinnacle of the rock where she
struck in the Golden Gate so that
parts of her upper works were Wis.
sble, soon slid off into deep water
and is now entirely out of sight
A Dangerous Point.
Fort Point, where Pilot Jordan
claims the vessel struck, marks the
parrowest point of the entrance tic
the bay and is usually given wide
berth by mariners. The tide here
runs very swiftly and at times has
a swirling motion.
Off Fort Point lie several sunke1
rocks. forming dangerous ledge OF
the southeriy edge of the fair way
channel of the Golden Gate, but Gloss
under the shore.
There is light on top OF the fort
and fog bell, but the latter cannot be
tng.
The Pilot.
Capt. Frederick w. Jordan, the pilot
who was in charge OF the Rio de Janeiro
when she went on the reef and sank
is a man little past middle life, and
has been master mariner on this Goa s,
for over 20 years. He came from the
Atlantic coast. Previous to being ap
pointed pilot about ~ years ago, Jor
Bristol and other collieries still plying
between this port and Puget sound
He was remarkably successful navi
gator, and never before had any notable
misfortune.
He declares that the loss Of the
steamer could not have been foreseen.
According 10 his story the vessel drift
ed half a mile broadside in the fog that
enreloped the home-bound steamer
like pail, and no man could have
Judged either the direction or the ve-
locity OF the invisible current that
changed her course and sent her on the
Fort Point ledge.
An Unlucky Ship.
The Rio de Janeiro has since the year
1890 bad "hoodoo" on her.
August, 1890, she was in collision
Asith the British steamer Bombay. and
;Eas severely sanafss, This occurred