Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1901-02-28

isned. Inc big Paclfc mail liner
struck on Fort Point Ledge, just out
side the Golden Gate. The disaster
was due to fog which settled down
about the ship after it had started
from its anchorage. The explanation
of the terrible loss of life is that the
vessel sank in fifteen minutes after II
struck. thus carrying down most of
the small boats, which still hung on
the davits. The passengers behaved
well until the bow began to sink sud
denly.
Wild Panic When ship Sinks
Then, when it was seen that the |
vessel was on the point OF sinking |
there was wild panic. Men and |
women ran screaming to the boats
only to find them not lowered. Over |
100 Chinese were huddled together be- |
low, dazed with terror. Many jumped |
overheard and were carried down by |
tbs suction of the steamer. All about |
was thick darkness, which probably |
prevented many from escaping. Few |
bodies have been recovered, as the tide |
runs swiftly out to sea where the YES |
sci struck, and it is feared that most |
of the victims will never be found. |
The most prominent passenger on the |
steamer was Rounseville Wildman, |
United States Consul at Hongkong, |
who was accompanied by his wife and |
two children. All were drowned. The |
ship was in command of Pilot Freder- |
lick Jordan when it struck. He was
rescued. Captain William Ward went |
down with his vessel.
Captain May Have shot Himself
One woman passenger, Mrs. Kate |
West, of San Francisco, stated later |
her belief that the captain committed |
suicide before the vessel went down
He had said during the voyage that |
he would blow out his brains sooner
than bear the disgrace of wreck. !
She insists he locked himself in his |
cabin shortly before the ship sank |
Others also say the captain went into |
his cabin, but reports on this point |
do not agree. There are varying |
statements as to the conduct of the |
officers and crew. Some say that the |
officers and sailors were cool and CON |
scientiously endeavoring to get out |
the boats and save as many passen-
gers as possible, while others declare
that as soon as the seriousness OF |
the situation became apparent there
was an end to discipline among the
seamen, and that it was every man
for himself"
No Time to Lower Boat
Conflicting accounts of the details of
the disaster are told by survivors, but
all agree on the statement that there
was no time to get down the boats.
The City of Rio de Janeiro was three
days overdue from Hongkong via Hon
,olulu when it arrived off the Heads
last night and the dense fog prevail
ing at the time induced Pilot Jordan
to bring it to anchor until he could
see his way clear through the gateway.
II lay to until about 80 O'Clock
when the atmosphere cleared and it
was started under a slow bell toward
Point Bonita. All went well until
$40 o'clock, when it struck. Most of
the passengers were below at the time,
and it is believed that many of them
were drowned in their berths.
wild Rush for the Boats.
There was not much confusion until
fifteen minutes after striking, the bow
of the vessel suddenly plunged under
water. Then there was a wild rush
for the boats. Two boats had already |
been lowered and others were getting
away as rapidly as the trained discip-
line of the crew could prepare them
A thick fog enveloped everything, and
as yet no sign had come from the
life-saving stations. Darkness was all
about, and with this added terror the
people on the Rio had to cope.
One boat Cleared.
One boat got clear of the vessel
without damage. This contained Mrs.
West. Mrs. Ripley, Chief Engineer
Herlihy, Second Officer Coghlan, Frank
Cramp, ]. r. Russell. Storekeeper
Borge, Water Tender d. Lem. Quar-
termaster r. Mathieson and Captain
Hecht OF the German navy. The boat
after getting clear. stood by to help
in picking up those who had no time
to get into the boats and were in the
water. Another boat, containing
Third Officer Holland and ]. X. Car
penter, also 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. The two men in the boat were
uninjured, and swan away from the
sinking steamer just in time to avoid
being caught In the swirl of water
caused by the settling 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.
The first news Of the disaster
reached here at 7: 80 o'clock a. m, and
soon afterward boat OF rescued pass
engers and petty officers arrived at the
mail dock.
Tugs Reach Scene Too Late.
Tugs were Immediately dispatched
to render any service that might be
needed. but no living persons were
afinat when thew reached the wreck.
A firm at Hanan, Germany, has sue
seeded in welding aluminium without
the use of any metal, solder or acid.
No seam can be detected and the