The news & observer., 1901-02-24

f. G. HOWELL.
r. Fl. LONG.
G. uTINTZ
CAPTAIN HECHT.
r. HOLTZ.
WILLIAM CASPER. Toledo o., steer
age.
PHILIP NUSENBLATT. Oakland, Cal.
FREDERICK CASTRINI.
j. WADE, Japanese, Honolulu.
SECOND OFFICER G. CHILATAN.
THIRD OFFICER HOLLAND.
ENGINEER G. HERLIHEY.
SHIP CARPENTER FRANK CRAMP.
FIRST CLERK j. ENGLEHARDT.
r. H. LEARY
QUARTERMASTER r. MATHIESON.
QUARTERMASTER +. LINDSTRONG.
STOREKEEPER E. BoGGS.
STEERAGE STEWARD H. DONOHUE.
SEAMAN HOWARD.
Twenty-Five Chinese a mail dock. .
Nineteen Chinese and four Japanese at
Meiggs wharf.
OFFICERS AND CREW LOST.
The following officers ard crew are
missing:
WILLIAM WARD, captain.
w. C. JOHNSON, first officer.
JOHN ROONEY, purser
RUSSELL BRIGHTON, quartermaster
- McCOUN, first assistant engineer.
- BRADY, second assistant engineer.
MONROE, third assistant engineer.
DR.. O'NEIL, ships doctor.
--- SMITH, water tender.
--- SAVAGE, water tender.
- BENNIS, water tender.
II. SCOTT, steward.
- BORGG, storekeeper
ALBERT MALCOLM, saloon Waterman.
- MACARTHUR, steerage watchman.
ED. BURWICK, watchman.
MRS. DORMAN, steWardess
DENSE FOG PREVAILED.
The Rio de Janeiro was three days
overdue from Hong Kong, via Honolulu
when she arrived off the Heads last night
and the dense fog prevailing at the time
induced Pilot Jordan to bring her to an
chor until he could sec his way to clear
through the gateway. She lay to until
about 4:30 o'clock this morning. when the
atmosphere cleared and she was started
under slow bell toward Point Bonita.
All went we'll until $40 o'clock, when she
struck. Most of the passengers were be-
low at the time and it is believed that
many of them were drowned in their
berths. The first news of the disaster
reached here at 80 o'clock this morning
and soon afterward boat load of rescued
passengers and petty officers arrived at
the mail dock.
Tugs were Immediately dispatched to
render any service that might be needed,
but not living person was afioat when
they reached the wreck.
number of drowning people were res
cued by italian fishermen and the bodies
of two white women three Chinese and
a Japanese were brought in by the tugs
The search for victims has continued all
day.
OFFICERS COOL AND BRAVE.
The officers were cool and gave the
necessary orders with the least possible
excitement.
Captain Ward, who was OH deck when
the vessel struck, at once gave orders
to the crew on watch to hurry the pas
sengers to the forward deck. The quar-
termaster on duty sounded the signal
for fire drill and within five minutes all
the men were at their stations. The
captain gave orders TO lower the life
boats and life RATS. There was not much
confusion until fifteen minutes after
striking the bow of the vessel sudden
ly plunged under water. Then there
was wild rush for the boats Two
boats had already heen lowered and
others were getting away as rapidly as
the trained discipline of the crew could
prepare them. A thick fog enveloped
everything and as yet no sign had some
from the life saving stations. Darkness
aIA nd n hi u,6d nnf
ror the people on the Rio had to cope.
One boat got clear of the vessel with
out damage. 1t contained: Mrs. West,
Mrs. Ripley, Chief Engineer Herlihy,
Second Officer Coghlan. Frank Cramp,
j. r. Russell. Storekeeper Borgg. Water
Tender d. Lane. Quartermaster r. Ma
thieson and Captain Hecht of the Ger
man navy.
This boat got clear of the sinking YES
sci and then stood by to help in picking
up those who had no time to get into
the boats and were in the water.
BOAT CUT IN TWO.
Another boat containing Third Off
Ger 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. The two men
in the boat were uninjured and swan
away. Carpenter was picked up but
Holland is supposed to have perished.
A number of Italian fishermen who
were just starting this morning, saw
the sinking of the Rio and hastened to
render aSSiStance Meantime many of
the terrified people rushed to the rail-
ings and jumped overheard. Some were