The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1901-03-02
GOES TO THE BOTTOM.
Steamer City of Rio de Janeiro
Sinks In San Francisco Harbor.
After Safe Voyage Across the Pacific
over 100 Persons Are Drowned
In sight of Port-ConsuI Wild
man Among the Lost.

| ONcE wv HHe
in sight of Port-ConsuI wild
man Among the Lost.
San Francisco, Feb. 23.-The Pacific
Mail steamer City of Rio de Janeiro
ran on a hidden rock while entering
the Golden Gate early Friday morn
ing in dense fog. She sank a few
minutes after striking. The loss is
placed at 1879 persons, most of whom
were Chinese and japanese.
Ten Bodies Recovered.
At five o'clock Friday afternoon ten
bodies had been recovered, two white
women, one white man and seven Chi
nese. The most prominent passenger
on the steamer was Rounseville Wild
man, United States consul at Hong
Kong, who was accompanied by his
wife and two children. 1t is thought
all were drowned. The ship was in
command of Pilot Frederick Jordan
when she struck. He was rescued.
Capt. William Ward went down with
his vessel. BIZ.
AS near as can be learned there
were POI people on board the Rio de
Janeiro, as follows: Cabin passen-
gers, 90; steerage (Asiatic), So; Sec
ond cabin, z; white officers, 80; Ash
attic crew, n. The saved number 70,
classified as follows: Cabin passen-
gers, 12; white officers, IL; steerage
(Asiatic). 15; crew (Chinese), Al. The
lost number 1872, classified as follows:
Passengers, "a; officers, 10; crew
(Chinese), So; steerage (Asiatic), 43.
struck In Fog.
The Rio de Janeiro was three days
overdue from Hong-Kong via Homo
lulu when she arrived off the Heads
Thursday night, and the dense fog
prevailing at the time induced Pilot
Jordan to bring her to anchor until
he could see his way clear through
the gateway. She lay to until about
4:30 o'clock, when the atmosphere
cleared, and she was started under
a slow bell toward Point Bonita. All
went well until $40 o'clock, when
she struck. Most of the passengers
were below at the time, and il is be-
lieved that many of them were
drowned in their berths.
Omcers Were Cool.
From all accounts it appears that
the officers were cool and gave the
necessary orders with the least pos
sible excitement. There was not
much confusion until, Is minutes
after striking, the bow of the ves-
sci 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 dis
| cipline of the crew could prepare
them. A thick fog enveloped every
thing, and as yet no sign had come
from the life-saving stations. Dark
| ness was all about, and with this
added horror the people on the Rio
had to cope.
Many Jumped Overheard.
Capt. Ward directed the passen-
gers and tried to keep them from
panic. He succeeded only partly, as
many of the terrified people rushed
to the ratings and jumped over
board. Some of these were picked
up, others were drowned. The Chi
nese crew, to the number of over a
hundred, were terrorized. Some Of
them huddled in little groups, chat
tering in fear. Others crouched close
to the deck, moaning pitifully. Many
jumped into the sea. Capt. Ward re-
manned on deck until the vessel had
settled to such an extent that the
water was engulfing him. Then he
he h,i1 fro
there continued to issue his direc-
tions.
The wreck lies about three-fourths
of mile south of Fort Point and
about thousand yards off the rocky
shore. The smokestack and a por-
ton of the upper works of the ILL
fated steamer are visible.
Consul wiIdman.
Housewife Wildman, who is pre-
sumed to be lost. was well known in
this city, where he resided for a num-
Der of years. He first came into prom
inence locally when he purchased the
Overland, which he owned and edited
for some years prior to entering the
consular service at HongKong. He re-
signed recently the post of consul gen.
eral at Hong Kong and was on his way
home with his wife and family. Mr..
Wildman married Miss Lettie Aldrich,
daughter of Mrs. Louis Aldrich, sis
ter of United States Senator Stewards
wife.
The last seen of Consul Wildman was
by George Englehardt. Mr.. Englehardt
says that Mr.. Wildman went below in
order to get some papers out of II tin
box. Nothing was seen of him after
this.
Elected President.
INa Fab 02-Mrc Eair-