The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1901-03-02

San Francisco, Feb. 24.-The Pacific
Mail steamer Rio de Janeiro ran on a
hidden rock while entering the Golden
Gate early. yesterday morning in a
dence fog. She sank a few minutes
after striking. One hundred and TWEEN
ty-two persons were drowned of the
two hundred and n on board. At 2
o'clock yesterday afternoon ten bodies.
dad been recovered, two white women.
one white man and seven Chinese. The
most prominent passenger of the
steamer was Rounseville Wildman.
United States consul at Hongkong,
who was accompanied by his wife and
two children. II is thought all were
drowned. The ship was in command OF
Pilot Frederick Jordan when she
struck. He was rescued. Capt. Will
lam Ward
Went Down With His Vessel.
AS nearly as can be learned there
were 234 people on board the Rio de
Janeiro. She was three days overdue
from Hongkong, via Honolulu, when
she arrived off The Heads Thursday
night, and the dence fog prevailing at
the time induced Pilot Jordan to bring
her to anchor until he could see Ills
way clear through the gateway. She
laid to until 4:30 o'clock, when the at
mosphere cleared and she was started
dnder a slow bell toward Point Bonita.
All went we'll until $40 o'clock. when
she struck. Most Of the passengers
were below at the time, and it is be-
lieved that many Of them were
drowned in their berths. The first
news of the disaster reached here at
1880 yesterday morning and soon after
ward a boat load Of rescued passengers
and petty officers arrived at the Mail
dock.
Ru.hed to the Rescue.
Tugs were Immediately dispatched to
render any service that might be
needed, but no living persons were
afoat when they reached the wreck. A
number of drowning persons 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 more
Of the victims continued all day.
From all accounts it appears that the
officers were cool and gave the neces-
sary orders with the least possible ex-
%citen1ent. Capt. Ward, who was on
deck when the vessel struck, at once
gave orders to the crew on watch to
hurry the passengers onto the for
ward deck. At the same time the quar-
termaster on duty sounded the signal
for fire drill, and within five minutes
all the men were at their stations.
There was nc way of telling the ex-
tent of the damage to the vessel as
she remained Of an even keel for f1f-
teen minutes
After Striking the Rock.
But Capt. Ward, with the instinct Of
long experience, knew the gravest
danger threatened the 200 souls in his
charge, and, pacing the deck. he gave
orders to lower away the life boats
and life RATS. There was not much
confusion until fifteen minutes after
striking, when 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 rap
idly as the trained discipline of the
crew could prepare them. A thick fog
enveloped everything. and as yet no
sign had come from the %lifesaving sta
lions. Darkness was all about, and
with this added terror, the people on
the Rio had to cope. One boat got
clear Of the vessel without damage
and Their stood by to help i'll picking up
those who had no time to get into the
boats and
We're in the Water.
Another boat, containing Third OFF,
Ger Holland and J.. E. Carpenter, got
away but vas 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 W. 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 10
not known, but he is supposed to have
persisted. A number Of Italian fisher
men who were just starting out saw
the sinking Of the Rio and at once
hastened to render every assistance In
their power. While all this vas going
on Capt. Ward was directing the pas
sengers and trying to keep them from
panic. He succeeded only partially,
as many Of
The Terrified People
rushed to the railing and jumped over
board. Some Of these were picked up.
others were drowned. The Chinese
crew. to the number of I'VE a hundred.
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
Capt. Ward remained on deck until
the vessel had settled to such an extent
that the water was engulflng him.
Then he went up on the bridge and
from there continued to issue direc-
lions, although by this time the con-
fusion was 8 great that few paid any
attention to his commands.
That the steamer sank almost Inn
mediately after striking IL the report
Of q majority Ct those rescued. Some
Of the passengers say that abe Instant
~ listed forward and that IN I'VE min-