The age-herald., 1901-02-23
Among Those Lost Were RounsevIIe WiIdman,
 Consul General at Hong Kong, and Family

ng Kong, and Family
 
 women, three Chinese and a Japanese were brought in by the tugs The search for bodies continued all day All accounts show that the officers gave the necessary orders with the least possible excite ment. Captain Ward was on deck when the vessel struck and gave orders to the crew on watch to hurry the passengers to the forward deck At the same time the quartermaster on duty sounded the signal for the fire drill, and within five minutes all the men were at their sta- tions. There was no way of knowing the extent of the damage to the vessel, as she remained on an even keel for fifteen minutes after striking the rock. But Cap tain Ward. with the instinct of long eX- perience knew the gravest danger threat ened the two hundred souls in his charge and he gave orders to lower the lifeboats and raftS.
 Not Much Confusion.
 There was not much confusion until f1f- teen minutes after striking, when the bow of the vessel suddenly plunged un- der water. Then there was wild rush for the boats. Two boats had already been 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 come from the life-saving sta lions. Darknes was all about. and with this added horror the people on the RIO had to cope. One boat got clear or the vessel without damage. This contained the following persons:
 Mrs. West, Mrs. Ripley, Chief Engin- ger Herlihey, Second Officer Coghlan, Frank Cramp, J. R. Russell, Storekeeper Borgg, Water Tender D. Lana, Quarter master R. Matheson, Captain Hecht Of the German navy.
 This boat got clear of the sinking yes sel and then 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 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 prow caught the small boat and cut 1t in two. The members of the boat were unin- jured, and swan away from the steam CT just In time to avoid being caught in the swash by the settling of the big ship. Carpenter was picked up by the other boat. The fate of Holland is not known.
 Fishermen Save Sinking Boat.
 A number of Italian fishermen who were starting out saw the sinking of the Rio and hastened to give all the assis- tance in their power. While all this was going on Captain Ward was directing the passengers and trying to keep them from panic. He succeeded only partially, as many of the terrified people rushed to the railings and jumped overheard. Some of these were picked up, others were drowned. The Chinese crew, to the num- Der of over a hundred, were terrorized Some of them huddled' in little groups, chattering in fear. Others crouched close to the deck moaning pitifully. Many jumped into the sea. Captain Ward re- mained on deck untfl the vessel had set tied to such an extent that the water was engulfing him. He then went up the bridge and from there continued to issue directions
 That the steamer sank almost imme- diately after striking, is the report of 2 majority of those rescued. Some of the passengers say that she instantly listed forward and that in five minutes she went down. while others declare that she stay. ed afloat for half an hour after she struck.
 Fate of Captain Ward.
 There are several conflicting stories concerning the fate of Captain Ward The steward of the Rio says that he stood beside the captain when the vesse went down. Two other survivors sa; that they also saw the captain to the last but Frederick Lindstrom, the quarter master officer of the Rio, emphatically declared that Captain Ward emulat eo Admiral Trion of H. M. s. Victoria fir going down to his cabin where he met his doom behind a locked door. Accord ing to his story Captain Ward, after consulting with Pilot Jordan, came down from the bridge. He was standing on the deck when the vessel crashed upor the rock
 There was a cry of man the boats, but 1t was apparent that in thes midst o the awful confusion a systematic effor to save the passengers would be of ;l( avail Everybody was scrambling for hi: own safety. It was at this time thA Lindstrom says he saw Captain WarC standing on the forward deck Suddenly the captain turned and walked hurriedly to his cabin, disappeared behind the door which he closed A second later the yes sel was plunging to the bottom of thu sea Captain Frederick W. Jordan, tht pilot O. the Rio, was rescued by an Ital ian fishing boat. To the customs official! he told the following story:
 Captain Jordan's Story. We anchored about o'clock las night The weather was thick, and I Jeff orders that when the weather cleared we should go farther in.
 ha fop lifted We coulG