The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-12-01
San Rafael Run Down bySansauI-
ito In San Francisco Bay ano at
Least Twenty Lives Are Lost
It Is Thought
PANIC AMONG PASSENGERS
WAS NARROWLY AVERTED
RWas First Thought Botn Boats
Would Sink But the SanSauIito
Was Not Badly Damaged and
Her Crew Rescued Many of
Other Boats Passengers

San Francisco, Nov 3O-The ferry
boats Sausalito and San Rafael collid-
I'd tonight in dense fog, and the San
Rafael sank in between 10 and 10 min
utAs. 1t is thought that not more than
30 persons were drowned, although the
San Rafael carried between $50 and 200
passengers. The Sausalito was not Sc
<tously injured and after rescuing all
&ha passengers On the San Rafael that
she could she proceeded to San Fran
CISCO under her own steam.
The boats belonged to the San Fran
cisco & North Pacific Railway. They
Piled between San Francisco and Sau-
salito, a suburb across the bay in Ma
rfn County. At Sausalito a train con-
meets for Ross Valley and San Rafael,
where many San Francisco business
men make their summer and winter
homes.
The san Rafael left San Francisco at
S.15 with between $50 and 200 passen-
gers. There had been a dense fog on
the bay all day, and towards evening
It seemed to thicken. Capt. Mckenzie
OF the San Rafael sent his ship along
under a slow bell. He was somewhere
near Alcatraz Island when the Sausa-
Tito, coming from Sausalito to San
francisco, crashed into her.
There were but few passengers on the
Sausalito. but they were badly fright
ened. and for few moments it looked
as If both ships were going down.
When 1t was seen that the Sausalito
was not badly injured, she stood by the
San Rafael and officers, crew and pas
Bengers engaged in the rescue of the
unfortunate passengers of the sinking
vessel Both ships are sidewheelers,
and ordinarily carry many hundred
passengers. Fortunately this was the
winter season and the last trip SO there
were not so many passengers as usual
- Marin County from Sausalito to San
Rafael, few miles, is lined with
homes of wealthy people. During the
summer the ferryboat traffic is very
heavy but in the winter it lightens and
there are comparatively few people
who travel on the boats during the
winter season.
The news Of the disaster did not
reach the city until nearly o'clock
and the news spread with great rapid
dty and great excitement prevailed.
Never has the fog been thicker in
San Francisco and on the bay than to-
night. 1t was day and night of anx-
iety. Tonight it was almost impossi-
bic to see a boats length. MANY a.
vessel had a narrow escape and the fog
signals were blowing in all directions.
capt. Mckenzie. Of the San Rafael
was the last one to leave the shin. AS
she was going down he seized a rope
hung to him from the Sausalito and
was pulled on board. He thinks that
most of his passengers were saved. for
many of them jumped to the Sausalito
ana others went over on the gangplank
run between the two ships
The list Of those lost win probably
not be obtainable tonight.
James Moore of Rose Valley, an en-
ploye of the Nevada Bank, was a pas
senger on. the San Rafael. To a report
er he SAG
There was the usual Saturday night
crowd on the San Rafael when she left
at 6.15 o'clock for Sausalito.
There was a dense fog, and Cant,
Mckenzie of the San Rafael sent the
ship along under a slow bell. We were
about half way between Lombard
Street wharf and Alcatraz Island when
the Sausalito crashed into US. I was
smoking cigar on the forward deck
OF the San Rafael, and 1t seemed to me
that Sausalito struck US just about
Rmidships. There was a terrific crash
and Immediately there was wild con-
fusion. Men, women and children
rushed for life preservers. There We're
from $50 to 200 people on board the San
Rafael. Some of them jumped over
board as soon as the steamers collided,
but I made up my mind to stay by the
ship. had put on life preserver and
knew that I would hoat for a while at
least. There was an atAnpt to lower
boat on the San Rafael bug 7 do not
believe many people got off in it, There
was too much confusion and fog for
much to be done
Between 10 and Is minutes after the
first crash the San Rafael went under.
As she vent down jumped for the Sau-
salito. which was close by, and caught on
her rail. 1 was not strong enough to
haul myself up, so I hung on and shouted
for help. None of the crew Of the Sau-
sslito heard me- and I finally let go my
hold from exhaustion and dropped into
the water. My life preserver kept me
ahoat. and 20 minutes later I got hold of
a rope lowered from the Sausalito and
was pulled on board l was almost com
pletely exhausted and had given up all
hope when ! was finally rescued"
Mr.. Moore who is about so years of age,
considers that his escape was wonderful
In his opinion most Of the passengers on
the San Rafael were saved. He said:
'These two boats stayed together after
the collision. It was soon learned on the
Sausalito that she was not seriously in
1ured, and those on board her took imme-
date steps to rescue the unfortunate pas
sengers on the San Rafael. She ran a
gangplank over 70 the sinking vessel and
many Of our passengers escaped in that
way. After the San Rafael went down
the Sausalito stayed by and lowered ropes
to those floating in the water"
Mr. Moore said further:
"Of course, I cannot pretend to be ac-
curate. but would not place the loss of life
over 90 It seems to me that most of The
passengers must have been saved"