The San Francisco call., 1901-12-02
Miss MundelI Barely
Escapes Death in
the Wreck.
Remains Afloat in Icy
Water for Twenty
Minutes.
Sees Little Girl Fall
Into the Bay and
Disappear.

ther Mundell of San Rafael.
With her mother and little sis
ter Marguerite, she was seated in the
cabin reading when the collision oc-
CURED. Her first thought was TO assist
her mother and sister to escape from the
sinking boat. In the excitement she was
accidentally pushed into the water from
the narrow railing of the upper deck of
the San Rafael She remained in the
water, as near as she can judge, twenty
minutes, and then succeeded in climbing
back on board the San Rafael. Just as
the boat took her final plunge Miss Mum
dell jumped again into the water and sue
ceeded in obtaining hold on a ifeboat
Her troubles, however, did not end
here. AS the San Rafael was disappear
ing beneath the waves the flagstaff fell.
The pole struck Miss Mundell a glancing
blow and almost precipitated her again
into the icy water. While she was cling
ing to the Ifeboat Miss AIundelI believes
that she witnessed the drowning of a lit
tie girl. The girl, whose name is not
known, was also clinging to the lifeboat.
A rope was lowered from the deck of the
San Rafael She grasped the line and
was being drawn up when she let go and
disappeared into the water. Miss Mum
dell says that she did not see the little
one reappear at the surface. The miss
ing child wore her hair parted in the
middle and hangs in braids down her
back
Girl Breaks Open the Case.
Miss Mundell's story of the collision and
the events that followed is very vivid
She said: when the shock came mother
and I and my little sister Marguerite
were in the ships cabin, reading. We all
rushed over to the case where the life
preservers were kept and l broke the
glass windows with my hands. A gentle
man whom l do not know helped US to.
adjust the life preserVers. The men were
encouraging the women and requesting
them to keep their self-controI, telling
them that there was no danger. After
the women realized just what had hap
pened they displayed as much self-control
as the men The children were the only
ones that made any Outcry.
After we had our life preservers prop
erly arranged We went out on the stern
then saw the Sausalito few feet away.
My sister and myself went below to see
what chance there was of escape in that
direction. L saw the water bubbling
through the hole in the side and con-
cluoed at once that the boat was doomed.
we went to the opening in the side of the
San Rafael, through which the passen-
gers were being taken aboard the Sausa-
Ito There was a dense crowd about the
hole and I thought that it would be little
use Tor US to wait there. We again went
on the upper deck to where mother was
Almost as soon as reached her the YES
sci settled deeper in the water, going
down with a motion similar to that of an
elevator. 1 cannot imagine how it was
possible that all those who were down
below waiting TO be taken aboard the
Sausalito escaped when the boat settled.
Escape Through Broken Window.
In order to get free of the San Ra-
fael broke through the windows at the
stern, using my hands to push out the
glass. When We got outside there was
only a very narrow railing for US to
cling to. As I was endeavoring to make
my way along the side of the boat some
one pushed me overheard 1 gave UP all
hope Of ever being rescued and COM
menced TO think that my time had come
my mother and little sister succeeded
in crawling through the window at the
stern Of the San Rafael and got hold of
life boat which was still fastened to
the deck, with a canvas stretched across
its top As the San Rafael sank this life
boat broke loose from its fastenings. NV
mother and sister still clung to it, but
because of the canvas which was
stretched over its top their hold was very
precarious.
The life boat foated near me and for
a time 1 was in grave danger Of being
crushed between it and the deck of the
- sinking ferryboat. My mother gave me
her hand and by clinging to it I was able
to keep above water. My mother tried to
pull me aboard the life boat, but when I
saw she could not swan the best 1 could
with the assistance of the life preserver
back to the San Rafael or at least to the
very small part Of her that was still
ahoat. When reached the sinking boat
90 not think there was any one left
ABOARD her and so I was the last person
TO leave her. By standing on the upper
Geek OF the vessel 1 was able to leap
over and catch hold of the rim of the life
boat secured my hold just as nv
mother was being drawn on board the
Sausalito.
It was at this time that the hagpole
OF the San Rafael came down and almost
knocked me again into the water II
struck me glancing blow or else il
would certainly have loosened my feeble
mold By this time 1 was benumbed by
the chilly water.
Child Falls From Rope.
While / was clinging to the life boat
1 saw woman and little girl also hold
ing on to It. / judged that the woman was
the little girls mother A rope was
thrown from the Sausalito and the LITTLE
girl took hold Of it. AS the men were
drawing her up the child's strength must
nave given out as she let go her hold and
sank at once into the water. do not
think that she arose to the surface. at
least 1 did not see her. Soon after that
rope, smooth and slippery, was thrown
to me. 1t was with the greatest dift1crl+,,
that 1 retained my hold until 1 reached
the deck Of the Sausalito. 1 was almost
overjoyed when I found my mother and
sister safe.
During the whole dreadful accident
surprisingly little excitement was dis
played. Captain Mckenzie acted in the
most commendable manner. While the
Sausalito through the opening in the
San RafaePs side Captain Mckenzie re-
ouested that the ladies and children be
cared for first am not sure that his
request was entirely obeyed. The en-
gines Of the doomed vessel made a most
fearful noise and I dreaded every mo-
ment that there would be an explosion
The young lady who passed through all