Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1901-02-27
Among the Passengers We're United
States Consul wildman, Wife
and Two Children.
Iney Have Not Been Accounted For
and 1t Is Feared They Are Among
Those Who Perished.
Hhere Were x34 People On Hoard
the iil-Fnted Vessel, Only I.s
of Whom Have Been
Accounted for.

san Francisco, Feb. 23-Thc Pacific
mail steamer City of Rio de Janeiro
ran on hidden rock while enter
ing the Golden Gate early Friday
morning in dense fog. She sank
q Few minutes after striking. 1t IS
hhought nearly $50 persons were
drowned, but it is impossible to ascer-
tam the exact number owing to the
TACT that Purser John Rooney, who
had the passenger list and roster of
the crew, rs among the missing
At o'clock Friday afternoon ten
bodies had been recovered, two white
women, one white man and seven
Chinese. The most prominent passen-
ger was housewife Wildman, United
States consul ut Hong Kong, who was
accompanied by his wife and two
children. II is thought all were
drowned. The ship was in command
OF Pilot Jordan when she struck He
was rescued Capt. VIM. Ward went
down with his vessel.
AS nearly AS can be learned there
were 234 people on board the Rio de
1aneiro as follows:
Cabin passengers, 90: second cabin,
2; steerage Chinese and Japanese).
sS; Officers and crew, 1I0; Total. 234
The following have been accounted
for: Rescued, 10: bodies at the
morgue, 10; total, 50.
Missing, las
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 laid to until about
<:3o o'clock. when the atmosphere
cleared and she started under q slow
bell toward Point Bonita All went
swell until $40 o'clock, when she
struck. Most of the passengers were
below at the time. and it is believed
that many of them were drowned in
their berths.
The first news OF the disaster reach
I'd here at 1880 p. m, and soon after
boat load OF rescued passengers
and petty officers arrived at the mail
dock.
Tugs were immediately dispa tched
60 render any service that might
he needed, but no living persons were
shOat when the tugs reached the
wreck. A number of drowning people
we're rescued by Italian fishermen
and the bodies of two white women.
three Chinese and japanese were
Brought I'm by the tugs The search
for bodies has continued all day-
All accounts show that the officers
gave the necessary orders with the
least possible delay.
Capt. Ward, who was ON deck when
ehe vessel struck. gave orders tn the
crew on watch to hurry the passen-
gers TO the forward deck. At tbe
same time the quartermaster on duty
sounded the signal for fire drill. and
within five minutes all the Tucn were
at their stations. There was no WAY
Of knowing the extent of tho damage
10 the vessel, as she remained OF an
even keel Is minutes after striking
Che rock. But Capt. Ward. with the
instinct of long cxpc ricnce. knew the
gravcst danger threatened the 200
souls in his charge. and. pacing the
deck, he gave orders to lower the life
boats and RATS.
There was not much confusion an
81, Il minutes after striking. the
bow of the vessel suddenly plunged
under water. Then there was a wild
rush for the boats. The boats had
already been lowered and others were
getting away a. rapidly az the trained
discipline of the crew could prepare
si1em. \ thick fog cuvelupcd every
Shing, and as yet no sign had como
from the life saving station. Dark
mess was all about, and with this
added horror the people on tho Rio
had 90 cope.
Ono boat got clear OF the vessel
without damage. This contained the
following persons:
Mrs. Yost, Mrs. Ripley. Chief En-
gineer Hcrlibey. Second Officer Cogh-
Ian. Frank Cramp, i. Il. Russell. Store
keeper Borgg. Water Tender D. Lane,
Quartermaster T. Mathiesou and
capt. Eecht. of the German navy.
The boat got clear of ;nc sinking
vessel and then stood bv TO help in
yickiug up those who had mo- time
20 ret into the boots and were in
the water.
Another boat. containing Third OF
fcer Holland and =. r. Carpenter.
rot away. but was driftcd around
close up under the low of the steam
-. As tho forward end Of the YES
sci plunged downward the prov