Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1901-02-28
IN WATERY GRAVES.
Steamer Goes Down While Entering
Golden Gate.
Rio de Janciro, from Hong Kong and the
Orient, Struck n Rock ahd Sank in 20
A1inutes-ConsuI WiidInan
Probably lost.

Probably lost.
San Francisco, Feb. 23.-The Pacific
mail steamer Rio de Janeiro ran on
hidden rock while entering the Golden
Gate early yesterday morning. 1t is
thought thai 122 persons were
drowned, most of whom were Chinese
and japanese, but it is impossible to
ascertain the exact number owing to
the fact that Purser John Rooney,
who had the passenger list and ros-
ter of the crew, is among the missing.
At five o'clock yesterday afternoon
ten bodies had been recovered, two
white women, one white man and
seven Chinese. The most prominent
passenger on the steamer was ROunse-
vile Wildman, United States consul
at Hong Kong, who was accompanied
by his wife and two children. 1t is
thought all were drowned. The ship
was in command of Pilot Frederick
Jordan when she struck. He was res
cued. Capt. William Ward went down
with his vessel.
AS nearly as can be learned there
were POI people on board.
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
4:3O o'clock, when the atmosphere
cleared and she was started under
slow bell toward Point Bonita All
she struck. Most of the passengers
were below at the time, and it is be-
ieved that many of them were
drowned in their berths.
From all accounts it appears that
the officers were cool and gave the
necessary orders with the least pos
sible excitement. Capt. Ward, who
was on deck when the vessel struck,
at once gave orders to the crew on
watch to hustle the passengers on to
the forward deck. At the same time
the quartermaster on duty sounded
the signal for fire drill and within
five minutes all the men were at their
stations. There was no way of telling
the extent of the damage to the YES
sci as she remained on an even keel
for Is 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 I'M
til, Is minutes after striking, the
bow of the vessel suddenly plunged
under water. Then there was a wild
rush for the boats. Two boats had al
ready been lowered and others were
getting away as rapidly as the trained
discipline of the crew could prepare
them. A thick fog enveloped every
thing, and as yet no sign had come
| from the ife-saving stations. Dark
ness was all about, and with this
added horror the people on the Rio
had to cope.
While all this was going on Capt.
Ward was directing the passengers
and trying to keep them from panic.
He succeeded only partly, as many of
the terrified people rushed to the
ratings and jumped overheard. Some
of these were picked up, others were
drowned. The Chinese crew, to the
number of over 100, 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.
That the steamer sank almost i'm
mediately after striking is the report
of a majority of those who were
aboard. Some of the passengers say
that she instantly listed forward and
| that in five minutes she went down,
| while others declare that she stayed
afioat for half an hour after she
| struck. In the confusion occasioned by
such an incident it is not surprising
| TO find that there is a lack of una
nimity as to the length of time the
vessel remained above water