Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-03-01
ONE HUNDRED DEAD.
THE RIO De, JANElRo STRIKES a
r" suNkE::: Eock OUTSIDE THE
GOLDEN GATE. -

SUNkC.: EOCk OUTSIDE THE !
GOLDEN GATE. J. -
Vessel SINKS So Quickly That Ma.
jority st Her Passengers and Crew
Are Unable to Escape-consuI Gem
erai WiIdman and Family Among
the Missine-captain Believed to
Have Perished With His ship.
San Francisco. Feb. 25.-The Pa.
cific Mail steamer Rio de Janeiro ran
on hidden rock while entering the
Golden Gate at an early hour in a
| dense fog. She sank a few minutes
after striking. The latest figures
place the loss at 1872 persons, most of
whom were Chinese and Japanese
At s o'clock p bodies had been re-
| covered. 2 women. l white man and Z
Chinese. The most prominent passen-
ger of the steamer was Rounseville
Wildmau, United States consul at
Hong Kong, who was accompanied by
his wife and two children. It is be-
lieved all were drowned. The ship
was in command Of Pilot Frederick
Jordan when she struck. He was res
cued. Captain William Ward went
down with his vessel. AS nearly as
can be learned there were POI people
on board the Rio de Janiero.
The Rio de Jeneiro was three days
overdue from Hong Kong, via Homo
lulu, when she arrived off the Heads
in the night, and the dense fog pre-
vailing at the time induced Pilot Jor-
dan to bring her to anchor until he
Could See His Way Clear
through the gateway. She laid to IN
til about 1880 o'clock, when the atmos-
phere cleared and she was started
under slow bell toward Pont Bonita.
lsAll went we'll until s.: 40 o'clock, when
she struck. Most of the passengers
were below at the time and it is be-
lieved that many of them were
drowned in their berths.
The first news of the disaster
reached here about 1880 a. m. and
soon afterward a boatload Of rescued
passengers and petty officers arrived
at the mail dock.
Tugs were Immediately dispatched
to render any service that might be
| needed, but no living persons were
| afoat when they reached the wreck
A number of drowning people were
rescued by Italian fishermen, and the
| bodies of two white women, three
Chinese and Japanese we're brought
in by the tugs. The search for more
of the victims has continued all day.
From all accounts it appears that
the officers were cool and gave the
necessary orders with the least pos
sible excitement. Captain Ward, who
was on deck
When the Vessel Struck,
| at once gave orders to the crew on
| watch to hurry the passengers onto
| 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 sta
tons. There was no way of telling
the extent of the damage to the ves-
sci, as she remained of an even keel
for Is minutes after striking the rock.
But Captain 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 lifeboats
and liferafts. There was much confu-
sion until Is minutes after striking,
when the bow of the vessel suddenly
plunged under water. Then there was
a 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
saverything and as yet no sign had
come from the lifesaving stations.
Darkness was all about and with
this added horror the people on the
Rio had to cope.
One Boat Was Uninjured.
One boat got clear of the vessel
without damage and then stood by to
help in picking up those who had no
!
the water.
Another boat containing Third Off.
Ger Holland and ]. K. Carpenter got
away, but was drifted around close IN
under the bow Of the steamer. As the
forward end Of the vessel plunged
downward the prov caught, the small
boat and cut it in two. The two men
In the boat were uninjured and swan
away. A number of Italian fishermen
who were just starting out saw the
sinking Of the Rio and at once has
tened to render every assistance 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
ratings and jumped overheard. Some
of these were picked up, others were
drowned. The Chinese crew. to the
number Of over 100. was terrorized.
Some of them huddled in little groups.
chattering in fear. Others crouched
close to the deck, moaning pitifullv.
Many jumped into the sea. Z a.
j CAPTAIN Ward remained On doo,,