The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-02-26

San Francisco, Feb. 22-The Pacific
mail steamer Rio de Janeiro ran on a
hidden rock while entering the Golden
Gate early this morning in a dense
fog. She sank in a few minutes after
striking. It is thought that nearly
$50 persons were drowned, but it is
impossible to ascertain the exact num-
Der, owing to the fact that Purser
John Rooney, who had the passenger
list and roster of the crew, is among
the missing.
At 5 O'Clock this afternoon 10 bodies
had been recovered, two white women,
one white man and sever Chinese.
The most prominent passenger of the
steamer was Rounseville Wildman,
United States consul at Hong Kong,
who was accompanied by his wife and
two children. Tt is thought all were
drowned.
The ship was in command of Pilot
Frederick Jordan when she struck.
He was rescued. Captain William
Ward went down with his vessel.
AS nearly as can be learned there
WOI0 NOf p0Op1O OA UOd1h UlAO 4NA TX
Janeiro, as follows: Cabin passengers
80; second cabin, Z; steerage, Chinese
and Japanese, So; officers and crew,
40. Total 234. The following have
been accounted for: Rescued 10;
bodies at the morgue 10; total 80.
Missing 145. Following is the cabin
passenger list, almost complete: Con-
sui General Townsville Wildman, mis-
sing; Mrs. Wildman, two children
and nurse, from Hong Kong, missing;
Mrs. and Miss Wakefield of Honolulu,
missing; James J. Carpenter, mining
engineer, Oakland, rescued; Miss
Reverb Jehn, Honolulu, missing;
William Brander, London, rescued;
NJ. s. M~athewson, Shanghai, missing ;
Captain HEIGHT, German navy, rescued;
Captain Heltz, Shanghai, rescued !;
Mr.. Dowdell, Shanghai, missing; j.
F. Seymour, editor of the American,
Manila, missing; Mrs. Z. West, San
francisco, missing; Miss Leheran, res
cued; Russell Harper, journalist,
Nagasaki, rescued; Mr.. and Mrs.
Hart, Manila, missing; Miss Gabriel
Hoeron, missing; DR.. Dodd, Butte,
Mont, missing; Attorney @. H. Hen
shaw, Butte, Mont, missing; Mr.. and
Mrs. Woodwork, missing; DR.. Okla
wahara, Japan, missing.
The following officers and crew are
emissing: VIM. Ward, captain; w.
@. johnson, first officer John Rooney,
purser; Russell Brighton, quarter.
master; McCoun, first assistant engi-
neer; Brady, second assistant engi-
neer; Monroe, third assistant engi-
nee1; DR.. Oneil, ships doctor; Smith,
water tender; Savage, water tender
Dennis, water tender; H. Scott,
steward; Borgg, store keeper; Albert
Malcolm, saloon Waterman; Mccarthy,
steerage watchman; Ed. Burwick,
watchman; Mrs. Dorman, stewardess.
The Rio de Janeiro was three days
over due from Hong Kong, via Homo
lulu, when she arrived off the heads
last night and the dense fog prevailing
at the time induced Pilot Jordan tt
bring her to anchor until he could SET
his way clear through the gateway
She laid to until about 4:3O O'Clock
when the atmosphere cleared and SHE
was started under a slow bell toward
Point Bonita. All went we'll unit
$40 O'Clock, when she struck. Mos
of the passengers were below at tn,
time and it is believed that many O
them were drowned in their berths.
The first news Of the disaste:
reached here at 7:30 this morning ant
soon afterward a boat load of rescued
passengers and petty officers arrived a
the mail dock. Tugs were imnledi
ately dispatched to render any service
that might be needed, but no living
persons were afloat when they reached
the wreck. A number of drownin,
people were rescued by Italian fisher
men and the bodies of two whit
women, three Chinese and a Japanes
were brought in by the tugs.
The search for more of the victim
has continued all day. From all &C
counts it appears that the officers wer
cool and gave the necessary order
with the least possible excitement
Captain Ward, who was on deck wheI
the vessel struck, at once gave order
to the crew on watch to hurry til,
passengers onto the forward deck
At the same time the quartermaste
ON duty sounded the signal for fir
drill and within five minutes all th'
mon were at their stations.
There was no way Of telling the ex
tent Of the damage to the vessel, a
ahe remained on an even keel for II
minutes after striking the rock. bu
Captain Ward. with the instinct O
long experience, knew that the grav
- HANGAR fhraakanad tina Q00 a0nla n