Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1901-02-27

Two. Tho two men In the boat were
uninJured and swan away from the
sinking steamer just In time to avoid
oefng caught in the swirl of water
caused by the settling of tho big ship.
Carpenter was picked up by the other
boat The fate of Holland is not
known, but he is supposed to have
perished-
A number OF italian fishermen,
who were just starting out, saw the
sinking OF the Rio and FASTENED to
give all the assistance in their power.
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 rail-
tngs and jumped overheard. Some of
these were picked up, others were
drowned. The Chinese crew, to the
number OF over a hundred, were ter
rorized- Some of them huddled in
little groups. chattering in fear.
Others crouched close to the deck.
moaning pitifully. Many jumped into
the sea.
Capt. Ward remained on deck until
the vessel had settled to such an ex-
tent that the water was enguifing
him. Then he went up on the bridge
and from there continued to issue his
directions, although by this time the
confusion was SO great that few paid
any attention 10 his commands.
That the steamer sank almost inn
mcdiatcly after striking is the report
OF majority of those rescued. Some
or the passengers say that she in
stantly listed forward, and that in
i've minutes she went down. while
others declared that she stayed afioat
for half an hour after she struck.
Tire confusion occasioned by such an
incident is intense and it is not sur
prising TO find that there is lack of
unanimity as TO the length of time
the vessel remained above water.
The wreck lies about thrcc-fourths
OF mile south of Fort Point and
about a thousand yards off the rocky
shore.
The smoke stack and "a portion OF
the upper works of the Inflated
steamer are visible.
There are several conflicting stories
concerning the fate of Capt. Ward.
The steward OF the Rio says that he
stood beside the captain when the
vessel went down. Two other surviv-
ors say that they also saw the cap
tain to the last; but Frederick Lind
stronl. the quartermaster officer Of
the Rio, emphatically declared that
Capt. Ward emulnted Adm, Trion, of
her British maicsty's ship Victoria.
in going down 10 his cabin. where he
met his doom behind a locked door.
Quartermastcr Officer Lindstrom
was one of the first to land at Meisro's
wharf Friday morning and one of the
first statements he made was that
Capt. Ward had gone down with the
wrecked steamer. According To his
story, Capt. Ward. after consulting
with Pilot Jordan, came down from
the bridge.
He was standing on the deck when
the vessel crashed upon the rocks.
There was "a cry of Man the Boats!-
but 1T was apparent that in the midst
of the awful confusion systematic
effort TO save the passengers would
be of no avail. Everybody was scram-
bling for his own safety.
1t was at this time that Lindstrom
says lie saw Capt. Ward standing on
the forward deck. Suddenly the cap
tain turned and, walking hurriedIy
to his cabin, disappeared behind the
door, which he closed
\ second later the vessel was
plunging 10 the bottom of the sea.
Capt Frederick w. Jordan, the pi-
lot OF the Rio, was rescued by an
Italian fishing boat owned by Fred
ericll Castrini, and was brought to
Meigg's station about 10 n. III. Along
with him was a japanese and Philip
Nuscmblack.
William Casper. Of Toledo, o.. was
among the survivors who, while houn-
dering in the water, encountered the
raft on which were j.. II. Long and a
number of Cinnamon. Casper was out
of his bunk and on deck when the
first alarm was given. He agrees with
Long that most of the steamers pas-
sengers were on deck when the vcs-
sci struck.
The cargo OF the Flo De .Janciro
was valued at over $4,000. There
were besides 100000 in treasure In
the specie bank. The steamer itself
Was valued 1T from s65O.OOo to 500
600.
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