The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1901-02-28


William Ward are Among Those Who
p~rished Capt. Ward Wa. "a Native or
Raleigh.
Fan Francisco, Feb. 22.-The Pa.
citlc Mail steamer Rib de Janerio
ran on hidden rock while entering
the Golden Gate early this morning
in 1-dense fog. She sank few min
utes after striking.
The latest figures place the los. a;
l22 persons, most of whom were
Chinese and japanese, but 1t Is i'm
possible to ascertain the exact num-
ber, owing to the fact that Purser
John Rooney, who had the passen-
ger list and roster Of the crew is
amcng the missing.
At o'clock this afternoon ten
bodies had been recovered, two
white women, one white man and
seven Chinese. The most prominent
| passenger on the steamer was
Rouasevilla Wildman, U. s Consul
at Hong Kong, who was accompan-
led by his wife and two children.
1t is thought all were drowned.
The ship was in command Of Pi-
lot Frederick Jordan when she
struck. He was rescued. Captain
William Ward went down with his
vessel.
| The officers were cool and gave
the necessary orders with the least
possible excitement.
Captain Ward, who was on deck
when the vessel struck, at once gave
orders to the crew on watch to hur-
ry the passengers to the forward
deck. The quartermaster on duty
sounded the signal for fire drill and
within five minutes all the men
were at their stations. The captain
gave orders to lower the life-boats
and life RATS. There was not much
confusion until fifteen minutes after
striking the bow Of the vessel sud
denly plunged under water. Then
there was wild rush for the boats.
Two boats had already been lowered
and others were getting away as rap
idly as the trained discipline Of the
crew could prepare them. A thick
fog enveloped everything and as yet
no sign had come from the life saw
ing stations. Darkness was all about
and with this added horror the peo-
pie on the Rio had to cope.
A number OF Italian fishermen
who were just starting this morning
saw the sinking of the Rio and has
tened to render assistance. Mean
time many Of the terrified people
rushed to the ratings and jumpe
Overboard. Some were picked ~,
others drowned. The Chinese cr..r,
numbering over hundred, was ter
rorized. Many jumped into the
sea.
| Captain Ward remained on deck
until the vessel had settled and the
water was ingulfing him. Then he
went up on the bridge to issue direc.
tiOns.
That the steamer sank almost i'm.
nediately after striking is the re
port of maj Ority of those rescued
The wreck lies about three-fourths
of Iuile south of Fort Point, abou,
a thousand yards off the rocky shore
The smOkestack and portion OF the
upper works Of the ill fated steamer
are visible.
Three Survivors say that they saw
Captain Ward to the last, but Fred
erick Lindstrom, the quartermastel
Of the Rio, emphatically declared
that Captain Ward emulated Admi
raj Tyron of Her British Majesty.
ship Victoria, in going down to hi,
cabin, where he met his doom be
hind locked door.
THE MAIL BAGS RIFLED.
l The Italian fishermen brought (,
} the Merchants Exchange station a
: Meigg's wharf twelve bags of NAL
which they picked up at the seen
r of the wreck. These include tw
pouches from the United States mil
I ilary station in China. Also tw
q bags of registered mail. When tn
registered bags We're delivered it wa
: found that they had been rippe'
L open with knife and all their con
tents stolen. When this crime wa
committed is question, but tn
fishermen who brought them in ar
! not suspected, and it is impossibl
4 to determine who the robbers are.
al The Rio carried in all 200 bags {
mail.
It CAPT. WARD A NATIVE OF RALEIGE
II Captain Ward was native of Ra
Il eigh and lived here for many year
. Messrs. Frank and John Ward, {
Raleigh, are his brothers. They n
ceived telegram from San Francis
CO Friday night stating that the
brother went down at his post an
had not been seen since. The brOtl
IL ers have the sympathy Of the peop
l. OF Raleigh in their grief.
N The city council Of Danville b
u passed the Hampton curfew ord
u nance by a vote Of 10 to 3. The o
a dinance was indorsed by the w.
T. U. and many citizens.
Mrs. Moses Stickles, of Berr.
vile, Va, in some way scratche
" her hand with pin one day la