Gilpin observer., 1901-02-28
BIG STEAMER SINKS
RIO De JANEiRo GOES TO THE BOT
TOM AT GOLDEN GATE.

sci, Which Strikes n Hidden Rock.
Ten Bodies Recovered.
San Francisco, Feb. 26.-One hun
dred and twenty-eight persons perished
with the sinking of the Pacific mail
steamer, City Rio de Janelro, accord
ing to the best Obtainable data. a
packet containing the papers of Purser
Rooney was picked up this morning
by fisherman. 1t contained the pas
passenger tickets.
San Francisco. Feb. 23.-The Pacific
Mail steamer Rio de Janeiro ran on :,
hidden rock while entering the Golden
Gate early yesterday morning in o
dense fog. She sank a few minutes
after striking.
Ten bodies have been recovered, two
white women, one white man and
seven Chinese. The most prominent
passenger on the steamer was Rounse-
vile Wildman, 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 JonkSn when she
struck. He was rescued. Capt Will
lam Ward went down with his vessel.
As nearly as can be learned, there
were 23i persons on hoard tEe Rio de
Janeiro. as follows: Cabin passengers,
20; second cabin. Z; steeraGe Chinese
and Japanesc). IS: officers and crew.
40. Total. 23i The following have
been accounted for: Rescued. 10; bod.
les at the morguc, 10; total. 50.
The following cabin passengers are
missing: Housewife Wildman, wife,
two children and nurse: Mrs. X West,
]. y. Seymour, editor l1a2i!a Amer!-
can: II. C. Matthcson, Mrs. and Miss
Wakefield, Miss Rowena Jehu, Or.
Okawhara. DIR. Dodd C. II. Ucnshaw,
Mr.. and Mrs. Woolworth, C. Dowell.
The Rio de Janeiro was three days
overdue from Hong Kong via Honolulu
when she arrived off the Heads Thurs
day night and the dense fog prevail
ing at the time induced Pilot Jordan
to bring her to anchor until he could
see his way clear through the gate
way. She Laid to until about 4:3O a.
m, when the atmosphere cleared and
she was started under slow bell
toward Point Bonita. All went well
until $40 o'clock. when she struck.
Most of the passengers We're below at
the time. and it is believed that many
of them We're drowned in their bertEs.
Tugs to the Rescue.
The first news of the disaster
reached here at T:30 o'clock and soon
afterward Il boat load Of rescued pass
engers 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 af.oat when they reached the
wreck. a number of drowning people
We're rescued by Italian fishermen, and
the bodies of two white women, three
Chinese and Il Japanese were brought
in by the tugs. The search for more
CT the victims continued all day
From all accounts ii appears that the
officers were cool and gave the neces-
sary orders with the least possible ex-
element. There was not much con-
fusion Until. fifteen minutes after strik-
ing. the bow of the vessel suddenly
plunged under water. Then there was
n Wild rush 70" the boats. Two boats
had already been lowered and others
were getting away as rapidly as tine
trained discipline of the crew could
prepare tho.a. y thick fog envcloped
cveTyth'ng, and us yet 10 slgn had
come from the life saving stnt,ons.
Darkness was all about. and with this
added horor the people on the Rio
had 10 crCeu.
Whilc al this was going on, Captain
Ward was directing the passengers and
try,n@ 10 keen them from panic. He
succeeded only partly, as many OF the
terrified people rushed to the railiugs
and jumped overheard. Some OF these
were picked Up. others were drowned.
The Chinese crew, TO the number of
over - hundred. were tcrrori2cd. Some
OF thcm hUa1lod in little groups, chat
tcriu@ IN fear. Others crouched close
80 the deck, moaning pltifully. Many
jumped into the sea.
That the steamer sank almost imme-
GiaIoly after striking Is the report OF
a majority OF those rescued.
There are several conflicting stories
concerning the fate of Captain Ward.
The steward of the Rio says that he
stood beside tie captain when the vcs-
sci went down. Two other survivors
say that they also saw the captain TO
the last, but Frederick Lindstrom, the
uuartcrmastor officer of the Rio. ON
rhntlcaliy declared that Captain Ward
emulnted Admiral Trion OF her British
mnjesty's ship. Victoria. In going down
to his cabin. whc"e he met his doom
behind locked door.
Pilot Jordan's Story.
Pilot Jordan made the following
statement: when the vessel struck
ordered all the bouts ont. The first
boat out was that of the doctor. 1t
was hmlf iillcl with water 10 sooner
than she struck. | got ladder and
placed woman on IT, and we began