Evening journal., 1901-02-23

''NN' ''"fN ni" llte tdAla. lnero was moi
much confusion until Is minutes after
striking the bow Of the vessel sudden
~ plunged under water Then there
was Wild rush for the boats. Two
boats had already been lowered. and
others We're getting away as rapidly
as the trained discipline of the crew
could prepare them. A thick fog en-
| veloped everything. and as vet no sign
! had come from the life saving stations
! Darkness was all about. and with this
added horror the people on the Rio
had to cope.
One boat got clear Of the vessel With
out damage This contained the fol-
| lowing persons.
Mrs. West. Mrs. Ripley. Chief Enai-
neer Herlihey Second Oficer Coehlan.
/ Frank Cramp. J. r. Russell. store
keeper Borgg. Water Tender ID. Lane.
| Quartermaster r. Mathieson and Cant
Hecht, of the German navy.
Another boat. containing Third Of
heer Holland and J. X. 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 We're uninjured and swan
away from the sinking steamer Just
in time to avoid being caught I'm the
swirl Of water by the settling Of the
big ship. Carpenter was picked up by
the other boat The fate OF Hollard
IS not known, but he 10 supposed 60
have parished
a number Of Italian fishermen who
were just starting out saw the sinking
OF the Rio, and at once hastened 10
render every assistance in their power.
The Heroism OF Captain ward.
While all this was going on Capt.
Ward was directing the passengers and
trying 20 keep them from panic. lie
succeeded only partially. as many OF
the terrified people rushed to the rail-
ings and jumped overheard. Some OF
these were picked up. others were
drowned The Chinese crew. TO the
number OF more than a hundred. was
terrorized. Some of them huddled i'm
little groups Chattering In fear. Others
crouched close to the deck. moaning
pitlfully. Many jumped into the sea.
capt. Ward remained on deck until
the vessel had settled 10 such an ex-
tent that the water was engulfng
him. Then he went up ON the bridge
and from there confined to issue his
directions, although by this time the
confusion was so great that few paid
any attention to his commands.
Ihat the steamer sank almost Inn
mediateiy after striking is the report
OF majority OF those rescued Some
OF the passengers say that she In
stantly listed forward and that I'm five
minutes she went down. while othors
declare that she stayed anoat for half
an hour after she struck. The con-
fusion occasioned by such an incident
Is intense and it is not surprising to
find that there is a lack OF manimity
as to the length of time the vessel re-
mained above water
The wreck lies about three-fourths
OF mile south of Fort Point and
about O thousand yards off the rocky
shore. The smokestack and a portion |
Of the upper works Of the IN fated
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 survivors saw 1
that they also saw the captain to the |
quartermaster of the Rio. emphaticallv /
declared that Capt. Ward emulated
Admiral Tyron, Of her British ma
lesiys snip Victoria, i'm going down TO
MS eaDin, where he met his doom be-
hind locked door.
Ounriermaster Lindstrom was one Of
the first TO land at Meiggs wharf. 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 con-
7ulting with Pilot Jordan. came down
from the bridge. lie was standing on
The deck when the vessel crashed upon
The rock.
There was a cry Of imam the boats"
but IL was apparent that IN the midst !
lf the awful confusion a systematic
sifort to save the passengers would be
lt no avail. Everybody was scram-
bling for his own safety
Captain Locked Himself In Ills Cabin
It was at this time that Lndstrom /,
says he say Capt Ward standing on !,
he forward deck. Suddenly the can d.
ain turned and walked hurriedly 10 A
lis cabin, disappeared behind the door. In
which he closed. a second later the p,
,essel was plunging to the bottom Of
he sea.
Capt. Frederick W. Jordan, the pilot ,
II the Rio, was rescued by an Italian q
ishing boat, owned by Frederick Cas-
rini, and was brought to Meigg's sta !
ion about 10 q. m, Along with him h
vas a japanese and Philip Nussen- IN
,latt.
Rounseviile Wildman first came into y
locally when he pur- I,
hased The Overland. which he owned a
nd edited for some years. prior 10 en- In
ering the consular service at Hong
Kong. He was on his way home on II
cave Of absence, with his wife and r
amily Mr. Wildman married Miss 6
-ettie Aldrich. daughter OF Mrs. Louis n
lidrich, a sister of United Stntes Sew r
tor Stewards WIFE, Mrs. Aldrich IS 4
ow in this city. where she has been a
waiting the home coming Of her IT
aughter. In
V,aff,, g. - Ih