The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-01-04
The Unknown Makes No If
fort to Save.
SHE DISAPPEARS QUICKLY IN THE MIST
A Number Of the Steerage Passengers
Are Believed to Have Been Crushed
by the Blow by Which the Walla
Walla's Hull Was Burst Open. Others
Are Drowned in the Swamping Of a
Boat.
tBy the Associated Press }

San Francisco JAN "a collision at
sea early Thursday morning between the
steamship Walla Walla and an unknown
sailing vessel, resulted in the sinking of
the steamship and the probable loss of
at least twenty lives.
The Walla Walla owned by the Pacific
Coast Steamship Company, sailed from
San Francisco January l. for Puget Sound
ports. She carried thirty-six first class
passeners, twentyeight second class and
a crew of eighty men, When off Cape
Mendocine on the California coast, at
f:10 o'clock Thursday morning an iron
bark. believed to be French. 1oomed UP in
the haze and crashed into the Walla
Walla's bow. Then the sailing vessel
slid off into the darkness and was seen
no more.
All the passengers and crew of the
Walla Walla except the few on watch
were asleep, but We're aroused by the
crash. The steerage quarters were in
the bow and it is believed that some of
the steerage passengers and crew were
crushed to death. A big hole was made
in the steamers bow and she sank III
thirty five minutes. The officers and
crew maintained strict discipline and
beats and life RATS were lowered.
All who were not killed in the collis
ion got Off, except CAPTAIN Hall, who went
down with his ship. He was picked up
later by one of the boats, uninjured, with
the exception of few bruises.
A choppy sea was running and the
small boats could not make landing on
the shore, a few miles distant. They
drifted about all day, ana finally sixty
five people were picked up by the steam
er Dispatch, which took them to Eureka
Another boat under command of Engin-
Ger Brown and containing thirteen per-
sons attempted to land at Trinidad, and
was swamped. John Wilkinson, quarter
master: William Martel, fireman.; L..
Drube. passenger, and three unknown men
were drowned. Those in the boat VINO
were saved were Engineer Brown, Fire
man John Mcclellan, Coal Passer William
shinn. Sailor O'Leary, Chief Cook Mar
shall and Passengers William B. Smith
and William MooTehouse.
When the DisVatch reached Eureka
thfs morning 9th the survivors tugs
we're Immediately sent out for missing
boats The tug Ranger picked up one
containing eleven passengers and three
of the crew.
The Walla Walla was valued at about
$3.50. 900. She was formally used as
collier and about ten years ago was con-
yerted into a passenger vessel at cost
Of S175. 900. The vessel was insured Tor
about $1,000
A STORY OF THE DISASTER.
George Reise, of San Francisco, a mem
her of the crow, gave the following ac-
count of the disaster:
"It was 410 when the French vessel
bit the Walla Walla in the bow. All
were asleep. The weather was clear, the
sea was rolling high. All were panic
stricken. The passengers all rushed out
of their state-rooms and the deck was
crowded. CAPTAIN Hall went down into
the steerage and found family of seven
fastened into room by the force of the
shock tanning the door Two girls of
12 and IA years. were pinioned beneath
fallen timbers. The girls were released
and the family assisted out OF their
berths, The captain said the Vessel
would sink. and all hurriedly prepared
to leave. l.lleDOdIS duQ fdito WIZ io'
cred: life preservers were put on ana
the passengers lowered to the boats. me
collision happened at 4:10. and the YES
sci did not sink until AS, giving the
crew and passengers 80 minutes to leave
the steamer. Sixty-three were lowered,
the life saving boats then being filled.
Panic reigned among the remaining pas
sengers; women screamed and men and
boys hurriedly jumped overheard. Sew
eral did not leave until the vessel be-
gan to sink.
THE officers were cool and
collected. doing everything possible to
save the passengers. No one knows ex-
actly how and why the collision occur
red. excepting the second officer, and he
is missing. Immediately after the coll
lision the French vessel withdrew and
apparently made no effort to render as
ssta
"Wc were drifting here and there,