The San Francisco call., 1905-08-18
Ship Forced There
by Strong Tide
and Winds.
Is Pulled Off With
Little Signs of
Damage.
Has Bennington in
Tow at Time of
Accident.

The United States cruiser Chicago. flag
ship OF the Pacific squadron and about
The only war vessel on this station that
was not suffering some moro or less seri-
Gus disability, yesterday Joined the ranks
q the candidates Tor the repair shop.
She hrst po1ed her nose into a corral
or rocks on the Angel Island beach. and
when, an hour later, she was pulled into
oeep water by the navy tug Fortune, she
collloed with the Bennington The Chi
eago Is thought 10 have escaped serious
damage from the rocks, but in the col
hsion one Of her plates was started and
IL was with her forward bulkheads closed
and a mat over the dent in her side
that the leaking flagship came to an an
chor of Clay-street wharf.
The Chicago had been ordered to San
Diego 10 bring up TO Mare Island Navy
\ ard the nl-fated bennington. With the
Bennington IN tow, the Chicago left San
Diego Monday afternoon. The tug For
tune acted as convoy.
The Chicago arrived off this port early
yesterday morning, but as there was a
heavy log OF the bar she waited until IL
clock before she passed in. With her
tow and convoy, the Chicago steamed
slowly through the Golden Gate, and
passed up the bay between Alcatraz and
Angel islands on her way through Rae
coon straits 10 Mare Island. When the
Chicago was nearing Point Knox, Cap
tain E. X Moore ordered the vessel
stopped, so d boat could be lowered 10
take dispatches and letters ashore for
Washington, D. c. At this time there
was a heavy wind, and a strong flood
tide was running which had been slowly
carrying the Chicago and the Bennington
toward the west shore Of Angel Island.
After the boat had been lowered, Captain
Moore ordered the Chicago ahead under
slow steam. She had only got under way
when she suddenly stopped, having run on
a projecting reef She was at this time
about 800 yards from the shore. AS soon
as she hit the reef the engines were
stopped. The Bennington crew saw the
plight the Chicago was IN, and at once
dropped anchor. Captain Moore signaled
the Fortune 70 come alongside and make
fast 10 a line from. the Chicago's stem
Al the same time he sent a wireless tele-
graph 10 Nerba Buena, asking the depart
ment there TO send two powerful tugs TO
the ChicagO's assistance.
An immediate response was received
from Yerba Buena that the tugs would
be sent. In the meantime the Fortune
had stretched a long hawser to the Ch.-
cago, and, as the tide was rising, under
her own steam and with the Fortunes
assistance the Chicago was easily pulled
of the reef As she slid away the heavy
breeze and the strong current carried her
up against the prov Of the Bennington,
with the result that a seam was started
in the Chicsgo's starboard side. letting
the water into one Of her compartments
which contained ships stores. A collision
mat was thrown over the damaged plate,
and the flow Of water stopped. In the
meantime the Chicago had been pulled
out into the stream, and under her own
steam proceeded TO her anchorage.
The damaged plates will be adjusted the
first thing this morning by the crew on
the ship. Later in the day she viii go
I'D 70 Mare Island, where she will be
docked TO see If there is any damage TO
her keel In response to Captain Moores
appeal for assistance the tugs Defiance,
Relief and Slocum went TO the scene, but
they arrived after the Chicago was pulled
on
The Bennington looked little the worse
for the terrible experience she had been
through in San Diego Her hull was
painted a bright white, and her decks
looked as clean as pumice stone could
make them On board were the surviving
members Of her crew. They were grouped
about the deck, and seemed 10 be thank-
ful that they had been spared the awful
fate Of so many Of their companions.
As soon as the Chicago had steamed
away the tug Fortune attached long
chain to the bow of the Bennington, and
the tug SotoyOme made fast TO the Ben
ningtons starboard side and began 70
tow her through the Raccoon straits up
the bay to Mare Island.
Captain Moore reports that the trip up
the coast was uneventful. The weather
was pleasant up TO Wednesday, when
they ran into a heavy fog. The Chicago
steamed eight miles an hour on the
trip up.