Los Angeles herald., 1905-10-06
GOES ASHORE ON
HUMBOLDT COAST
STEAMER ST. PAUL WRECKED
NEAR POINT GoRDA
Passengers and Crew Taken OFF With
Out Difficulty, but the Vessel
Is Expected to Be
Total Loss
By Associated Press.

EUREKA Cal, Oct 5.--The tug
Ranger arrived at 10 o'clock with five
passengers taken from the steamer st.
Paul which went ashore early this
morning near Point Gorda. Thirteen
of the st. Paul's passengers were trans
ferred to the steamer Pomona, when
left here today for San Francisco. The
remainder of the passengers and crew,
ninety-three in number, are supposed
to be on the steamer Vanguard, which
is now outside Humboldt bay unable
to cross the bar on account of heavy
weather 1t is possible, though, that
the Vanguard's passengers have been
also transferred to the Pomona.
When the st. Paul struck she was
fifteen miles out of her course. The
third officer was on the bridge at the
time. The steamer struck at 3 o'clock
this morning during dense fog.
The st. Paul lies in a nest of rocks,
bow to the northwest and with a slight
list to seaward, one and one-half miles
below Point Gorda. Apparently she is
in good condition, the sea having
smoothed down considerably since she
struck. 1t is smooth between the
wreck and shore, but rough on the out
side.
Eureka Communicated With
That some big craft had met disaster
down the coast was first reported to
Eureka this morning at 9:15 o'clock,
when a message came summoning a
tug. The identity of the vessel was
then unknown, and it was decided to
await the coming of the steamer Ro-
anoke, which, it was thought, might
have some news of the wreck. The
Roanoke had not seen any ship in dis
tress and life savers at once left the
city, departing about noon.
When the tug arrived this evening,
all the passengers were still on the ST.
Paul having preferred the ship, which
was in no danger to the rough hospita-
BILE coast with no protection. Two
hawsers had been sent ashore and the
passengers could easily have gone
ashore at any time had it become ne
cessary. The tug was gladly hailed, and
without loss of time everybody was
taken aboard without accident. The
tug then started for Eureka, leaving
the wreck shortly after dark. At that
time the sea was becoming smoother
and the hull of the vessel was resting
more easily. Although the vessel had
not begun to break up, she pounded
heavily at times. but the passengers
We're not alarmed after the first shock
of the early morning, when a majority
were in their berths.
Vessel Struck Gently
The ST. Paul is ashore at nearly the
same point where the old steamer
Humboldt was lost several years ago.
In that case, too, the passengers were
all saved but the vessel was a total
loss, as the st. Paul is likely to be. 1t
is believed the vessels plight was part
:, ly due to the heavy in-shore current,
which sets in at this time of the year.
All mariners have complained of it, and
a vessel once lost in the fog is FORUM
ate indeed If she succeeds in escaping
! it. 1t is extremely problematical how
long the st. Paul will be able to hold
together. Shipping men are not in
clined to think there is much chance
for salvage, as the vessel lies in a posi-
| ton Witch makes it impossible to reach
her by anything but small craft.
After striking the rocks the ST. Paul
sounded whistles of distress, but, ow-
ing to the early hour some time
elapsed before anyone arrived. The
distance from the wreck to the town OF
Petrolia is seven miles. Steps were
taken to guard against an emergency
it being uncertain what damage the
vessel had sustained and how long II
would be possible for the passengers
to stay aboard. Sailors embarking in
a small boat managed to get huge
hawser to land, and after securely
fastening it returned for another
which was landed more easily. The
passengers began collecting their val.
uables and bits of baggage. A stean
schooner, believed to be the Noyo
aided the Ranger in taking the pas.
lsengers from the wrecked steamer.