Los Angeles herald., 1905-10-01
ALAMEDA RUNS
ON THE ROCKS
PASSENGERS ARE ALL SAFELY
RESCUED
Accident Occurs just Inside Heads
of San Francisco Bay as Vessel
Starts on Voyage to
Honolulu
BY Associated Press.


ship company's liner Alameda which
went ashore this morning, was still
fast on the rocks off Fort Point, just
inside the heads and not far from
where the Rio Janeiro is supposed 20
have gone down. Lighters are along
side and her cargo is being taken off.
1t is reported that the vessel is leak
ing. indicating that her bottom is dam
aged.
When the steamer went on the rocks
Captain Thomas Dowdell was in COM
mand and Pilot C. B. Johnson was
directing her course. In addition to a
cargo valued at 100000 the Alameda
had on board thirty-six passengers.
The vessel went ashore during
heavy fog, which shut down suddenly
and lifted almost as quickly, but only
after the damage had been done. Tbs
lifting of the fog, however, greatly
facilitated the work of rescuing the
passengers, which was done skilfully
and expeditiously. All were trans
ferred to the revenue cutter Golden
Gate without discomfort, and subse-
uuently landed at Pacific street wharf.
The Alameda left her wharf at IL
a. m. for Honolulu. AS she passed the
Presidio the mists suddenly swept IN
from the sea. Pilot Johnson gave or
ders to slow down and he and Captain
Dowdell listened for the guiding sound
of the Lime Point or Fort Point whis-
ties.
AS they listened the liner was caught
by a whirl of the flood tide and car
ried toward the rocks where she now
rests. She struck gently. None of the
passengers had any idea that the
vessel was aground. When the en-
gines stopped most of the passengers
thought the stop had been made to let
off the pilot and it was only when the
fog lifted and they saw the fort LOOM
ing up over the bow that they knew
why the Alameda was no longer going
ahead.
All on board join in paying tribute to
Capt. DowdelTs GOODNESS, which was
largely responsible for the calmness
with which the passengers met the
situation when they learned the worst.
The discipline was perfect and fifteen
minutes after the Alameda struck the
passengers filed into the dining saloon
and ate luncheon with much more COM
posure than some of them could have
commanded had she been out among the
off-shore swells.
After luncheon they were quietly told
to pack up their grips and prepare to
leave the ship. There was no hurry, no
excitement.
LIfeboats Come to Rescue
A few seconds after the liner struck
one of the whistles for sound of which
her navigators had been straining their
ears, was heard right ahead. 1t was
the Fort Point fog signal. Five minutes
later the whistle at Lime Point blew a
mocking blast. Meanwhile the Ala
medals own whistle was shrieking, and
in response to her signals Of distress
boats were launched from the govern
ment lifesaving stations at Fort Point,
Fort Bonita and the Golden Gate sta
ton. The first named crew was the
first to reach the Alameda. Then the
fog cleared and the Point Bonita life
savers came alongside.
By one of the lifeboats a request for
assistance was sent ashore and tele-
phoned to the city. In a little more
than an hour after the Alameda struck
the passengers were all on board the
Golden Gate, comfortably watching the
efforts being made to drag the liner
from the rocks. In less than four hours
all hope of getting her afloat until the
next hign tide had been abandoned.
Lighters were alongside to receive
the cargo and powerful tugs were
standing by to render such aid as they
could. Captain Dowdell and crew are
still aboard.
List of Passengers
The full list of cabin passengers is