The San Francisco call., 1906-09-10
Topeka HAS CLOSE
CALL ON POINT
ARENA REEF.
Pacific Coast Steamships
Vessel Badly Injured on
Rocks in Early Morning
PASSENGERS RUSH
ON TO THE DECK
Big Holes Bored in Bottom
of Steamer, but She Is
Safely Brought to Port


Steamship company's big steamship
City Of Topeka might now be lying at
the bottom of the Pacific instead of at
the Broadway wharf Before the dull
light Of early morn broke yesterday
the Topeka struck twice upon the
jagged rocks that project from Point
Arena Captain Swanson and his off,
GERS proved equal to the emergency,
and by dint Of hard work at the pumps
and q bit of good fortune the good
ship was steered from her precarious
position.
It was shortly after o'clock yester-
day morning when the City of Topeka
hove in sight Of the Point Arena light
station The boat was sailing at a
good speed when suddenly there was a
crash. grating sound and a splash.
all Of which told only too plainly that
the boat had struck rock.
Before the officers fully realized
what had happened the ship managed
TO right herself again and like mon
ster OF the deep rose in the air, listed
and a second later struck upon the
rock again. For a moment it appeared
TO the captain that his ship was
doomed. but again the boat rose. and
this time she plunged from the threat
ening rock projection and out in deep
water
When the Topeka struck upon the
rock the first time every man. woman
and child on board rushed franticeily
upon deck Every one OF them rea..zee
that the boat was in danger. When
the second 5ar occurred panic was
threatened.
MEN ORDERED TO THE PUMPS.
Back to your cabins, there is moth
ing TO fear" roared the captain as
half-clad men and women dashed out
upon the deck crying for life pre-
servers and life boats.
Captain Swanson did not lose his
presence Of mind. He ordered the pas
sengers inside and with lightning
speed set about getting the pumps to
work The men responded faithfully.
the pumps worked smoothly and soon
the big ship was at a safe distance
from the treacherous rocks and on her
way to this city.
According to the officers and the pas
sengers light fog overhung the sea
when the Topeka struck They agree
on the statement that the fog horn
At Point Arena did not blow q note
until half an hour later when the big
boat was well on her way to this
port. so that the officers of the ship
had no warning when they were near
danger.
Captain Swanson and his officers say
that they took their bearings as usual
when passing Mendocino Point. There
IS great undercurrent in this
vicinity and the captain says it was
due 10 this that the Topeka swerved
nearly three miles out of her course
and on 70 the rocks of Point Arena
HOLES RENT IN BIG SHIP.
The Topeka left Eureka at $50 D. m.
on Saturday, and was on schedule
time when she struck She arrived
here yesterday at noon. The pas
sengers were told that the accident
was a mere trihe and We're requested
70 say nothing about it. The officials
OF the Pacific Coast Steamship Com
pany did all in their power to keep
the news under cover, realizing how
very near their boat came to going to
the bottom with all on board.
An examination of the ship at
Broadway dock showed two big holes
made by the treacherous rocks The
one on the starboard side is about
twelve inches wide, and the other on
the port side about six inches.
The water poured into these open
ings and it was all the pump men
could do TO keep the hold of the ship
clear. They worked necessarily till
port was reached. and though many of
them were reasy to drop from fatigue
they stuck to their posts and saved
the boat
This is the second narrow escape the
Topeka has had from a watery grave.
Early in April. 1899. while plying be-
tween Seattle and Skagway. during the
gold excitement. the Topeka went on
the rocks in the south wedge of the
Nrangel Narrows, of the Alaskan
coast It was feared that the boat
would be a total loss. but divers man.
aged 10 get her of the rocks, though
her heavy cargo was lost, together
with a portion OF her fittings
The Topeka is one OF the Oldest
and best known boats owned by the
Pacific Coast Steamship Company. and