The San Francisco call., 1909-04-05

SAVE ALL
ON BOARD
Summoned by Wireless When
Big Vessel Goes Ashore
in the Fog
Passengers Are Transferred to
Cruisers, but Captain Re-
mains by Vessel
Ship and Cargo Expected to Be
Total Loss, Approximate
ing S5O0,00O
Pacific Mail s. S. Co. Has Addi-
ton to Long List of Marine
Disasters
n URsUED by the same fate which

n URSUED by the same fate which
has sent numerous other vessels
of the Pacific Mail steamship
company to their doom in the last
half century, the steamship Indi-
ana, Captain J. F. Robinson, IS
grinding to pieces on the rocks of
Point Tosco, off the coast of Mexico.
The i'll fated ship, bound for San
Francisco from Panama. with 40 pas
sengers and a full cargo, has been
on the rocks for more than SO hours
All of the passengers have been res
cued by the ships of Admiral SWIM
burne's feet, which were in redezvous
in Magdalena bay, and were sum
moned hurriedly by wireless to the
scene of the disaster The ship and
cargo, valued at more than $SOO,OO0,
may be a total loss
Wireless Brings Aid
Wireless telegraphy, which played
such an important part in the saving
of hundreds of lives on the Atlantic
coast, when the famous &C O D'
message was flashed from the French
liner Republic after she had been
rammed and was in sinking condi-
ton, was the means of summoning
aid to the i'll fated Indiana. While
the ship was pounding on the rocks,
the cruiser West Virginia, Admiral
Swinburne' flagship, saw the distress
signals which were sent up, and inn
mediately summoned by wireless the
cruiser Albany, with the tugs For
tune and Navajo, which were in Mag
dalena bay.
The ships of lighter draft were
able 10 go close to the wreck and take
OF all of the passengers and are now
standing by ready to lend assistance to
the captain and crew. who will stay
with the vessel as long as she holds
! together The news of the wreck was
! flashed to san Francisco yesterday By
wireless.
The Indiana. loaded with $500 tons
of cargo and carrying 40 passengers.
left Mazatlan. Mex, Thursday to make
the run to San Francisco. Rounding
Point Tosco. the southern extremity or
Santa Margerita island. in a dense fog.
/ the ship was carried out of her course
by the strong currents and on Saturday
evening went crashing on the rocks.
Distress Signals Sent Up
| Distress signals were sent up and
after several hours an answer was re-
ceived from the West Virginia. which
was cruising along the coast. The bat
tleship stood by and Immediately flashed
wireless messages across Santa Mar
( gerita island to the cruiser Albany in
/ Magdalena bay. The sea was calm and
/ the Indiana was lying in a protected
position. but her hold began hoodins
soon after she struck.
! The Albany. accompanied by the tugs
Fortune and Navajo. arrived on the
scene early yesterday morning and thu
two small vessels were able to run al
most alongside OF the liner. The pas
sengers. mail and purser were trans
ferred to the battleships. where all are
being cared for. Captain Robinson an
nounced his decision TO stay with his
ship as long as she held together. The
battleships and tenders are standing
close by. ready to pick up the master
and crew should it be necessary for
them to leave the ship.
Early yesterday morning the wire
less station at Goat island picked up
the news OF the Indiana disaster. which
had been relayed from Point Iona
The MESA ges. which were sent by
the West Virginia. stated that all OF
the passen gers were safe. but that the
ship would probably be total loss.
AT the time the message was sent
there were 1s feet OF water in the
hold. and the engine rooms were
flooded.
Orders Sydney to Scene
H A Frye. acting general manager
of the Pacific Mail company was moth
fed Of the disaster and Immediately
wired to Acapulco. Mexico. orders for
the steamer City of Sydney. which Is
due there tomorrow. to proceed. at once
TO Point Tosco. where she will take
the passengers from the battleships
and bring them to San Francisco.
There is not the slightest reasons
for any uneasiness on the part of rel