The San Francisco call., 1910-11-23
Norwegian Ship SeIia Rammed
in Fog by the Beaver and
Goes Down With Chi
nese Sailors
TREACHER0US MIST CLAIMS
ANOTHER MARINE VICTIM
Faithful Celestial Servant Car
ries Children to Safety and
Falls Exhausted in Boat;
Is Hero of Wreck
CAPTAINS WIFE SAVES
LIFE OF DROWNING MAN

TIE treacheroUs fog which has
hung along the California coasf
for the last two weeks claimed
another ship as its victim when the
Norwegian steamer Selja, bound from
Yokohama to this port, was rammec
and sunk by the coast line steamer
Beaver at a point about five miles due
west Of Point Reyes at 3:17 O'Clock
yesterday afternoon. The Beaver
opened up a 20 foot hole in the No. {
hatch Of the selja, just forward OF
midships, and Is minutes later the
Selja turned its bow downward and
disappeared under the waves, carrying
death TO two members Of the Chinese
crew who ventured below to obtain
clothing.
Five minutes after the boats struck.
s. o. S." the international wireless
call Of distress. was flashing up and
down the coast, and half a dozen ships
we're preparing to make the run to
the aid Of the Beaver when the fash
came that the coaster was slightly
injured and had picked up the officers
and crew Of the Selja and was re-
turning TO San Francisco. Six hours
after the Beaver had put TO sea the
steamer was back at its berth at pier
40 with all excepting two OF the selja's
crew safe and sound
Scores on Beaver
The Beaver left port at 1:15 in the
afternoon with IO5 passengers for
Portland Just outside the heads a
heavy fog was encountered and Cap
tain William Kidston rang down the
engines to half speed. Just of Point
Reyes the fog whistle Of the Selja was
heard. The Beaver answered. The
signals were repeated. Ten seconds
later the outline of the Selja loomed
through the fog and the Beavers en-
gines were Immediately reversed. The
selja. which was putting of from
shore 10 get back on its course, at
tempted to cross the bow OF the
coaster. The momentum of the Beaver.
aided by heavy tide, set at naught
the efforts of the officers to avoid the
collision. and with the sound Of
ripping plates and spIintered timbers
The knifehke PROV Of the Beaver cut
into the side OF the Selja
Fro mall accounts there was no great
excitement on board either steamer as
with its engines shut down drifted on
the placid sea Two boats were low
cred from the Beaver Immediately and
two boats dropped from the port and
starboard side OF the Selja. The only
laishap IN the transferring OF the crew
Of the Norwegian steamer to the Beaver
occurred when the boat on the star
board side Of the Selja, which con-
tained three Of the Chinese crew and
the ships papers of value. was smashed
against the side OF the steamer and the
men thrown into the water. Another
boat was quickly lowered and the three
men picked up. but the papers were
lost
Transfer Speedy
The tranfsr was made with splendid
speed. The first boat to put out from
the selja contained Mrs. o. Lie. wife Of
the captain of the sinking ship; Chris
tine Lie. her year old daughter; Hans.
her 3 year old son, and Lee Yung, a
Chinese servant Of the captain. besides
a dozen members of the Chinese crew.
This boat was closely followed by the
three others. and before the Selja had
settled half way in the water the crew
and omcers were safely aboard the
Beaver.
The calmness Of the sea when the
ships struck undoubtedly accounted for
the small loss OF life. The passengers
on the Beaver spoke mostly OF the
! faithful service rendered to Mrs. Lie
and her two children by Lee Yung, the