The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-08
More Than Twenty Report ed Drowned Trying to
 Escape in Boats
VARIOUS REPORTS
 ABOUT FATALITIES
Late Dispatches Say Stca mship Officials Declare Loss of iife Was Small-The Steamer
 Goes to Pieces

San Francisco, July 7.-(Bulietin.)--
 Second Officer E. Hcwsou and three m m bers of the crew Of the Santn Rosa
 were the only ones drowned when she broke up tonight off Point Arguello,
 according to latest ndy1ces received at
 the Pacific Coast steamship company's office here.
 These men lost their lives, it Is re-
 ported, while trying to put line
 ashore.
 Removal of the passengers and crew
 began at 5:45 D. m., and wns com
 pIcted at 10:2O. \ special train left
 Honda. Cal, for Los Angeles nt II D. m.
 There was suffering among the pas
 senEers. The telegram was signed by
 F. W. Barry, assistant to the superin- tendent of the company.
 Surf. Cal. July 7.-Twenty or more pas sengers and members of the crew of the wrecked steamer Santa Rosa of the Pa cifc Coast Steamship line were drowned
 today in the surf while trying to escape from the vessel, which stranded near Point Arguello, six miles south Of here be- fore dawn today. In two lifeboats they left the ship, plunged into the surf and in A moment were foundering in the Wa ters The lives of some were pounded out against the rocks, while others sank. Several bodies washed ashore At O clock tonight the Santa Rosa was almost submerged and frantic efforts were made to save the rest of the 200 passen- gers still aboard. At that hour the gov ernment wireless station at Point Arguel- To reported the vessel broken amidsnips and that immense breakers were dashins over her. The ship will be a wreck and if seems certain that the number of dead will be large
 The doom of the steamer was sealed shortly after o'clock this afternoon when a rising wind stirred high sea and forced the abandonment of efforts to transfer the passengers to the lumber schooner Centralia, which, with the schooner Helen P. Drew, had previously tried to float the stranded craft Up to that time there was no apprehension of danger.
 The officers and crew of the santa Rosa thought she could be foated easily In fact Captain Faria answered wireless questions with the statement hat the ship apparently was lying easily and would be foated at the crest of tho tide tonight.
 | Early in the day the Centralia and Helen P. Drew had passed haWsers 10 the Santa Rosa but the wind was too strong for their limited horsepower and at dusk the Santa Rosa swung broatiside to the breallers c
 | Immediately she began to break up. The crash of timbers and steel could be heard by the wireless men at Point ArSuello Sixteen in First Boat The first lifeboat was launched at dark | after every effort lad been made to es- | tahlish boat communication with the Cen | tralia The shore line lay only 300 feet | from the broken ship but the little craft 1 could not make it. It bobbed on the l crest of the breakers and the next in stant was submerged. There were 1t nersons in this boat, II passengers and | i've of the crew. All were dashed to death against the rocks or drowned. Another boat was launched. It met the | s.mo fate. There were about 10 per sons in this boat Fifteen managed tt | reach shore alive but most of thems were unconscious. ,e l Scores of persons, ranchcrs from ths 1 vicinity of this place. railroad laborers
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