Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1912-03-19

Tho victim of a sOuthcastCr, one OF
the worst that has struck the south
"rn coast Of California in years, the
Associated Oil COmpany's tanker Rus-
,crans. which was regularly engaged
in the transportation Of fuel oil be
tween Gaviota and the Hawaiian lsl-
nuds. b. hopeless wreck on the rocks
OF AIcatrHz, thirty miles to the north
Of Santa Barbara.
The wreck Of the ROscCrans also
claimed two victims, they being Quar-
tcrmastor Arnold Muhlberg and viii
liam Wcymau the ships carpenter
Muhlbcrg was yainly trying 10 launch
a iiiobuat from the port side of the
RUseCrams when lie was struck by Il
puudcrOus wave that completely en-
v"ioped the steamer and he was never
seen again. Weyman put up brave
fight for his life battling IN the waves
for NOR" than half an hour when he
was forced to Civ" mp owing to the
watorlprging Of the buoy to which he
had been climging Already weak aft
or many hours Of hard work on the
Nl'illI''lt W ~ NAN w llllll lhl dll al-
tempt to swim through the breakers
ana with Il farewell wave To the crew
and many spectators on the shore sank
into watery grave.
The ships crew tOtaled thirty-siX
men, and that more lives were not lost
was due 10 the heroic efforts of $. j.
Osborne and other Southern Pacific
employees, who were rushed tO the
scene. with ropes and brooches
buoy thirty-fOur of the crew were safe
lily landed, though all were nearly eX-
haustcd and faint from their strenu-
Ions experience throughout the stormy
night
The Associated Press dispatches re-
CeiyCd at the time Of the disaster gave
only meager detail of the disaster,
which Is one of the worst that has Oc
CURED on the Southern California
couaD in q long time.
The tosccrams had Just returned
from Honolulu and was to take ON oil
at AIcutraZ. where the Santa Maria
pipe line reaches the coast. Anchoring
about 500 yards OF shOr" after a fierce
battle with the elements. the Rose.
Grams rode the waves until about !
O'Clock. when the storm broke with in
creased fury. To attempt to get out
side, III" officers agreed. would be-
lurIhardy. Captain Johnson ordered
both anchors ont, but, despite these
and the strength of the reversed en-
gines, the ship was slowly drawn
nearer and nearer the rocks.
All hop" Of saving the Rosccrans was
abandoned by her captain. Lucan f..
johnson, when the hole aupCared In
her side ana the engine was Hooded
Prior to that time the wireless opera.
tor had been frantiCally calling for aid
land having received no answer from
san Pedro II was believed that a res.
lCulng boat might arrive on the scene
in due time. Later it developed that
! the lumber schooner Dispatch had
heard the distress signal for aid at
about the break of day and she steam
ted alongside only to find that she
could do nothing to save the partly
lsunken craft.
j. \. Johnson, the first mate, wa
free 10 discuss the wreck, stating that
the blame could be attributed sulcly
to the unexpected storm.
The RoscCrans Is an iron vessel 33C
feet long aud 297O gross tonnage. Sh,
twas built In Glasgow. Scotland, il
1883 for the Castle Steamship line ana
for long time ran between London
ana Cape Town being known as the
Mcthyem Castle. During the Spanisl
war she was purchased BY the Untcc
states Government and placed in the
transport service and was regular
visitor to Honolulu, when sold to the
I"iI company. She is valued at about
| $500 900
When III" Rnsccrans sailed from San
francisco bound for Gayiuta. the YES,
sci was manned by II crew of thirty.
six, including the following officers: