Arizona republican., 1918-09-27
SHIPS WRECKED TOWN DAMAGED
 BY HURRICANE
Havoc Wrought and Several
 Lives Lost In Tropical
 Storm Off Lower Califor- nia and Mexican Coasts

SAN DIEGO. Cal. Sept 26.-In a ter rife hurricane that ragged off the Lower California and northwest coast of Mexico Tuesday, September r, two United States shipping board vessels on their maiden trips were sunk: fleet of other craft was badly battered; tho Lower California town of La Paz was partially destroyed and the float ing equipment of the United States naval coal depot at Pichilinqu was damaged. News of the havoc wrought by the storm was brought here today by a long overdue fishing launch.
 Several residents of La Paz were re- ported killed. The crews of the ves- sels sunk were rescued by passing steamers after being adrift three days in open boats.
 Survivor Tells Graphic Story.
 The United States shipping board vessels that foundered after a terrific battle with mountainous seas were the steel steamer Blackford. northbound from an Atlantic port with a cargo of 5000 tons of coal, and the wooden steamer Coos Bay, bound south in bal last.
 William A. Brown. first mate of the illfated Blackford, arrived here as q passenger on the launch from Ma gda- lena bay. Brown related a graphic story on the loss of the Blackford. He said the steamer foundered at point about 250 miles south of Magdalcna bay. Huge seas smashed the ships rudder. With two blades of the pro- peller and the rudder stock twisted into a useless mass of bronze and steel. it was seen that the craft could not much longer remain afloat The ,.rn of ( lo, Yn the life boats.
 Rescued by Oil Tanker.
 On September 20. three days after the Blackford foundered. the life boats were sightedsand picked up by an oil tanker. which. with the crew of the Blackford aboard. remained in the south, short of fuel and provisions. No details of the loss of the Coos Bay have been received here with the exception that the craft foundered about 90 miles from where the Black ford went down. The crew were land ed at a Mexican port.
 La Pax Badly Damaged. The damage to the seaport of La Paz. according to Brown. will be heavy. | Brick and wooden buildings. he said, were razcd. The wharf at La Paz | is reported to have been almost totally destroyed. La Paz has a population | of about 5000 and is a shipping point | for practically all the agricultural and mining products of the southern part of Lower California.
 l Much of the damage sustained at the | naval coaling station at Pichiinque | which lies almost directly across the Gulf of California from La Paz. was l caused by the sinking of coal barges ! fFa .ttr lat hCg
 i Bark's Escape Miraculous. ] The Peruvian bark Quatre Hernanas | lad a miraculous escape from meeting ! the fate of the Blackford and the Coos | Bay. The Hermanas time and again was thrown on her beam ends, her cargo of ties and timber having been washed overheard. The craft finally reached Magdalena bay.
 1 A steamer towing two oil barges lost it's propeller during the height of the i hurricane and was forced to abandon l the two. No word has been received as to the fate of the barges The steamer reached a Mexican port. l The governor of La Paz telegrapheC to Mexico City asking for assistance for the poorer residents.
 1 Wreck Washes Ashore. TUCSON. Sept. 26.-The superin- tenueHl Ol tue Soutuern fdclIlc Qe Mexico railroad at Mazatlan reported 10 the chief offices of the Arizona & Eastern railroad here today that z
 wrecked steamer came ashore early yesterday morning. just off Redo Sinaloa, the hull bottomside up. Tn,
 cabin and upper wroks are on tho
 beach, Bouys and life preservers show
 the name of the steamer Blackford
 Aberdeen. Wash. Examination wa,
 made of the wreckage on the beach
 but nothing further discovered. Tn,
 boat was apparently wrecked in re
 cent hurricane some distance iron
 shore and had drifted in.