The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-02-18
PASSENGERS
SWEPT FROM
BOATS DECKS
Forward Part Of Boat Sub
merges Suddenly-Seven.
teen Are Rescued
LARGE CROWD ABOARD
State, Federal and HarbOr Of
ficials Start Inquiry as
TO Cause

San Francisco, Feb. 18.-(AP)-
At least eight persons were missing
today when police and rescuers
checked their reports in an effort to
ascertain the number Of casualties
in the accident to the ferry boat
Peralta, from whose decks an un-
known number of passengers were
swept into San Francisco bay. Re-
vised figures showed that eight per-
sons, believed to have been On the
boat last night failed to return to
their homes. The number OF pas
sengers swept into the water was
undetermined and investigators were
without any means Of checking.
Estimates of passengers were that
from 30 to 100 persons were pluuged
overheard. The official list showed
II had been rescued.
What caused submerging of the
forward part of the boat, as she
sped toward Oakland with a heavy
load OF commuters during the eve-
ming rush hour, likewise remained
undetermined.
No Bodies Found
Six persons originally reported
missing returned to their homes dur
ing the night. Search of the bay
up to daybreak failed to reveal any
bodies. State, federal and harbor
officials made an early start on
their inquiries but no new evidence
of what caused the accident was un-
covered at the outset.
The big electric driven ferry.
operating between San Francisco
and Oakland for the key route transit
system. was nearing its east bay
destination during the rush hour last
night when the accident occurred.
Although the ferry was not filled
to its capacity-4,OOO persons a
large crowd was aboard. MANY Of
these had gathered on the lower
forward deck.
Suddenly the ferry lurched down.
ward and the scores Of passengers in
the bow found themselves submerged
III the cold salt water. Dozens were
washed overheard. Pandemonium
broke loose among The others because
they thought the ferry was going
down. Women knelt on the decks
and prayed while the men attacked
lockers filled with life prescrycrs.
The air was filled with the cries
OF those struggling in the water and
the screams of women and children
with life preservers.
Crew Mans Lie Boats
The Pcralta's crew was ordered
10 the life boats as the big ferry
settled back on an even keel. Men
passengers threw life prcservers 70
those in the water. The ferry Hay
ward, which was passing the scene,
launched lifeboats, IS did tho naval
training station at Goat Island,
which is but few hundred yards
from the scene Of the accident.
Because OF the confusion it was
several minutes before life boats
were able to function. The choppy
waters Of the bay were strewn with
coats, hats and bits Of wreckagc.
Rescuers. handicapped by rapidly
falling twilight, were able to locate
persons in the water only with the
greatest difficulty.
Inc Hayward rescued seven per-
sons and the navy rescue party
picked up five or six. Others wera
taken in by the life boats from the
TeFdlta. Wnelner any OF the luck
less passengers swan the 800 or 400
yards to Goat Island ar the several
hundred yards to the Key Route
pier in Oakland was doubtful, as
none had been found this morning.
Cause Undetermined
Although the cause OF the affair
remained in question, the general
opinion was that the ship had be-
come bowheavy with passengers ca
ger to be first ashore and had
dipped into the sea in a downward
motion between swells.
The Peralta's water ballast tanks
were the center of the first inquiry.
Ballast tanks are carried to equalixe
the weight OF a shifting load. One
theory was that the forward ballast
tank, which had been filled while
the ferry was being loaded at San
Francisco, had not been empticl
and had added thirty tons to her
forward weight besides the unduiy
heavy load of passengers in that end
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