A SCRAMBLE FOR THE BOATS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 47, 25 February 1901, Page 5

A SCRAMBLE FOR THE BOATS.

(By Cable—Presp Association.) Copyright.) SAN FRANCISCO, February 23. The Pacific Mail Company's steamer City of Rio de Janeiro, from Hong Kong and Yokohama, struck the ledge at the entrance to the Golden Gate, at San Francisco, during a fog. The crew numbered 140, and she cairied 29 cabin and 63 steerage passengers, the latter including seven whites. The sea was smooth, but the vessel foundered in 15 mmutes. One hundred and fifty persons were drowned. Details of the wreck show that Pilot Jordan on entering the Golden Gate warned Captain Ward that it was unsafe to proceed in the fog, but his advice was disregarded. The pilot shouted to all to take to the boatsThe Chinese aboard howled frantically, and women screamed piteously. Everybody scrambled for the bouts, and some jumped overboard. Captain Ward placed the women in the boats, manned partly by male passengers and partly by the crew. Out' boat load swamped and another was impaled on a spar while trying to escape the suction from the sinking steamer. The Captain locked himself in the state-room and sank with the ship. Captain Hocht, of the German navy, saved himself by means of a lifebelt. , Te missing include R. Wildmnn, American Consul-General at Hong Kong, and Ms wife and two children, i