RIO DE JANEIRO WRECK

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 72, 28 March 1901, Page 3

RIO DE JANEIRO WRECK

(Mail News.)

It was about half-past five a.m. when the ship struck a rock and went to the bottom within 10 minutes. It was in the dark that precedes the dawn, in the midst of fog, and most of tho passengers were asleep in their berths. Many went down with tho ship, and among these was Captain Ward, who, if ho was responsible for the error of judgment which caused the disaster, at least atoned as best he could by bravo conduct and fearless death. Four boats were lowered by the captain’s orders, but only two of them succeeded in clearing the sinking ship with passengers. Tho officers were cool, and all stood at their posts, when suddenly the great ship lurched forward and went to tho bottom, shaken in her last moments above the water by a terrible explosion. Gray fog closed in above the spot whore the steamer sank. It closed in upon the boats, which were making heroic efforts to save human beings who were struggling in the water. It closed relentlessly over these two, as they drifted toward the open sea, and beyond sight or reach of those who worked to save them.

Italian fishermen, who had spent the night in following their trade, were the only persons who heard any outcry or knew of trouble. Mateo de Janero, a fisherman hero, who managed to tow to shore a lifeboat from the ship with IS survivors, said that he was close inshore at the time, between tlic ship and Fort Point. He could not see the steamer, but heard her whistle and wondered at her being so close in. Suddenly ho heard a long blast of whistle and screams and shouts. ' For-

getting the caution with which he had been orooping through the fog, Janero pushed his naphtha launch to her full capacity and headed in the direction of the excitement. “ When I was within 150yds of the Rio,” said he, “ I saw a great black mass going down, which I could not make out to be a steamer, but I got close enough to see the masts disappear. I first saw two parts of a boat which had been broken. Tliero was no one near the floating pieces. Then I picked up a boat, in which were three women, 11 men, one Japanese, and three Chinamen. I tried to find someone else, and stayed near until the people in the boat were so cold and shivering I gave them all the clothing I could sparo aud started for the city. I landed tho party at Moiggs’ Wharf.” Tho arrival of this boatload of survivors was the first news people on shore had of the disaster. Of 207 people on board the steamer, 80 were saved. The following arc extracts from the testimony of Pilot Jordan before the coroner s jury: deck, and gave orders to go ahead, the fog would soon be past. Captain Ward was in absolute command. Wo were guided

by the sound of the whistles', aud knew , exactly where we were. I knew the usual tide, but the tide must have changed between Lime Point and Mile Rock on this morning.” It is admitted that the condition of the tides may have been unusual, and streams flowing into tho bay were all swollen by the heaviest rains which have fallen in California for several years past. “ I requested the chief officer to stand on the starboard side and listen for the Port Point bell. At that time I felt perfectly secure, and was as confident of my position as if walking along the street. I asked the officer every moment if he could hear the bell, and he said ‘ no, no.’ Suddenly the ship struck. I knew _at once where we were, for Rock Point light just then came full in my face. I never reported we struck anywhere else but Fort Point.” Second-officer Coghlan contradicted the pilot’s statement. He sakPCaptain Ward gave orders to heave, saying he heard Jordan give the order, Coghlan stated that Captain Ward tied one whistle-down, and he tied the other, as soon as the ship struck, in order : that they might- sound continuously; Chief-Engineer Herlihy told of having gone done to the depths with the vessel.He struggled to reach the surface, and was nearly drowned by a man who clung to his hack until he was finally pulled off , by men on the boat, which also picked up i tho engineer.