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Thirty-four Drowned

Thirty-four Drowned image
Parent Issue
Day
31
Month
August
Year
1888
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

The Bteamer City of Chester left her dook iu San Francisco at 9:80 the other mot-ning and xtarted on her recular trip to Eureka, on tlic northern coast of California. An unusually large number of passengors stood on her decks and waved adieu to friends who had gathered on the wharf. The Choater eteamod slowly down the bay, and when within two miles of the Heads encountered the thick íog so peculiar in that locality. Capt. Wallace of the City of Chester, began blowing his steatner's whistle to wam all vesselsoff hisapproach. The Chester proceeded cautiously on her course till off Port Paiut, when the hoarso sound of another whistle floated across the water. Capt. Wallace answered the slgnal and gave the proper warning to the stranger to pass on the port sido This was evidontly not undergtood, for in a moment those on board saw the huge prow of the Occidental and Oriental steamer Oceanic emerge froin the fog. The huge steamer was so close to the Chester that there was no possibility for the latter to escape. The cabin passengers were nearly all on deck, and the captain seeing the danger called U them to prepare for the shock, A panio ensued at once, particularly among the women and ahilaren, of whom thore was a large number. The Ooeanic struck the Chestor on the port side, at the gangway, and her prow cut into the Chester's upper works, and then crusheddownto the bulwarks, tearing great timbers aud iron pluti-s, and breaking into staterooms and cabins. The wildest confusión at once prevailed among the passenger. They crowded topether, shrieking with fear, while others were praying for help. The bow of the Oceanic crashed into the mjddle aection of the Chester, cutting her almoat into halves, and causing her to roei under the terrible Dlow. When the véasele wero locked a number of the CheBter's passengers wero passed up over the Oceanic'tt bow and rescued in thia way, but as aoou as tho largo steamer could clear heraelf ghe swung around and immodiately began to lower her boats. At the moment of the shock most of the offleers and crew of tho Chester seemed to loso possession of their senses, and several passengers stated aftervvard that somo of tho crew took tho lirst opportunity to climb aboard the Oceanic, and left the passengers to cut away the boats, and one of these was lowered as soon as possible and a uumber of passengere taken off in it. Others provided themselves with life preservers and jumpcd overboard, but the groater portiou were eoinpellod to remain on the steamer, which began to settle immodiately after. Torrents of water ruahed iuto her hold almost immediately, and in Uva minutos after the collision the Chester disappeared and gank in 50 fathoms of water. Those of the passenger and crew who camo to the surface were picked up by the Oceanic's boats, but the greater numbor were drawn down by the rushing water and never appearcd again. As soon as lt was known around the bay that a collision had occurred a number of tugs and boats of all descriptions went to their assistance and rendered what service they could iu pirking up the living or dead who wero floatiug among the wreckage. Tho greatest loss of life is believed to havo occurred among tho steerage passengers, of which there were Li aboard. They wore in the hold of the stcumer at tha time of the ; collision, and there was no opportunity to warn them of dauger or render any assistance afterward. Aside from the 21 steerage passengers. 10 of the cabiu pagsengerg and three of the i crew were drownod.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Democrat