HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Herald, 1901-03-01, Page 6IDPE WET ROUTED,
IIE ES'CAPEI INA BOAT.
Invasion of Cape C !oily a Com-
plete
om-p ete `-allure.
GUNS ANI PIUS NLS CAPTURED
Sidling Gun Howard Killed ----French Sweeping the Countrylefore Nine-
ties Makes a Big katal of Prisoners, Wagons, Mules, Cattle, Sheep, etc,
----Methuen Clears the Country ,Ahead of Him and Captures Much Spoil
-General Botha May Surrender -Report That Delarey is a Prisoner
----Recruiting in the Northwest -Toronto Man Killed.
Cape Town, Feb. 22. --Gen. Methuen
tias captured a Boer laager near
Brakpan. The capture included forty
prisoners, many wagons, and much
*took., ,
Detailed by Kitchener.
Mantreal, Feb. 22. -It is reported
that Lieut. -Col. Gordon, formerly D.
0. 0. at Montreal, will remain in
Routh Africa, having been given com-
mand of an Orange River Colony dis-
„triat by Lord Kitchener.
-; a ,
To Build New Forts.
Montreal, Feb. 22. -Captain Bertie
O. Armatrong, iZ. E., son of Mr.
N. Armstrong, of this city, who.
has for a number of years been in
charge of the fortifications at Sierra
one, on the .west coast of Africa,
as fast bean 'ordered to South Al-
, and placed in charge of the work
construction of four new forts, de -
nod bbr the better protection of
e Twp. ,
for $25,000, Got Ouo Farthing.
Time Feb. 22. -Mr. Cart-
;, editor of the South African
who was• recently arrested on
•harge of printing a seditious
riminal libel, recently brought
teen against the Cape Times for
f3 damages for libel, the article
plained of having appeared in the
which is printed by the Times.
e ease was tried to -clay. and re-
ed in a verdiet of one farthing
sages for the plaintiff.
ach side was ordered to pay its
toots.
• f
eeTurdered a Native.
omen, Feb. 22. -In the House of
mmons to -day Rt. Hon. William St.
sa Brodrick, Secretary of War,
.-.a telegram from Sir Alfred Mil -
Governor -General of the Trans -
a3 and the Orange River Colony,
Barg that there was absolutely no
teat that the Boers had muredred
colored man Esau at Calvinie,
p Colony.
f ( i
Ncw Military Governor.
Cape Town, Feb. 22. -Major-General
etyatraan, formerly military Gover-
r of Bloemfontein, liar taken up the
nrinand of the troops at Kimberley,
e is succeeded by Major-General
oold-Adams, Lieutenant -Governor of
range River Colony. i,
Looting the 13i-ltish Stores.
Pietermaritzburg, Feb. 22.-Sensa-
nal developments are occurring in
naection 'tete a number of arrests
f persons along the railway charged
"ith theft of goods from the rail -
VMS Icyown for some months past
hat a leakage was occurring, and
he police had reason for the suspi-
ion that an organized gang was
t work. The stolen goods were
:Melly military stores consigned to
the front.
in the coarse of their search the
1etectives found a qua.ntity of sto-
ne goods at the suburban residence>
sr Mr. Bale, the Attorney -General, at
E131ton• road, between here and How-
ok, and Mr. Bale's caretaker was ar-
rested on suspicion.
The stationmaster there, seeing the
soiree, sprang on to a,n out -going
;rain, •awl has not been seen since.
it warrant is out for his arrest. Ru -
pour implicates several well-known
rfficiale, farmers, and merchants.
There is no doubt that if the mat -
ear is probed to the bottom It will
errs one to be one of the biggest
ienaations the colony has over ex•pe-
'lenes d. It is estimated that the Im-
perial Government has been robbed
of thousands of pounds in this way.
It is likely that one of the accused
rill turn King's evidence.
Insetting the Queen's Mesnory.
Kimberley, Feb. 22.-.A: local store-
:eeper has been convicted by the
military court here of traitorous and
listoyai language against . the late
Iaeen and the British Government,
end of disfiguring the Queen's pio-
ure. He was sentenced to twelve
months' hard labor, and to pay a fine
11 £800 or uudergo an additional six
months' imprisonment.
Another man was sentenced to pay
fine of £1.5O or undergo three
months Imprisonment for leaving
Cltnberley while on the suspect list.
Bid for Liberty.
St. Helena, Feb. 22.-A determined
Letompt to escape was made by flee
fauns prisoners at Sandy Bay, on Feb -
vary 2.
The then seized a fishing boat, but
le attempt was frustrated owing to
:he oars having been taken away.
rho men were ultimately taken into
' dy. A. military court of en -
Miry, has been held in the matter.
Questions ire Parliament.
London, Feb. 22. -In the House of
mons to -day ltr. T3rodriek, Sec-
tary of War, took occasion to offer
explanation regaterhug the retire -
mit of ilfnjor-Gen. Col1'Ilte, for which
(l1r.
13rodrick) had been so much
itk
Armes. {len. Colville, said Mr.
felt, had been sent home by
i 1Rebette for i.nefficlonoy in the
Gen. Colville had never been
'cal, and though his case had been
considered on his return to England,
and he had been allowed to resume
his command at Gibraltar, he had not
been exonerated from blame. Sub-
sequently, Gen. Sir Evelyn Wood, the
Adjutant -General, had brought the
Lindley disaster to Mr. Brodrick's
notice,.
After consultation with Lord Roleerts, who had advised that Gen. Col-
ville should not be allowed to retain
his command at Gibraltar, Mr. Brod-
rick had ordered action in accordance
with his advice.
Mr. Brodrick added that he under
stood the matter would be brought to
the attention of the House later, and
therefore he would defer a fuller
statement
to Mr. Redmond (Nation-
alist), Mr. Brodrick admitted Lord
Roberts had previously commended
Gen. Colville, but subsequent events
necessitated his removal from the
army.
Lord Cranborne, Parliamentary Sec-
retary for the Foreign Office, assured
Mr. William Redmond that the Em-
peror of Germany had not offered to
arbitrate the question of terminating
the war in South Africa.
Cost of the War.Replying to a question ou the cost
of the war, Sir Michael Hicks -Beach,
Chancellor of the Exchequer, said that
thus far £81,500,000 of bonds hadbeen issued, and the weekly issue
from was fro£1,000,000 to £1,250,000.
20,000 in the Field.
Mr. Brodrick imparted the luforma•
tion trat the Boers in the field had
recently been estimated at from 19,-
000 to 20,000. In January there were
16,000 Boer prisoners, ancl this num-
ber had since been increased.
DeWet's Chances.
London, Feb 23, 6 a.m.-Theheavyrains whichhave been falling in
Cape Colony have interfered with
the telegraph at the most exciting
moment of the Dewet chase, and
there is in consequence a dearth' of
news. According to Mr. Bennett
Burleigh, a few hundred of the Boer
raiders have succeeded in crossing the
flooded Orange River, while .De Wet
hinnetf is seeking to get away to
Griquatow•n and Friesen,. It Is con-
sidered extraordinary teat Com-
mandant Hartzog, who has been
hurrying north with a large supply of
remounts for Do Wet, should have
been a. month in the colony with•out
being brought to action.
Desrpatcites to the Daily Mail locate
General Do Wet in the angle be-
tween the Brak and Orange Rivers,
with• the British forces across the
base of the triangle. "Gen. De Wet
will evidently try to re -cross the
Orange River," says one correspon- d
dent. "He is greatly depressed IV
the dogged pursuit, and ho wept ,
when told of the British approach."
On the other hand, another official
statement issued in Cape Town says
it is expected that Gen. De Wet will
crass into Griqualand west and that
Col. Plainer is in close pursuit.
Strathconas in Lordon.
Among the souvenirs of the war
which Stratheona's Horne will take
back with, them to Canada is a mon-
key named jacks, given to one of the
squadrons by a Indy when the corps
was operating in the neighborhood of
Potchefstroom. Stratbeona's Horse
has been exceedingly popular in Lon-
don. Its visit hero has brought to
the corps two special distinetiens-
the honor of being the first regiment
to receive the war medal at the
hands of the King, and the honor of
being the first regiment to be pre- f
sented with a King's color in recog-
nition of services rendered on the d
field of battle, I , •c
London, Feb. 24. -Lord Kitchener a
telegraphs the War Office from
for
Middelburgh, under to -day's date, as b
"Col Firmer reports that on Feb. I g
23 Col. Owen captured De Wet's 15-
pounder, aa pom-pom, some carts full 1I
of ammunition. and 50 prisoners. We s
sustained no casualties. The enemy a
are in full retreat, a,nd are dispers- v
ing. They are being pursued vigor- s
ously. Do 'Wet's attempt to invade it
the Cape Colony, has completely
failed.." t
charged, capturing artillery and
many saddled horses, whioli the Boers
were unable to reach. Their cooking
pots, which wore full, and their other
belongings, were abandoned.
Another correspondent says that
Gen, De Wet's 1,500 men have dwin-
dled to 300. He and Mr. Steyn took
300 of the best horses, with which to
escape, Ile adds that Mr. Steyn, who
was formerly President of the Or-
ange Free State, addressed the fol-
lowers, many of whom were dis-
monnted and without shoes, Ho told
them that they must shift for them-
selves as best they could and return
to the Free State. Some of the Boers
obtained boats from !armors with
whieh to cross the river, Ex-Presideht
Steyn, Gen. D3 Wet and ills party
crossed the railroad at Krankuil, 60
miles north of De Aar, early Sun -
clay morning. They were closely
pressed by Thornycroft, and other
commanders, with (rose horses. A re-
port from Cape Town, however,
states that General De Wet, with a
handful of,foulowers, crossed the Or-
ange River in a boat.
Captured An Artillery. .
London, Feb. 25.-A correspond-
ent of the Daily Mail with Honniker's
column, wiring Saturday, says :
"Gen. De Wet was rousted yester-
day by Col. Piumnr, with whom were
Col. Kent -siker, Cra.ddoek, Jeffreys, and
Grabbe. This success was preceded by
a series of desperate attempts on the
part of the Boers to escape from tine
water belt of the Orange and tiro
Brak rivers.
"Gen. De Wet, after unsuccessfully
attempting to cross the Brak at Cliff
drift and the Orange at Reads drift
and Marks' drift, moved a]Ong fhb
bank of the Orange with one gun
and one pom-pom, and laagered op-
posite Kameel drift. At daten Col.
Plumer left Welgoven•tlen, twenty-
two miles west of the Boer camp, and
moved northeast.
"At Zuurgat he atta'cke3 the en-
emy, taking forty prisoners. The pur-
suit was continued during the after-
noon, the Boers moving toward
13oapetown.
"Toward evening, the leading
troops sighted the enemy, who had
laagered beyond gun range. Col.
Owen charged the mot where the
Boer artillery was supposed to be,
and captured the whole of it. The en-
emy fled, leaving their ,horses ready
saddled and their cooking pots full.
According to the latest reports only
four hundred Boers re -crossed to
the north' side of the river. The
Orange is greatly swollen."
Fleeing Prom French.
London,. Feb. 24. -The War Office
has received the following despatch
from Lord Kitchener :
"Middleburg, Transvaal, Feb. 2.4.-
French reports from Piet Retief, Feb.
22, that the result of the columns
sweeping the country east Is that
the Boers are retreating in scatter-
ed and disorganized parties to the
number of 5,000 in front of hiin.
"Amsterdam and Piet Better have
been occupied, and troops are pro-
tecting the Swazi frohtler. French
will push on, but is much hampered
by the continuous heavy rains.
"Summary of total losses inflicted
upon the enemy up to Feb. 18: 292
Beers known to ha,vo been killed and
wounded in action, 86 taken prison-
ers, 183 surrendered. One 15 -pounder
gun, 462 rifles, 160.000 rounds of
small arm ammunition, 3,500' horses,
70 mules, 8,530 trek oxen, 18, 700 cat-
tle, 155,400 sheep and 1,070 wagons
and carts captured.
"Our casualties: Five officers and
41. mer; killed and 4 officers and 108
men wounded
"I regret to say that Major How-
ard, a very gallant officer of the
Canadian scouts, was killed Feb. 17.
A GALLANT SOLDIER.Details of the Life of "Gatiing Gun"
Howard.
Ottawa, Feb, 24. -The news of the
eath of Major A. L. Howard, known
o all military men in Canada as
• Gat." Howard, came as a great
frock to els many friends in Ottawa.
As recently as last Friday a letter
was received from Major Howard by
lis old friend, Lieut. -Col. Sherwood,
commissioner of Dominion police, in
.which the writer said :•" I have added
to my battery a pom-pom, so we have
quite a force, six Colt guns, a pom-
pom and 100 scouts. We have had
two brushes with the enemy sine
yon left, and made them hump each
time. We were paraded by the gen-
eral and given groat credit. 1 may
come back in July and recruit a regi-
ment of half-breeds. The Boers are
cutting up Hades around here, so you
see the war is not over yet, or likely
to be fora year. Give my best re-
gards to all."
Major A. L. IIowarci-"Gatlin,*,"
Howard -was a picturesque figure
o- the second Canadian contingent.
u two campaigns in which Cana -
Ian troops fought he served as an
3:,pert in the use of machine guns,
Sr; employee of the famous Colt firm,
nil virtually a soldier of fortune, he
first came to Canada in 1885. Gen.
eliddteton's column was strengthened
y the acquisition of two Gallinguns, the rather primitive weapons,
worked with a. crank from which the
axims of the present day are de-
cended. 'Withthem came Capt. How -
rd, and the genial, companionable
eteran, of a peculiarly fiery valor,
oon became a general favorite and
conspicuous figure in the camp. tit
atoche he distinguished himself. The
°reifying rattle of his "devil -gun,"
DoWet's Defeat Complete.
London, Feb. 25. -Gen. Kitchener's
despatch to the War Office excites a
strong hope, even belief, that the end
of the war la in sight. It is argued
that the heavy loss inflicted on Gen.
Botha, whether he formally capitul-
ates or not, must practically end the
existence of his commandoes as a
fighting force. The failure of Gen.
De Wet's invasion of the Cape Col-
ony is also hailed hopefully, although
until he himself is captured or killed
his influence and ability will con-
tinue to Inspire anxiety. There Is no
authentic information respecting his
chances of escape.
The scene of his defeat on Satur-
day was in the neighborhood of Drs=
selfontein, on the south bank of the
Orange River. According to one cor-
respondent with Col. Flamer the
flooded condition of the Orange and
.Brak Rivers had prevented the Boers
from crossing, and they retreated
throughout Saturday in the direr- '
tion of Hope Town, By evening, be-
lieving that they had shaken off their
pursuers, they !angered, and were
preparing supper, when tbey were
surprised by Owente cavalry, ivho
as the half-breeds stylet] his weapon,
bad a great moral effect, although
upon the subject of the actual loss
caused them by it the usual differ-
ences of opinion manifested tilem-
sciv-es. On one occasion he rendered
unquestionable service, checking an
ugly rusfi upon the nine -pounders.
When the Mounted Rifles were sent
to South Africa a galloping battery
of four Colt automatic guns -very
different weapons from the old Gat-
iings-was purchased, and with
thorn came . Captain Itowerd, who
for some years had been living in
Canada. The rank of Lieutenant
was given him at first, but he soon
•rose higher in rank, and saw all the
fighting that the mounted men saw.
The flight of years had not lessened
his energy or Its delight in the
fight, and he displayed a, peculiar
faculty for getting into hot corners,
which, combined with hie utter dis-
regard of formalities and his fear-
less directness of colloquial speech,
brought him a good deal of 1 faire.
Lieut. Morrison, in an es:oeilent let-
ter from the front, gave a meet
graphic account of Major I•Ioseard's
knack of getting into grips with the
Boers. Lieut, --Col. Lessard on fre-
geent occasions, With his vivaelou'1
humor, eoinp>lained of the way in
whieh Howard would get into trou
ole, and bare to be brought offs
even'lst the cost of an action which
had not entered into the plans of
the chiefs.
When the Mounted men returned
home Major Howard preferred to re-
mained, and formed a corps known
as the Canadian Scouts, drawnfrom
men of the Canadian mounted con-
tingent who wished to stay on..
Sergeants' pay was given the mea
of this oorps, showing the lege re-
gard in which they were held. On
soveral *occasions they distinguished
themselves. Poor Major Howard has
evidently exposes himself once too
often.
Metltuen's Successful March.
London, Feb. 24.-A correspondent
at Johannesburg, detailing General
Methuen'& march to Klerksdorre
says that he had a series of fights.
He cleared every town through
which he passed of provisions and for-
age, and took the women and chil-
dren to Klerksdorp. He captured
6,000 rounds of ammunition, 1,300
head of cattle, and 1,000 sheep, and
destroyed 1,000 bags o1 grain.
General Botha to Surrender ?
London, Feb. 24. -The Weekly De-
spatch says it is informed on good
authority that a, call for a Cabinet
meeting was issued yesterday to con-
sider important military matters.
The Despatch says it is learned that
Gen. Kitchener liar informed the Gov-
ernment that Gen. Botha, the Boer
commander-in-chief, hes, sunt an em-
issary to see him. I
Gen. Botha admitted that he had
been outmanoeuvred by the British,
and asked for a meeting with the Bri-
tish commander-in-chief, with the
view of arranging for a general sur-
render of the Boers. After wiring
home for Instructions, respecting the
terms of surrender, Gen. Kitchener
fixed on Feb. 27th es a date for a
meeting with the hoer commander.
The Despatch also states that it
learns that as a result of communi-
cation between the British and Eu-
ropean Governments, the French,
Russian, and German prisoners at St.
Helena, who fought with the Boers,
will be released, and conveyed home
at the expense of their Governments.
Sympathy With Kruger.
Antwerp, Feb. 134,. -Three hundred
and fifty-six Belgian towns, having
an aggregate population of 2,63.1,000,
have passed resolutions of sympathy
with ex -Pre: Hent Kruger, and fa-
voring arbitration of the South Af-
rican question;.
is Gen. Delarey a Prisoner?
•
Cape Town, Feb. 24. -It is reported
from a Boer source at Keerust that
Gen. Delarey has been captured.
British Deserters.
London, Feb. 24. -In consequence of
reports received in England from
Ceylon, several non-commissioned of-
-Limo belonging to one of the British
regiments in Natal, before the war,
have been sent out to Ceylon, to try
to identify quite a number of inen
who are among the Boer prisoners,
and are believed to be deserters
from that particular regiment.
Canadians for the Army.
London, Feb,. 24. Mr. Brodrick,
the War Secretary, and err. Chamber-
lain, the Colonial Secretary, are
trying to arrange with the Canadian
Government for the establishment in
Canada of permanent recruiting de-
pot,: for the British army. In order
to avoid the political feeling which
such steps might engender in the Do-
minion, it li:is been suggested that
•. new Canadian regiment be estab-
lished. The negotiations between
the Earl of Mints, the Governor-Gen-
eral of Canada, and Sir Wilfrid Laur-
ier, the Canadian Premier, and the
officials in London are still in pro-
gress, without definite result.
Thanks to the excellent record `of
the Canadian contingents in South
Africa, it is believed they constitute
an element very necessary to the
British army, and while the needs of
the local forces are not being over-
looked, it is hoped that a permanent
supply of Canadians for waging
Great Britain's wars will be eventu-
ally secured.
Boers Were Repulsed.
Pretoria., Feb. 24.-A party of
Boers on Friday last attacked Vir-
ginia Siding, north of Bloemfontein,
but were repulsed, with elm, loss of
a few killed and wounded. The Bri-
tish had no casualties.
Recruiting at Gosslond.
Bowland, B. Co Fob. 133.-Iteerult-
ing for Baden-Pow•ell:r South African
Constabulary, which commenced hero
to -day, will be concluded on Monday.
Of fifteen applicants twelve were pro-
visionally accepted. There. will be a
riding and shooting test on Monday.
Four of" tho applicants hall from
Greenwoofl and Boundary points. The
recruiting officer is Lieut. G, S. Beer,
of Nelson, and the medical examining
officer • Dr. Kennedy, of Fort Mac-
Leod, N. W. T. They will also receive
applications at Nelson..and Fort
Steeleut.
Abo seventy recruits for the 13e -
den -Powell Constabulary, enlisted at
to
Virdo,nOttawa. and Brandon, are on the way
Killed in Action.
Toronto, Feb. 24.. -Another To-
rcasio boy bus met death in action
en the South African veldt. News
has reached the city that Feank
Douglas, third son of Mr. C. J. Doug -
lee, formerly of Toronto, vitas . killed
on the lith instant. Deceased was a
member of the Oxfordshire Imperial
Yeomanry and was 31 years of age.
Billed by Is Dick.
Brockville, Feb. 21. -Stella Empy,
the 13 -year-old daughter of Mrs.
Alex. Empy, .of Easton's Corners, was
kicked by a horse last evening, from
the effects of which she died about
an hour and a half later. Miss Etripy,
with a couple of other young people,
were driving along the road near
their house when, in going through a
pitch hole, the cutter struck the
horse's heels, causing it to kick. De-
ceased was sitting with her back to
the dashboard of the cutter, and was
kicked in the back of the head, crush-
ing in her skull.
To Train Fishermen.
London, Feb. 25. -The British Ad-
miralty will send the third-class
entente Calypso on the Newfoundland
coast to train fishermen for the na-
val reserve.
•
i31 PERS
NS
WD.
tEC ! ., ,r , P . AIL STEA
EL
The City of Rio de neh'o L st.
at the Go de Gate
WHILE ENTERING SAN FRAN
p
Seventy -Seven People Rescued----Stcamer Sunk Almost iminiedifetely
After Striking a Rock -Wild Scramble for Life -U. S. Consul.
General Wildman and Family Drowned --- What the Piiet Says.
-•Thriging Tales of Some of
Went Down With the Ship.
San Fra.nrisco, Feb. 2'.-A pilots
attempt to bring in during a thick
fog the big Pacific ousel steamer
City of Rio de Janeiro, early this
morning, led to the wreck of the
vessel on Fort Point Lodge, out-
side the Golden Gate, and the foes
of 131 persons oust of a total of 208
on board.
The explanation of the terrible
loss of life is that the vessel sank
in fifteen minutes after she struck,
thus carrying dawn most of the
small boats, :which still hung on the
davits.
The officers showed great coolness,
anti the passengers behaved well un-
til the bow began to sink suddenly.
Then whets; it was seen that the ves-
sel was• on the point of sinking there
was a wild panic. lagan and Women
ran sereamin•g to the boats only to
find them not lowered.
Over one hundred Chinese were h"ud-
died together below, simply dazed
with terror. Many jumped over-
board, and were carried down by the
suction of the steamer. All about was
think darkness, which probably pre-
vented many from escaping.
Up to thin hour only' ten bodies
have been recovered, as the tide runs
swiftly Gut to sea where the vessel
struck, and it is feared that most
of the victims will never be recov-
ered.
The most prominent passenger on
the steamer was Rounsaville Wild-
man, U. S. Consul at Hong -Kong, who
was accompanied by his wife and two
children. It is thought all are drown-
ed. The whip was in command of Pilot
Frederick Jordan when she struck.
He was rescued. Captain William
Ward went down with his vessel. As
nearly as can be learned, there were
208 people on board the Rio de Jan-
eiro, as follows: Cabin passengers, 29;
second cabin, 7; steerage (Chinese
tend Japanese) 58 ; officers and crew,
114. The fallowing have been ac-
counted : Rescued, 77 ; bodies at the
morgue, 10 ; total, 87. Missing, 121.
i'he Picot's Story.
The reports of the disaster were
very conflicting. Pido't Jordan de-
clares that they were coming in
slowly when a thick fog settled
clown on the water. They were go-
ing at about gee miles an lour, and
the tide was racing out at four
miles an hour. It was dangerous to
go any slower, and the only thing
to be done was to keep on and
watch carefully. He could see the
light near the cliff house and at
Fort Point, and he figured they
wero well in the stream when the
verset suddenly struck. Capt. Ward
asked what should be done, end Jor-
dan, judging from the great damage
that would be done by the jagged
rock, said, "Get out all your boats
at once." Capt. Ward sprang to the
starboard side, and was getting the
boats out when the bow suddenly
dropped down. Jordan rushed from
the bridge down to the deck, realiz-
ing thee the ship was sinking. , He
helped Mrs. Wildman into a boat
and had ono of the Wildman child-
ren grasp him around the neck.
Then the vessel sank. He thought
he went down fully fifty feet. When
he came up the child was gone. He
could see nothing of the steamer
nor of any. of the boats, so he
struck out, and was soon able to
climb on a part of the deck -house.
on which one Chinese was floating.
After three hours they were pick-
ed up.
A Graphic Story.
Surgeon Arthur O'Neill was picked
up with one Japanese and seven
Chinese passengers by the Russian
steamer Harbinger. The surgeon was
.not injured by his experience, and
he told one of the clearest stories
of the terrible disaster. He said, "It
vas exactly 5.25 o'clock when we
struck, as I took note of the time
by my clock. The shin struck with
an awful crash, and the blow must
have torn out her entire side near
the bow. She eank very rapidly,
and was under water in such a short
time that no orderly effort could
be made to launch the boats. Al-
most in a moment the ship present-
ed a scene of wild disorder. Nearly
every passenger was asleed when
the ship struck, and they came
rushing up in their night clothes,
only to find no means of escape.
"When I hurried out on deck, I
met Quartermaster Lindstrom. He
said the ship was ashore. . I asked
where•, and how much water was un-
der her. Ile said, he did trot know.
Mrs. Wakefield and her daughter
came on deck immediately, and asked
me what baptise/tech 1 said, 'Nothing,
except that the ship is ashore."Then
I beard Second Assistant Engineer
Brady tray he could not work the
pumps on account of water in the
engine -room, This was in reply to
a question from the chief engineer.
I lookeddown into the engine -room,•
and was surprised to see it 'full of
water. Almost immediately all the
electric lights in the ship went out,
and the vessel was left; in (total dark
nese.
"In the brief interval before the
Rio sank, Pilot Jordan endeavored
to establish sortie order out of the
pevailing panic, and ordered the
boats launched), 1 hurried aft to the
boat to which I was assigned, hnd
climbed in with four of tee Chinese
crow to lower her to the Water.
'P wo of the .erew were stationed at
each enol to work the falls. The
stern of the Melrose, was lowered too
queerer, and, striking the water,
'('hose Who Were on Board -Captain,
filled rapidly. When the boat -
was afloat it was filled with water
up to the seawsi. I held ens to the
forward tackle, waiting for the or-
der to let go, when Pilot ,Jordan said,
"Take this lady." The lady started,.
to climb down the ladder, and just
at that moment the ship gave an:
awful lurch. It looked as if eke would,
fall on top of us and f;arry ns un-
der, but it washed us away. • The
lady on tho ladder fell toward tie into -
tee water, and I did not see her
again.
'•Quartermaster Lindstrom. who•
had jumped into our boat, then start-
ed to bail out some of the water,
which, with the weight of six Peo-
ple, bore the boat down almost to.
the gunwales. In another moment
the Rio ;had end beneath the waves.
Miss ltipley's Experience.
Miss Ripley, who was returning from.
Honolulu, where she had been em-
ployed as a nurse, was on deck when
the ship struck, and was one of the
ladies who reached shore in the first
boat. She said:
" I wanted to see the Golden Gate,.
and early this morning when I heard
the engines going I got up and dressed
and went on deck. We had been
lying at anchor outside since noon,
and moved in toward shore in the
afternoon, when the fog settled down
again, and we went to anchor just
off Point Lobos. The fog lifted again
in the morning and the steamer
started up the bay. We had hardly,
started ,with the stars shining bright-
ly, and the lights on shore showing,
when the fog seemed to settle clown
deeper than before, and then there
was a sudden; shock. It could not
have been more than five minutes
until I was in the boat and the ship.
went out of sight. The ship seemed
to strike on one side, and went clown.
very fast. There were very few.
people on deck when she struck, but
there must have been a great many
who were dressing, for whey the•
shock came a large number rushed
up on deck half dressed."
Wont Dewar With the Ship.
San Francisco, Feb. 22. -The Rio de
Janeiro was tine* days overdue frown.
Hong Kong, via Ronoluiu, when ehe
arrived off the heads last night, and
the dense fog prevailing at the time
induced Pilot Jordan to bring kir to,
a.nelior until he could see his way;
clear through the gateway.
Capt. Ward, who was on deck when
the vessel struck, at once gave. orders
to the crew on watch to hurry the
passengers to the forward deck. At.
the sante time the quartermaster an
duty sounded the signal for fire drill,.
and within five minutes all the mese
were at their stations, While all
this• was going on Capt. Ward was
directing the passengers and trying
to keep them from panic. He suc-
ceeded only partially, as many of the
terrified people rushed to the railings
and jumped overboard. Seam of these
were picked up ; others were drowned.
The Chinese crew, to the number
of more than 100, were terrorized.
There are several conflicting
stories concerning the fate of Cap-
tain Ward. The steward of the Rio
says that he stood beside the map-
tain when the vessel went down. Two
other survivors say they also saw
the captainto the last, but Frederick
Lindstrom, the quartermaster of the
Rio, emphatically declared that Cap-
tain Ward emulated Admiral Trio on
Her British Majesty's ship Victoria,
in going down to his cabin, where
he met his doom behind a looked
cloor.
Number of lives imperilled 208 ;
number of lives lost Whites, 39;
Asiatics, 92; total 131; rescued 77.
The following are rescued --William
Beadier, London ; James K. Carpen-
ter, Oakland, Cal. ; Mrs. Ripley, Miss
Lehren, Russell Harper, E. C. Howell,
R. H. Long, G. Hintz, Capt. Hecht,
i. Holtz, William Carper, Toledo,
01310. Steerage -Philip Nusenblatt,
Oakland ; Frederic!: Castrini ; D.
Wade, Honolulu; Second Officer G.
Coghlan, Third Officer Holland, Chief
Engineer Rerlibey, Ship Carpenter 1?.
Cramp, Freight Clerks G. J. Engle-
hart and R. H. Leary, Quartermas-
ter. R. Mathioson, Quartermaster F.
Lindstrom, Storekeeper E. Boggs,
Steerage Steward H. Donohue, Sea-
man Howard, 29 Ceinese at the mail
dock, 19 Chinese and four Japans®•
at Meigg's wharf. •
A New Pork Factory.
Goderich, Ont., Feb. 24.-A. repro,
sentative meeting of farmers was
held at Carlow for the purpose of
organizing a compxtny to build abed
Operate a pork packing factory, The •
meeting adjourned to March 15th
in order to get fuller information
respecting the construction. Godoir-
]ch representatives laid' the claims
of that town before the meeting ass•
a place for: such factory, grid it bre
altogether probable that will be the.
location.
Patel Accident at IVirtdsor..
Windsor, Feb. '22. -James McC'or-
miek, employed at Ferris' livery sta-
ble, Windsor, was fatally Injured thin.
afternoon by a heavy cogwheel,
which fell down the elevator shaft
near �rn s standing. and
which he was l,,
struck him oaf the top of the hcaci.
His skull ,was fractured and a deep
Cut made.
Burned 11 is ;'lonep,
ob o
Romueaa,,naFebed.TA24.-gnIrAi, Jleesas ec:leh roanililon-
saiitrted
auio!de at Leghorn: Before killing
himself fro burned '1'urktslr renter's t•
the value of tsvo million francs.