The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, October 21, 1896, Page 1

. The VOLUME LXXX.—NO. 143. SAN FRANCISCO, WEDNESDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 21, 1896. PRICE FIVE CEN STEAMER ARAGO SUNK NEAR R 0005 BAY B Strikes a Jagged Reef and Rapidly Fills With Water. THIRTEEN MEN GO TO THE BOTTOM. Desperate Struggle of Passengers and Crew to Breast the Breakers. LIFEBOAT CAPSIZED BY TOWERING WAVES. Its Occupants Swept to Their Death With Land Near at Hand — Those Who Clung to the Rigging Are Saved. MARSHFIELD,Or.,Oct. 20.—The steam- ship Arago, Captaln Reed, was wrecked this morning on the Coos Bay bar and the | lives of thirteen persons lost. They were: Jom~ NorMax, Marshfield, passenger. Warrer E. Browx, chief engineer. RICHARD PaTT , steward. F co FERNANDEZ, head cook. aman. NDER, seaman. BeEN ——, me-=s boy. Witriax WaITTLE, fireman. A. McDApE, fireman. E. Wawy, fireman. F. SHECK, steerage passenger. G. PATIENCE, steerage passenger. E. McGraW, steerage passenger. Those who werasaved are; Captain Reed ; Warner, first mate; McCullom, purser; \ Captain Albert Reed of the Lost Arago. Crogan, first assistant engineer; Friel, sec- ond assistant engineer; Banks, second mate; Spaulis, Martin, Ross, Bergman, McKipving, H. Brown, seamen; Moore, fireman; White, cook; Bargetta, White, Holden, waiters; A. Painter, E. Nosler, passengers. The Arago arrived from San Francisco on Monday morning and took on a cargo of 750 tons of coal and a small quantity of miscellaneous freight at Marshfield, leav- ing the latter place some time during the night. She reached Empire City all right, and there took on several passengers, all bound for San Francisco. At 7:30 o’clock this morning she left Empire” City, arriv- ing off the bar about half an hour later. Bhe reached a point about opposite the outer end of the Government jetty in safety. At this point some 200 feet of the trestle- work surmounting the partially con- structed breakwuter was carried away by last winter's storms, leaving a reef of rocks very dangerous to any vessel which .hnn]d unfortunately deviate from her Sinking Ship’s / {course. The tide had been flooding but a | short time and the bar was breaking badly. A strong westerly swell has been rolling in for the past two days, culminating this | morning in immense breakers crossing the bar in every direction and lashing it into vast billows of foam. It wasanangry sea and ore in which no prudent captain ought to have trusted the lives of his pas- sengers and the safety of his ship. It is supposed that Captain Reed realized the dangerous character of the sea which was breaking and stopped to reconnoiter be- | fore crossing the bar. At all events, when | near the extreme end of the jetty, the en- gines were slowed down and the speed per- ceptibly decreased. In foct, tie vessel ap- peared to stap for a few moments. Whether the skipper decided within himself to take the chiances and endeavor to cross the bsr or to put about and re-enter the bay is | not known, but at this time the vessel | took'a sudden sheer, refused to answer her helm, and carried by the strong northerly set of the current in a moment was upon the submerged rocks of the partially con- structed jetty. She struck so hard that a hole was stove into her bottom directly under the engine-room. A few seconds later the chief engineer | Walter R. Brown, Chief Engincer of the Arago. | reported to the captain that the water was eoming into the engine room. The vessel, however, cleared the jetty, passing directly | across it. - An effort was then made to run | her through the line of breakers and into the smooth water beyond, out she filled r 1idly and sank about a quarter of a mile | . om where she struck, and a little to the northward of the jetty, in the midst of the breakers. In a few moments all of her houses and upper works were carried away, as were also the life-rafts and some of the boats. The purser was washed overboard, but was returned by the next wave. Grasping the rail, he climbed on board, and, seeing a boat, jumped into it. At this timea steerage passenger was seen to go over- board, and a second later John Norman, a leading citizen of Marshfield, who had been hanging to the rigging, was washed away and was not seen again. In the midst of the confusion two boats had been launched. The first and second officers, the captain, five of the crew and one passenger bad taken to the rigging, and the rest, with the exception of the chief engineer, who was not visible, took to the boats. The captain, from his position in the rigging, directed the officers in the boats. A few seconds later the chief engineer was seen floating on a quantity of wreck- age and was assisted into the first officer’s boat much exhausted. For over twohours the boats were tossed about, at one moment controlled by the oars, the next wholly at the mercy of the sea, the hands that guided them ‘endeavoring to find a favorable opening to break through the breakers. The first officer’s boat finally capsized, and all of its occupants were drowned with the exception of the first officer, the first and second assistant en- gineers and a sailor, who swam to and was assisted into the second officer’s boat. Without further mi-hap the latter cralt was finally piloted safely through the line of breakers and into the bay, landing at the Government works. Tne life-saving crew had been called upon, but, owing to the great distance of the station irom the scene of the wreck, did not reach it until about three hours afterward. When they did arrive on the scene, howev.t, they did noble work, and, after much difficulty, succeeded in reach- ing the wreck and taking off the captain and the six others who clung to the rigging. At the time of the disaster the bar tug Co- lumbia, Captaln Magee, was following closely in the wake of the Arago and, it would appear, ought to have rendered valuable assistance. All she did, how- ever, was to notify the caretakers at the Government works that a wreck bad oc- curred, then steam off to North Bend, some seven miles distant, to report. Had the tu - returned to the scene of the wreck or adjacent thereto she could have ren- dered valuable assistance 1n towing the lifeboat and thus saved much time. Had the life-saving crew been able to get to the | scene without loss of time there is but lit- tle doubt that all or nearly all of the lives could have been saved. Captain Magee of the tug justifies his course by stating t at his owners’ instructions are that whenever any trouble occurs on the bar to report to headquarters at North Bend for instructions. Nothing 1s to be seen of the wreck at this time but her mast. A portion of the bull will probably Joe visible at low tide. Although the vessel’'s manifest showsa cargoof but 750 tons, vet many persons who suw_her before leaving Empire City this morning express the opinion that she was more heavily laden than ever before, and while she may not have been danger- ously so'they question the wisdom of load- ing her to her utmost eapacity. BT ety HISTOEY OF THE ARAGO, First Steel Ship Ever Built by the Unton Iron Works. The officers of the wrecked Arago were: A. Reed, master; C.F. McCollum, purser; F. Warner, first officer; J. Bauks, second officer; W. E. Brown, chief engineer; F. | Croghan, " first assistant engineer; P. Friel, second assistant engineer; R. Pat- terson, steward; Francisco Fernandez, head cook; P. Mus 1, second cook. The Arago was the first steel ship ever built by the Union Iron Works. She was of 947 tons grose« burden, 200 feet long, 30 feet broad and 16 feet deep. After bein, fitted out in 1885 she was put in the coal trade between here and Coos Bay and has remained on thatroute ever since. Nearly all the officers have been in her for years, and they considered her the smartest ship ol her size on the coast. Formerly she haa no wupper cabins amidships, but when the trade increased the alterations were made, and ever since she has been a favorite with the traveling publie. The Coos Bay bar has always been cor- sidered the most treacherous on the coast. It is only a couple of years ago since the whaleback Wetmore went ashore on the very same spit that caused the wreck of the Arago. The Whetmore was never got off, and the latest news trom the Arago reads: ‘‘All that’s left of the steamer is two spars projecting on the beach.” The tank steamer Bawnmore also went ashore near the same spit and went to pieces. Of all the numerous steamer wrecks on the coast during the past tew years only three have been accompanied with loss of life. The Pacitic Coast Steamship Com- pany’s Los Angeles went ashore and eight lives were lost. The Colima disaster is stiil iresh in everybody’s mind and now comes the loss of the Arago. . Pilots and captains of coasters all report a heavy swell and a very heavy current setting inshore for the past few days. At times it would be perfectly calm and then in an_bour a tremendous sea would get L.up. Captain Jordan, the pilot, brought in the Wennington Hall last Monday and re- ported a perfectly smooth bar. An hour later Captain Freeman brought in the S. P. Hitchcock and the bar was breaking. From this fact seamen argue that some- thing similar happened at Coos Buy and the heavy swell and treacherous inset put t e steanier on the north spit. b, The Steamship Arago, Which Sunk Nar the Cocs Bay Barn CONGRESSMAN BOUTELLE of Maine Greeting the People of California With Assurances of Republican Success and the Return of Prosperity. iR, BRYAN 15 A PUBL ENENY A Man Who Counsels Half the People to Cheat the Other Half. Rousing Speech of Congressman Boutelle at Woodward’s Pavilion. OUTPOURING OF THE PEOPLE. How That “Crime of 73" Has Been Nothing More Than Misieading C.mpaign Lies. Was it a climax? Can anything further be done to demonstrate more forcibly that the people want McKinley and a return of prosperity, and will have them? The vast area of Woodward’s Pavilion was packed early last evening, and the proceedings had to be delayed while busy ushers pushed and shoved to find room for the throng that still clamored for a place within the sound of the speaker’s voice. It was certainly an inspiring spec- tacle, a great political event, before a word had been spoken. The great pavilion was almost bare of bunting or any of those ac- cessories that are called in at times to help to emphasize the spirit of an occasion. Their very absence, however, in the presence of this great multitude of en- thusiastic people seemed to score its point. When the spesker, accompanied by Chairman Frank McLaughlin of the State Central Commitiee, Irving M. Scett and other leaders, entered the hall the great audience rose to its feet and nearly lifted the roof from the building. The cheering continued long after the party reacned the platiorm. Mr, McLaughlin introduced Irving M. Scott as chairman of the evening, and Mr. Scott at once rose to an introduction of Mr. Boutelle. He did it well. He said that the visitor was one of the most ‘distinguished states- men of the time; that he had been the right-hand man and confidential friend of James G. Blaine; that like that peerless American he had been a friend of the ‘West and of California; that to his honest flagging championship California was especially indebted for the honor of building a part of it. He haa sent the contract here for the building of the Charleston and was about to send a con- tract for building a still greater warship, to be called the California. Mr. Scott asked that he be given the warmest recep- tion that had ever been tendered a public speaker in California. And he was—at least if any other has called out more enthusiasm there is no acute "recollection of it. When he rose the big house shook with the palpitating air. “Mr. Chairman and friends and neigh- bors of San Francisco,” he said, “the magnificence of your greeting here to- night, Iacking nothing of the elements of your spiendid and generous hospitality, impresses upon me my inadequacy to de- serve such a superb reception. The State of Maine—" [Long and loud applause.] “I hope the boys will hear this back in Maine.” “Three cheers for Maine,” shouted an auditor, and the response was prompt, hearty and thunderously vociferous. Con- tinuing Congressman Boutelle said : “They sent their message to you early in September.” “We’ll give em our answer on the 3d of November,” came a shout from one of the galleries. *They. wait for your response. They have no doubt what that response will be, and neither have .l.,” said.the speaker. “My State recognizes a long and unliqui- dated credit in behalf of the State of Cali- fornia. We owe you people a debt which we have never been able to pay, and which we never want to see wholly discharged, because we prefer to feel uridera continnal obligation to the people of the Pacific Sloe;. . “We can never forget the loyalty and enthasiasm with which you people fol- lowed and uplifted'the banner of our great chie tain dvring all the period from 1876 101892, And as long as memory lasts in the Pine Tree State the name of California will be linked with the name of the peer- less fame of James G. Blaine. [Great ap- lause.] “I wish he could be here to-night in place of myself to speak to you again as he has so often spoken in the past, always and everywhere in favor of the uplifting of the National credit and the Nationul honor. In my poor way I am giad to feel that I can bring you here to-night from Maine in less beautiful rhetoric and in less forcible argument the counsel and ap- peal that Blaine would have uttered if he stood here on this platform to-night. “I hope no one in this marvelous gather- ing has for a moment the idea that I have come across the continent—3000 miles of our great domain—with the foolish expec- tation of bringing information to. this great, progressive and intelligent com- munity. ¢ ' *That is not the purpose of ‘my visit. I can say to vou at the outset that I have no hope whatever of imparting any infor- mation or instruction to this great people, endeavors was largely due the rehabilita- | so large a portion of whom are honoring tion of the American navy, and to his un- | me here to-nights “I have come to you simply to bring from the Kast and the Central States, your common country, the outstretched hand of Republicanism and the sound, patriotic Democracy of that section of our country to grasp hands with Californiain devotion to the best welfare of our com- mon country. [Greatapplause.] “Ido notknow just how many thousand miles: I have traveled, and if they had been counted by ten times the number I should have felt more than repaid for whatever of effort and fatigue it has cost me to enjoy the never-to-be-forgotten honor and privilege of facing this mag- nificent gathering of my fellow-citizens here to-night. [Great applause.] “I am glad to feel that however long the steel rails bave stretched out, over what- ever ' stretches of territory I may have been borne, thank God, I have never found what appeared to me as the enemies of the country. [Uproarious applause.] “I stard here in San Krancisco similarly to the way I would stand in Maine—in the house of my friends. [Cheers.] I bave not come here to-night to bear you a message from any class of our people; I have not come to plead the interests of any special portion of the American people; I am not here in the interest of a party thatconfines itself to any portion of the country. I stand a humble but sincere champion of the great political organization which bears on its shield the uplifting ana the welfare of every man, woman and child in the American Republic. [Great and con- tinued qipl-uu. “I shall have failed disastrously in my purpose if any man or woman shall leaye this building to-night with heart embit- tered against any of their fellow-citizens, ‘if what I shall say shall have the effect of making one portion of the people turn against' another. I am here to proclaim the principles of the grand old Republican party, the giorious old Republican party, the same grand old orga tion that, marching under the only banner it ever did, unfurled the star-spangled banner, and bore the ark of our covenant through the red sea of Civil War, and from that hour to the present has never wavered in any policy that went to the uplifting of the 'American people. [Uproarious ap- plause, mingled with cheers and shouts of “Hurrah!"”" “My friends, we are in the midst of a remarkable campaign; we are nearing the close of the most amazing contest in the annals of the American Republic or of any other people, and when I faco an in- telligent audience upon whose counte- nance I can read that intelligent, loyal manifestation of pride in our party and confidence in its good intentions, I marvel thateither I or any other man shou!d be called upon to defend the republic from such an assault as is now menacing not only its security but itslife, I speak with the words of absolute conviction and sin- cerity when I say that starting from Northeastern Maine—I hail from where the sun rises—I 1ave found what to my mind 1s an unparalieled upheaval of the people to ward off the aanger that has been so menscing and so threasening that .the great Democratic | party has broken’ the shackles of partisan affiliation and has loaned to the Republi- can party the in:elligence and patriotism and the loyalty of the best elements of that great organization o help us keep that great banner as truly democratic as 1t was when carried in the battlefields so long ago. [Cheers and applause.] “There are men here honoring me with their presence to-night who know how much there is in what Isay when I bear testimony to the difficulty that confronts members of that organization in shaking off party discipline and the control of or- ganization. Party barness has rested far more lightly upon the Republican party than on the old Democracy. We have been accustomed to be far more lenient with our members than that organization which worships at the shrine of Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson. *““We have reached a period and a con- dition where that great political party has been rent in twain as by the parting of the veil. It is a significant sight to the American people and ought to have a tre- mendous weight in the present campaign. “f ask any man here to-night, if there be one, who is proposing to strike such a blow at the vital interests of his country as to vote for the Populistic ticket nom- inated at Chicago on the ground of bis being a Democrat—I ask him to go over with me the names of the great men who bave shed luster upon the records of that organization and see with me how many of then come under what is claimed to be the Democratic standard. Looklng over the vast expanse of our country to«lay, we find more than 300 of tie great Demo- cratic leaders imploring the American people to rise up in iheir loyalty and their intelligence and put away forever and for- ever the false doctrines now in the Demo- cratic fold. [Tremendous chesring and shounts of “‘That’s so.”| *“How has this condition come about? How is it that suddenly tne people of this great Republic are called upon to confront unu~ual and extraordinary doctrines that are believed to be by one great political party inits entirety fatal if putinto ac- tion to the welfare of the Nation “What has furnished opportunity for this new uprising a:ainst the very basis upon which our country rests? There is something the matter with our public affairs; there is something the mat- ter with our business affairs; there is dif- ————————————————— Humor In the blood may develop into scrofula or other serious disease. Do not delay. Take Hood’s Sarsaparilla Which purifies the blood and eures scrofula,ete Hood’s Pills do not cause pamn_or gripe. All druggists. 256,