Compiled by Wayne Blanchard Jan 26, 2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–>11 Alta Californian, San Francisco. “Terrible Disaster Across the Bay, 7-6-1868, p. 1, col. 6.

— 10 Daily Herald, Quincy, IL. “The Latest News By Telegraph.” 7-8-1868, p. 1, col. 4.

Narrative Information

July 6: “Frightful Loss of Life at the Oakland Railroad Wharf on the Afternoon of the Fourth – Forty to Fifty Men, Women and Children Struggling in the Water at Once – Ten Bodies Recovered – More Supposed to have been Lost, – etc.

“On Saturday afternoon [July 4] a frightful disaster took place at the terminus of the Oakland Railroad at the extreme outer end of the wharf, which has recently been considerably extended towards deep water. The half-past four o’clock train, coming towards San Francisco, had reached the end of the wharf, and the heavy drawbridge or suspended gang plank, commonly known as ‘the apron,’ had been let down from the wharf to the lower deck of the steamer El Capitan, when a perfect rush to get on board occurred, the train having been densely crowded and everybody in haste to get back to San Francisco. Suddenly, as the crowd on the ‘apron’ was the densest, quite a number of passengers having already got on board, there came a crash, and those who had reached the deck on looking back were horror-struck to see the draw hanging at a right angle with the wharf and the water filled with men, women and children struggling for life, while the women on board the steamer and on the wharf who had children and other relatives in mortal peril rent the air with their shrieks of terror. The scene was appalling beyond description, and the excitement on all sides was almost inconceivable. There were among the passengers by the train a large deputation of the Garibaldi Guard, composed of Italians, who had been to Oakland to participate in the celebration, and a number of these brave fellows, without a moment’s hesitation, plunged into the water, and, swimming among the struggling mass, saved many from immediate death by lashing them to the piles with pieces of rope, where they remained until rescued by boars or were drawn up by ropes to the wharf.

“A boat from the steamer, in charge of the steward and another man, was lowered, but was immediately stove and filled with water. They, however, rescued two ladies and several men, who were obliged to climb on the paddles of the wheel, from which they were taken on deck as the boat was in a sinking condition. Life preservers, planks, etc., were thrown over by parties on the boat and those on the wharf, and some were saved in this manner. One little boy, while in the water, being luckily able to swim, caught hold of a little girl and kept her afloat until he was seized by a man who reached down his had to draw them up. At this instant a man in the water caught the boy by the leg and said, ‘Don’t be scared, sonny – don’t struggle – you hold on to that man’s hand and we can all be saved,’ and all three remained thus together until finally rescued. C. S. Davis, a boy attending the Oakland College, had just stepped on the plank as it fell. He succeeded in saving two women, and was ultimately rescued by means of a rope thrown to him from the wharf. He was seized twice by a drowning man, who drew him under each time. When the water had been cleared and no more were left to be rescued, the boat left the wharf and returned to the city. None of the bodies of the drowned had been recovered, and in the confusion and uncertainty, no one knew how many or who were drowned or missing.

Recovering The Bodies.

“Yesterday morning [July 5], the Italian fishermen, to whom unbounded credit is due, went to work with energy to recover the bodies of the victims. Two men in the employ of the Railroad and Ferry Company, with a boat, also aided in the search. The Italians during the day recovered eight bodies, and the others two more, making ten in all. At ten o’clock a cannon was brought down to the wharf and fired, which aided in the recovery of the bodies.

List Of The Dead.

The names of those whose bodies have been recovered thus far are as follows:

[First name cut off in that the photocopy does not include the bottom of the page. Next column picks up with “firm of Haywood & Jacobs, Steuart street; resided at Ocean View.

“An Italian or Swiss, in the employ of D. Ghiraielli, of Oakland, known by the sobriquet of ‘Carto,’ full name unknown. This man was standing on the wharf when the accident occurred, and jumped in and rescued five or six persons, but his humanity cost him his own life, as he was in the end drawn under by some person who was sinking, and drowned.

“Augustine Barbetti, member of the Garibaldi Guards, of San Francisco.

“Alvixio Ferrero, of the firm of Andornetti & Ferrero, San Francisco, and Secretary of the Garibaldian Association. This brave man also fell a victim to his humanity, perishing while rescuing ithers from a watery grave. He was standing on the wharf when the accident occurred. He leaves a widow and children.

“Mrs. Euphem S. Sanders, wife of George H. Sanders, Architect, of the firm of Wight & Sanders, Oakland. Mr. Sanders had his wife on one arm and sister of the other when the plank fell, and all went into the Bay, but he and his sister were saved.

“Cora Harrison, aged 2 years and 9 months, daughter of Mr. Harrison, who resides at 204 Seventh street. She had been on a visit to Oakland with her mother.

“Catherine Mullen, nurse girl in the family of W. H. L. Barnes, in this city.

“Julia, chambermaid in the same family – full name unknown.

“Maria Carmaiana, wife of an Italian residing at corner of Merchant and Drumm streets, aged 24 years.

“A man, name unknown, nor recognized by anybody on the wharf.

Missing.

“It was hoped that the bodies of all the victims had been recovered, but it is now almost certain that two or more are yet missing.

“Rosa, the daughter of Mrs. Camaiana, aged three years, is known to have been drowned.

“Two little daughters of Mr. Ferrero, who were with him on the wharf, are also reported to be missing.

“I is also reported that Samuel Beaver, of the U.S. Internal Revenue Office, is missing, and it is feared that he was among the victims, though there is no certainty that such is the case….

Cause of the Accident.

“The platform, apron, or drawbridge which fell, is 12w24 feet in size, and fastened to the wharf by heavy iron hinges at one side, and the outer edge is supported by chains which pass over pully wheels with heavy weights to balance it. The platform is raised and lowered by a windlass, and to prevent it falling too low ratchet wheels are used to hold the apron in the place to which it has been brought by the windlass. The immediate cause of the accident was undoubtedly the breakout of a tooth of the left-hand ratchet, this threw the whole weight on the chain on the other side, and the strain was so great that it broke the iron staple which fastened the chain to the weight; the ratchet was thrown completely out of gear and did not catch at the second tooth, thereby letting the chain out in full, and, throwing the whole weight on the second chain, broke the band which fastened it to the platform and let it fall bodily between the wharf and the boat. There may be a doubt as to whether this draw or apron is on the style best adapted to protecting the lives of passengers, but the accident seems to have been the result of no unnecessary carelessness or from the lack of any precaution against any danger which could be foreseen by the employes of the Company.”

(Alta Californian, San Francisco. “Terrible Disaster Across the Bay, 7-6-1868, p. 1, col. 6.

July 6: “San Francisco, July 6. – An awful calamity occurred on the night of the 4^th of July. By the giving away of the draw-bridge of the ferry boat landing at the Oakland side of the Bay, some sixty persons were precipitated into the water. Ten bodies were recovered. It is impossible to ascertain the number drowned.” (Daily Herald, Quincy, IL. “The Latest News By Telegraph.” P. 1, col. 4.)

Sources

Alta Californian, San Francisco. “Terrible Disaster Across the Bay, 7-6-1868, p. 1, col. 6. Accessed 1-26-2024: https://newspaperarchive.com/san-francisco-daily-alta-california-jul-06-1868-p-1/

Daily Herald, Quincy, IL. “The Latest News By Telegraph.” P. 1, col. 4. Accessed 1-24-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/quincy-daily-herald-jul-08-1868-p-1/

1868 — July 4, drawbridge/boat plank to boat, at RR wharf, gives way, Oakland, CA– >11