The San Francisco call. [volume], March 01, 1901, Image 1

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

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LOOKOUT ELLINGSON MAKES
CONFESSION THAT HE HEARD
RIO'S SIGNAL OF DISTRESS
The San Francisco Call.
MARK ELLINGSON. lookout of
the Fort Point Life-saving Sta
tion, confessed yesterday to his
superior officer. Captain Jo
seph Hodgson, that on the fatal morn-
Ing when the steamshio Rio de Janeiro
-went on the rocks he (Elllngson) had
heard the startling distress whistles of
the doomed ship and had taken no notice
©f them. Captain Hodgson, on hearing
the awful admission, took the wretched
tpeaker by the throat and almost stran
gled the breath from his body.
The information that the Rio de Janeiro
had sounded prolonged whistles of dis
tress and that the signals had been heard
by the life-saving lookout has been sub
stantiated in every detail, both by the evi
dence of ¦witnesses before the official in
vestigators of the disaster and by the con
fession of Mark Elllngson. From the time
the first boatload of survivors of the Rio
came ashore to tell of the tragedy at the
Fort Point rocks until yesterday morning
E'.lir.gson has stoutly maintained that he
rever heard the slightest sound, on last
Friday morning, which would have caused
him to think that a Fhlp was In distress
close to- where he was on duty. His su
perior officers defended him and abus*
was heaped on those who had charged
EMr.gson with criminal neglect of duty.
Clairas He H^ard No thing-.
Captain Hodgson of the Fort Point
Iife-eavlttg Station has since Friday ;
begged and pleaded with Elllngson to tc'.l
him the truth- To all auestlocs put to
him El'.lr.gson had but one answer: "I
heard nothing out cf the ordinary while
I was on duty on Friday morning." •
On Wednesday Ellingson's comrades no
ticed a change in his demeancr. Elllngson
was moody and kept to himself. He did
rot Join in the conversation of the hardy
men who are ready to go out on the angry
Beas en the most stormy nJght to try and
save life. Ellinsoon's comrades thought
he was. brooding over the fact that for
tune had failed to help him In the mls
eion cf saving some of the souls on board
the Rio.
a. m. yesterday he sought Captain Hodg
son and eald, "Captain, I have something
to say to you." Ellingson then unfolded
the grave story of his action at the time
of the wreck of the Rio.
"I told you a lie. captain." faltered El
lingson. "I told a lie when I said I did not
hear the Rlo's whistles."
Captain Hodgson sprang on the man
who trembled before him and, grasping
him by the throat, choked him until he
was livid In the face.
"You cowardly dog, you cowardly dog!"
exclaimed the captain as he threw Elling
son to the floor. '
Heard the Long Whlstle3.
When released. Ellingson told his story
in a few words.
"I heard the long whistles, but I did not
pay much attention to them. I cannot
tell you why — I don't know."
Before Captain Hodgson had time to
realize fully the awful Importance of the
confession, ¦ Ellingson had passed out of
his presence and made his escape from the
life-saving station.
Captain Hodgson reported the confes
sion to his men and Ellingson might have
felt the weight of their wrath If they
could have laid their hands on him.
The life-savers were wild with anger.
J3ut for the neglect of Ellingson . they
could have upheld their reputation and
saved many lives when the Rio de Ja
neiro took her final plunge.
The confession was reported by Captain
Hodgson to Major Blakeney. who Is su
perintendent of the Twelfth Life-saving
District, which Includes California.
Major Blakeney Astounded.
Major Blakeney, who had defended the
honor of the men under him, was as
tounded by the news brought to him by
Captain Hodgson. For the honor of the
life-saving service. Major Blakeney hopes
that it will be proven at an investigation
that Ellingson was blameless.
Ellingson has been In the life-saving
service for six years. He had the repu-
ENGINEER HEELIHY
VIOLATES ORDERS
Witnesses Give Conflicting Testimony
Before United States Inspec
tors Who Are Investigat
ing Cause of Wreck.
The official Investigation of the wreck
of the steamship Rio de Janeiro was com
menced yesterday by O. F. Bolles and J.
K. Bulger. United States Local Inspectors
of Steam and Sail Vessels.
The Investigation was held at the office
of the inspectors in the Appraiser's build
ing. The witnesses under examination
were Second Officer Coghlan, Chief Engi
neer P. H. Herlihy and Pilot Frederick
Jordan. .... '-~"J.
The testimony was mainly on the lines
followed by these v/ltnesses before the
Coroner's Jury, but it was technical to a
degree. Chief Engineer Herlihy, after a
rigid examination, was forced to admit
that he had violated the orders of th6
Pacific Mail Company by being in his
room on the Rio de Janeiro when she
started to come into port last Friday
morning, the orders requiring him to be
at the engines. Engineer Herlihy and In
spector Bulger entered into a hot argu
ment as to a statement which Bulger
claimed was made to him last Monday by
Herlihy, but which -»vas denied by the en
gineer.
There Is a remarkable" discrepancy be
tween the testimony of Graham Coghlan,
second officer of the Rio de Janeiro, and
that given by Pilot Jordan as to the
Pilot Jordan, who testified after Cogh
lan, swore that he Bet the course at NE.
course eteered when the Rio de Janeiro
started from her, anchorago on Friday
until Bhe struck. Coghlan v.-as on j the
bridge of the ship and testified yesterday
that from the time the vessel started un
til she ran on the rocks the course
given- to him by Pilot Jordan was north
east, and that it was not changed until
the moment the ship struck, when Jor
dan called out to alter the course to NE.
% N., then immediately changing It to
NE. by N.
tation of being a fearless man In the face
of danger. Two years ago he resigned
from the service and went to Alaska. . He
returned to this city a few months ago
and Captain Hodgson recommended him
for reinstatement in the life-saving ser
vice. Ellingson, who passed the civil ser
vice examination, was again placed on
active duty early In January. He is about
36 years old and unmarried.
Ellingson has been suspended from duty,
as under civil service he cannot be dis
missed without an Investigation.' -
Continued on Second Page.
INSPECTORS OP, STEAM VESSELS LISTEN TO THE PILOT OF THE RIO
DE JANEIRO AS HE EXPLAINS THE COURSE HE TOOK, WHEN HE
STARTED THE .VESSEL FROM HER ANCHORAGE FOR PORT."./"
The testimony of ecores of soldiers at
Fort Point barracks that they had heard
the distress whistles and had been awak
ened from clumber by the noise; the sworn
evidence of the ofHcers and passengers
of the Rio that the whittles eounded con
tinuously after the vessel struck had
their effect on Ellingson- When ElllngsoK
went on fluty yesterdav morning he,wa*
In a despondent mood. What phased
through hi« mind while he kept his loneiy
vign within a short distance of where the
Rio tank Is known to him alone.
When Ellington came off watch at 8
posed to me. I accepted him. I should
have known better. He said that owing
to the publicity of the divorce he did not
want to cause any more talk than .was
necessary and suggested that we marry,
by contract. I at first . refused to listen
to him, but he finally persuaded me to
agree to the contract marriage.' He drew
up the paper and we signed it in the pres
ence of a witness. . This was on March 26,
189L He kept the contract, .saying that
he would place it in the safe of his office.
A short time afterward his second oldest
daughter, Dora, commenced legal pro
ceedings against him, making serious al
legations. The suit was tried ' before
Judge Sweensy and resulted In a dis
agreement of the Jury. It was afterward'
dismissed. While my husband has not
treated , me right, I believe that the suit
brought by his daughter was unjust, as
she afterward said that. she expected to
force her father toi' pay her several thou
sand dollars. 'After that we came to San
Francisco and lived "for a time at 209 Va
lencia | street. Jjj My husband did not care
for city life and we went to Bakersfleld,
Kern County ,"<: where our three' children
were born. There : he followed the busi
ness of searcher of- records and formed a
partnership with Mr. Bender. * They are
still partners; but have of late been de
voting most of their time to speculating
in oil lands.
"In my, complaint I allege that my hus
band Is now worth $100,000. but I have been
informed , that - his holdings are. worth
closer ; to $500,000. . It"; was at . Bakersfleld
that he first commenced to abuse me and
treat £ me in an ¦ inhuman manner. We
were living, in a small cabin on the out
skirts of the town. Here is a photograph
of It. The Inscription on the back of it,
•Picture of your old "home. I stole it for
yo'u. God |rbu. May you soon have
a better " Rome,', tells the story of how I
received It after I was driven from home.
It was sent me by: a lady_ friend. I hope
that i that "prayer will . soon I be granted,"
said Mm. Hewitt, wearily, as she read
from the back of the picture, "I want to
go home-^-I want to go to a better horae,"
she added as she turned In the bed. ?'Go-3
knows 1 1 want to go home— but not until
my ; wrongs have been righted. ¦ My
babies,"- she "exclaimed as she burst into
tears, "am \ I i never, to ;«ee you. again?. I
must (and; I "will have, you with 'me once
.mbrei^ There Is Justice and I know it will
be done, me." ¦',",- i -A* •• ¦:¦;':.¦¦-¦*_
¦¦¦; Husband' Commences Abuse.
After the paroxysm of srief had passed
clvil suit filed on Wednesday last in the
office of County Clerk Deane.
Attorney William D. Grady, who is rep
resenting Mrs. Hewitt, filed the suit for
divorce on Wednesday on the grounds of
cruelty, desertion and failure to provide.
In the complaint " the allegation is mad-)
that the community property, consisting 1
of both real and personal property, is val
ued at $100,000 and Hewitt is asked to pay
,$250 a month alimony for the support' of
his wife during the pendency of the liti
gation. An order was Issued , by Judge
Dunne on. the filing of the complaint en
joining and restraining all persons hold-
Ing or having in their possession or under
their control moneys or property of Hew
itt from transferring, encumbering or dis
posing of the same until further order of
the court.
Unfortunate Matrimonial Ventures.
The marriage of the plaintiff to Hewitt
was her third venture in the matrimonial
line. Two of her husbands are dead. Both
of them met violent deaths. •
"I seem to have been singularly unfor
tunate," tearfully said Mrs. Hewitt yes
terday. 4 '1 must have been born under an
unlucky star. My, flr6t husband s was
killed five days after our marriage. I
married G. W. Howell June 27. 1886, In
Benton County, Or. He was a woodsman.
He was cutting ¦ a treo when It suddenly
toppled over and crushed him to death.
Exactly a week after our marriage I fol
lowed his body to the gravel I worked at
various employments after that. Af t*>r
two years and nine months of widowhood
I married Rudolph VoUroth. Our life was
a happy one.
"We had been married less than a year
and a half when we determined to leave
Oregon and make California our future
home. We were traveling over the moun
tains, when my second husband dropped
a revolver from his pocket. One of the
cartridges was accidentally exploded. The
bullet entered his hip and blood poisoning
set In, causing death. After burying him,
I proceeded to Redding, Shasta County,
where I met Hewitt. He was engaged In
business as".. a' searcher of titles. I I se
cured employment in his office as a copy
ist. He and, his wife, did not get along
happily, together. They had been married
eighteen years and nineteen children had
been born to them. All of 'the children
were, not living. If- 1. remember right
there were twelve of . them still living at
the time I .first met him. Mrs. Hewitt
sued him for divorce on the ground , of
cruelty* and she 'was'j awarded- a decree!
Hewitt', had \ a _[] home U in > Redding ' 'and?
another one in "the outskirts^ of ithe town.'
His' divorced' wife remained'; at ':he ; out 6f
'town home with;' the younger ; children.'
Two of his daughters. Lily and Dora, kept
.house for" him. :>v . _ ,'.? .V'; . .• ' '-'¦
"'..' i'A* Bh'ort time after the ' divorce he'pro-
PRINCIPALS IX HEWITT DIVORCE
SUIT. THEIR CHILDREN AND IN
CIDENTS OF THEIR LIVES.
While Mrs. Hewitt did not make many
friends during her residence In Bakers*
field those that she did make sseak well
of her. The present Mrs. Hewitt was for
merly employed In a hotel. A baby girl
was born to the couple a faw weeks a«io.
Hewitt Is at present out of town. Hs ' *
reputed to b« very wealthy. H» and hl-i
partner are large stockholders in the Kern
Oil Company. Hewitt made a European
tour last year and after visiting the Part*
Exposition paid a short visit to his ag&4
parents in Ireland.
BAKERSFIELD. Feb. 2S.— The news of
the divorce suit brouzht by Mrs. Mary
E. Hewitt against her husband. John B.
Hewitt, of the firm of Bender & Hewitt,
did not create any great surprise here.
The couple separated about two years
ago, Mrs. Hewitt going to San Francisco,
while her husband remained here to at
tend to his prosperous abstract business.
It is not positively known where' the chil
dren are. but there Is a general belief
that they are in Los Angeles and being
well looked after by their father. Th»
fact that It was a contract marriage was
common gossip at the tSma Mrs. Hawiti
left here.
Among Bakersfleld Bssidents.
HEWITT IS WEALTHY.
Divorcs Suit Occasions . No Surprise
Hewitt has been married again. That
fact has been disclosed, by the records of
Alameda County. A license to marry
Irene Mabel Hedrlck was issued to him
June 20 last. The age of the bride la
given as 23 years and her residence De
lano, Kern County. They were married
the same day by Justice of the Peace
John W. Stetson. The certificate of mar
riage is on file In the Recorder's ofilce.
Residents of Bakersfleld variously esti
mate the value of Hewitt's estate. They
all agree, however, that through fortu
nate investments in oil lands he has
amassed a fortune much larger than that
given by his wife In her complaint.
Hewitt Has Another Wife.
"You will have to excuse me from an
swering that question." replied Grady.
"for, as I told you before. I do not wish
to discuss the litigation in any form,"
"If It is ascertained that Hewitt has
married again without securing a divorce
from your client, will you proceed against
him criminally?" was asked. /
able to prove every allegation In our
complai.it Wh»n tie matter cotr.es up
for trial ex-Judge Van R. Paterson will
assist me in presenting the claims of Mrs.
Hewitt. In the meantime we will en
deavor to locate tho three children."
'"I -do not "want to say anything about
the matter," Bald he, "until it is heard in
'court. I ~ have/" thoroughly investigated
the case and J. am satisfied we will be
'Attorney W.-D. Grady. who will make
the legal, fight for Mrs.:. Hewitt, declines
to discuss the case,
The unfortunate mother became hyster
ical, and for a time It was impossible to
quiet her. She continually called— first for
Myrtle, then for Gladys »nd "my baby
boy, who. la named after papa, although
ho has been an unkind, cruel papa," ¦
Cries Piteously for Her Babies.
"The proof? All the proof required will
be forthcoming at the proper time," re
plied Mrs.' Hewitt. "My husband dare not
deny our marriage. I never had the con
tract in my possession. It may be that he
destroyed it, but that it existed will be
shown in court. He will be put in a seri
ous position, for he Is, so I understand,
married again. Ho never secured a di
vorce from me. If he did it was through
fraud, for I was never served with any
summons. It may be," she added, "that
when he secured the release to the" com
munity . property he thought himself on
safe ground. But I am going to battle as
long as life Is left in me. to see that tho
wrong done me and my children Is light
ed. Babies, poor, unfortunate little ba
bies, where are "you? Can you not hear
your mother calling to you? Answer—an
swer quickly, or I shall go mad."- ;
"Where are the children?" was asked.
"I would feel. easier if I knew," replied
Mrs. -Hewitt. "I have endeavored to find
them, but cannot' get any trace of them.
They are not in Bakersfield. Friends of
mine in Kern County have made inquiries
for me, but they are unable to learn any
thing -as to their whereabouts. I ap
pealed to the local Society for the Pre
vention of Cruelty to Children to aid me.
The officers sent several letters to agents
In the interior, but met with no encour
aging reply. I presume that the babies
are being cared for in some private insti
tution. I would like to know just where.
Sick, weary, and tired as I am. I would go
to them. -You cannot understand how my
heart yearns for them. I must and I
will see them again."
"Have you proof of the contract mar
riage?" was asked.
Mrs. Hewitt continued her narrative. "It
was in August, 1892, when my first born.
Myrtle, was about five months old, that
Hewitt called me vile names and after
cursing me slapped me in the face. He
was infuriated and choked me until I be
came unconscious.' From "that time on he
continued his abuse. He struck me and
beat me and on one occasion dragged me
from the house. It was in February, 1890.
that we separated, lly husband accused
me of infidelity and drove me from our
home. Before driving me away he forced
me to sign a paper relinquishing all my
title to the community property for a con
sideration of 5250. He forbade me ever
returning to Bakersfleld. threatening that
he would have mo arrested and put me to
great trouble. He would not allow me tc
take the three children born to us— Myrtle,
Gladys and Johnnie. Myrtle Is now aged
8. years, Gladys 6 and Johnnie 4."
Complications are said to be growing
and it is feared that the friendly arrange
ments of the boundary dispute cannot ba
made. The foreign Consuls here to-day
offered their services with their bubjects
to guard the city in case of necessity.
The patriotic sentiment is at the highest
pitch.
BATTLE IN PROSPECT
IN SANTO DOMINGO
PORTO PLATA, Feb. 23.— The Santo
Domingo Minister of War, who la at
Monte Christy, has cent a war vessel to
this port for reinforcements and artillery,
which are to be sent to the frontier ter
ritory in which recent disturbances hava
occurred. It is announced that the Gov
ernment will send six thousand men to
the front.
PLEA OF DISCARDED WIFE
TO HAVE WRONGS RIGHTED
Action Brought by Nary E. Hewitt Against Her Husband, a Wealthy
Oil Spectjlator of Kern— Says He Drove Her Away and*
H Despite Contract Ham
. 5MALL, poorly furnished room In
J\ i downtown ' lodging-house 1b all
J^\ '.hat Mrs. Mary E. 1 Hewitt can now
¦A- jX. a u home. -She la 111, both In body
ind m!nd. Cast aside by. her hus
band, John B. Hewitt of Bakerefleld, who
has won a fortune through lucky oil spec
ulations; deprived of the comfort of her
three babies, and dependent 'upon the
charity of friends, she Is battllng"for life.
Her will power Is a far greater remedial
agent than the medicines prescribed by
her physician. She says that she must
live to right the wrong done her. The
preliminary steps have been taken to
force the delinquent husband* to defend
his name and character, and In addition
give to his wife from, his ample means
sufficient to support" her? during the few
months that Intervene between her "and
the grave. Mrs. Hewitt lives, In hope of
again meeting her children. That accom
plished, she is willing and satisfied to
give up the battle against adversity. Her
life history v ls a Bad on©. If the charge
she makes against her, husband Is .true,
he Is a bigamist and it is not Improbable
that a criminal action will follow the
SAN FRANCISCO, FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 1901.
PRICE F1YE CENTS.
VOLUME L.XXXIX— ISO. 91.
LIFE-SAVING LOOKOUT MARK ELLINGSON, who was on .duty at Fort Point
when the Rio de Janeiro went on the rocks, confessed yesterday to his superior, Cap
tain Hodgson, that he had heard the whistles of distress sounded by the steamship and
had not heeded them. After making the confession Ellingson left the life-saving station and
has not since been seen.
The investigation into the cause of the loss of the steamship commenced yesterday be
fore the United States Inspectors of Steam Vessels. Startling testimony was disclosed. Chief
Engineer Herlihy claimed that he heard no orders given to clear the ship or man the
boats when the Rio struck. Herlihy admitted that he was not at his post of duty when the ship
started to enter port, as required by the rules of the Mail Company. Pilot Jordan and Second
Officer Coghlan gave conflicting testimony as to the course steered by the Rio. The pilot also
claimed that he had requested a passenger to go to the bridge and tie down the cords of the
whistles some time after the vessel struck the rocks. This statement is disputed.
Diver Fails to Locate Wreck of the Steamship— Con=
flicting Testimony Is Presented at. Offi
cial Investigation.