18 February, 1928--Seattle Daily Times

Commuters are Swept Overboard in S.F. Bay
Operators of Craft Criticized and Mistake in Shifting of Water Ballast Is Charged as Cause

San Francisco, Saturday, February 18, 1928 - A revised list of persons believed missing in the Peralta ferryboat accident was compiled by the police as follows:

J.W Collins of Oakland, whose wife said he had taken the 5:15 o'clock ferryboat for 20 years.
Hugh Findlay, trade journal editor, of Berkeley,
------ Tyrelll Lewis Kean of Oakland
W.Sayre of Oakland
Bert Tangrer of Oakland.
Walter Foley of Oakland and San Francisco.
An unidentified woman

The mate of the ferryboat Hayward, whose lifeboat figured in the rescue work, declared that he saw a small boy washed overboard and that the lad disappeared quickly beneath the waters.

By Associated Press San Francisco, Saturday, Feb. 18, 1928 -

With eight commuters missing as a result of the "nose dive" of the San Francisco-Oakland ferry Peralta last night, a sweeping investigation was under way today to determine the worth of charges of gross negligence made by passengers against the Key Route Ferry System; owners of the craft.

Spokesman for the ferry company issued mo statements today. Capt. William H. Melsome, who was in charge of the ferry when it's forward lower deck "dipped" as it was passing Yerba Buena (Goat) Island said: "I am not at liberty to say anything. You see it's sort of understood in large companies that the only one who makes a statement is the man at the head."

Captain Saves Boat

It was the action of Captain Melsome in reversing the engines of the Peralta after the craft had "dipped" that brought it to an even keel in a few moments that prevented a major disaster. It was during the few moments the front deck was under fifteen feet of water that passengers were swept overboard. The passing Key Route ferry Hayward bound for San Francisco assisted by smaller craft, rescued seventeen of the passengers. The Peralta continued her trip to the Key System pier and was tied up there under guard. No one was permitted to board the vessel excepting federal inspectors.

The most persistent explanation of the disaster came from those familiar with the construction of the Peralta, a new electrically driven water-balanced ferry.

Mistake is Charged

A mistake by a member of the ferry crew may have thrown the vessel off balance, marine authorities said. An explanation of the water balance system of the craft was made by an official of the Moore Drydock Company, builders of the craft.

"When the ship approaches the slip on each trip water is transferred from the forward ballast tank to the rear tank," the drydock company official said. "It is my opinion that the man who had this duty made the mistake of filling the forward tank instead of the aft tank. The resultant loading of thirty tons of water forward might have caused the boat to "dip" with serious consequences.

Passengers of the ferry, commuters who had the unwelcome experience of a lifetime in the ducking they received from the Peralta's "nosedive" were outspoken in their criticism of the members of both the crews of the Peralta and the rescue ship Hayward. They said the work of rescue by the Hayward's crew was unusually slow, the lowering of the lifeboats took several minutes and confusion was apparent among the rescuers, more than the ranks of the rescued.

Roger Anderson, second mate of the Peralta, a witness called before the federal investigation today said the accident was a complete mystery to him.

Number Undermined

The number of passengers swept into the water still was undetermined. Estimates of the passengers were that from thirty to one hundred persons were plunged overboard. The official list showed seventeen had been rescued.

Inspectors of the United States government and officials of the California Railroad commission today began investigation of the accident and will endeavor to determine the cause. A mistake in the shifting of water in the Peralta's ballast tanks, the heave wash from a passing schooner and a freak tide on the bay are three suggestions advanced as the cause. But none has been announced officially.

Six personals originally reported missing returned to their homes during the night. A systematic search of the bay up to daybreak failed to reveal the trace of any bodies. State, federal and harbor officers made an early start on their inquiries, but no new evidence of what caused the accident was uncovered at the outset.

Large Crowd Aboard

The big electrically driven ferry operating between San Francisco and Oakland for the Key Route Transit System was nearing its East Bay destination during the rush hour last night when the accident occurred. Although the ferry was not filled to its capacity-4000 persons--a large crowd was aboard. Many of these had gathered on the lower forward deck.

Suddenly the huge ferry lurched downward and the scores of passengers in the bow found themselves submerged in the cold salt water. Dozens were washed overboard. Pandemonium broke loose among the others because they thought the ferry was going down. Women knelt on the decks and prayed while the men attacked the lockers filled with life preservers. The air was filled with the cries of those struggling in the water and the creams of women and children on the decks.

The Peralta's crew was ordered to the lifeboats as the big ferry slowly settled back on an even keel. The ferry Hayward, which was passing the scene, launched lifeboats as did the Naval Training State at Goat Island, which is but a few hundred yards from the scene of the accident.

Because of the confusion it was several minutes before lifeboats were able to function. The choppy waters of the bay were strewn with coats, hats and bits of wreckage. Rescuers handicapped by rapidly falling twilight were able to find persons in the water only with the greatest difficulty.

The Hayward rescued seven persons and the Navy rescue party picked up five or six. Others were taken in by the lifeboats from the Peralta. Whether any of the luckless passengers swam the 300 or 400 yards to Goat Island or the several hundred yards to the Key Route pier in Oakland was doubtful as none had been found this morning.

The official investigations were under way today to determine what caused the accident.

A report made shortly after midnight today by William F. St Sure, an official of the Key System Transit Company, owners of the Peralta placed the number of persons plunged into the bay at twenty.

John K. Bulger, supervising inspector of hulls and boilers for the United States government, appointed two inspectors to investigate the accident while Clyde Seavey, president of the California Railroad commission, which has jurisdiction over public service corporations, also started an investigation.

Second Accident to Boat

The accident was the second to occur to the Peralta, commissioned last March 29th. On March 30th, while carrying over 3,000 commuters, her steering gear failed to work, and the boat crashed into its mooring berth on this side of the bay, resulting in $30,000 damage and causing a wild panic among passengers.

The exact spot where the "dip" took place is known as one of the deepest in inner San Francisco Bay. On account of the heavy currents in the spot, there is a possibility that few bodies will be recovered.

Two San Francisco ambulances were hurried to the ferry building here to aid in reviving the victims as they were brought ashore.

After the tragedy all key route ferry service was stopped on the bay and thousands of bewildered commuters gathered at the Ferry Building.

News of the drownings spread like wildfire. There was a near-panic in the dash for telephone booths to inform friends and families of the drownings. Police were forced into service to preserve order.

18 February, 1928, Seattle Daily Times By Associated Press.

Girl Swept into Water, Swims to Meet Rescuers
"It Seemed Ages to Me," Says Art Student, One of San Francisco Ferry Wreck Victims; Navy Men Save Passengers.

San Francisco, Saturday, Feb 18, 1928- Miss Peggy Naylor, a 17-year-old art student of Oakland was swept overboard last night when the wave engulfed the bow of the ferryboat Peralta, and she lived to tell her experience during the panic period of the accident. Her story was one of many related today by eyewitnesses of the ferryboat's spectacular plunge.

"I was on my way home from art school in San Francisco and was standing on the front of the boat," she said. "All of a sudden the water began to rise over the bow. Then it came in a terrible rush. One of the rails was swept away and the next thing I knew I was under water.

"It seemed as though I was never going to come up. If I hadn't been a good swimmer I would have certainly have been drowned. When I finally got my head above water I managed to get my hat and coat off an started to swim away to get clear of the boat.

"I don't know how long I was in the water. It seemed like ages that I just swam and swam and I was almost worn out when one of the lifeboats from the Hayward reached me."

Naval Men Praised

To the watchful eye of Liet. H.V. Perron of the United States Navy receiving ship Goat Island, many of the survivors of last night's ferry accident probably owe their lives. All eye-witness accounts paid high tribute to the work of the Navy men in their rescue work but it was only after the first excitement had died down that it was discovered that the Navy's part in the rescue was largely the result of the alertness of Lieutenant Perron.

"As I was walking on the island," said the officer, "I watched the Peralta, then 300 or 400 yards from me approximately southeast. I could see the crowds massed in the ferry's bow. Very suddenly, evidently from overcrowding in the bow she was brought down by the head and water rushed over the bow. I could see that some people were swept overboard, but I could not tell how many.

"As quickly as I could I ordered fifteen to twenty men into the captain's gig and all other suitable boats that were handy and told them to go out and give all possible assistance. They acted quickly and were able to take many people out of the water. Where anyone was drowned or not our men could not tell. They did not report seeing anyone sink but the water was pretty cold and those taken out were suffering from exposure."

Captain Q.D. Landenbarger, commandant of Goat Island spoke commendingly of Lieutenant Perron's prompt and efficient action and expressed satisfaction that the Navy men had had an opportunity to be of assistance.

Captain Landenbarger said: "The ferryboat was down by its head, buried into a swell and it shipped a sea. We sent out a rescue party which picked up five or six persons from the water and at their request, put them aboard the Peralta.

"The swell may have been caused by another vessel," Captain Landenbarger said. "One of the smaller ferryboats that run during crowded hours had put out from the key route."

The Rev E.T. McCarthy, pastor of the Catholic Church of Our Lady of Lourdes Oakland, a passenger on the ferryboat Hayward, which aided the Peralta victims, gave an eyewitness account of the accident. He said: "Water poured over the bow of the Peralta as if it had dashed from a cataract. People were swept overboard like dummies. Men and women fought like mad. It was eight minutes before a boat was launched from the Hayward and then it appeared as though he deck hands did not even know how to row. The rescue work, such as it was, was done almost entirely by the sailors of Goat Island.

"I have a list of 200 names of people who will demand that action be taken by the railroad commissions to prevent another such an occurrence as this."

Father McCarthy was highly praised for his direction of rescue work.

Girl Describes Tragedy

The disaster was described in vivid detail by Miss Lillian Sullivan, Berkeley, a passenger aboard the ferry.

"I was standing on the forward part of the upper deck when the bow of the boat suddenly sank," said Miss Sullivan. "The water rushed into the lower deck and people began to scream, 'the boat is sinking.'

"There was a crashing and rending of timbers as people tore down the life preservers. This added to the panic as passengers thought we had struck something. At this time the crew started herding the passengers back from the front of the boat.

"I got along the rail and saw twenty people floating in the water. They had rushed out on the lower deck where the water was four feet deep. Some leaped overboard and some were swept into the water.

"One woman cried that she was drowning. As I watched her she drifted out of sight and another passenger cried that she had gone down.

"By this time the boats had been lowered from passing ferries and other boats out from Goat Island. I think that all of the people were picked up, but I could not be certain."

Man Swept Overboard

Ralph I. Mack, Oakland, like Miss Naylor, also attributed his rescue to his ability as a swimmer.

"As soon as I was swept off the boat I began trying to get clear of the others and away from the boat." he said. "I thought the ferry was sinking. I swam until I was picked up by a lifeboat."

H.M. Thatcher, Oakland, said the accident happened without any warning.

"One minute I was on the deck of the ferryboat and the next I found myself in the water," he said. I started to swim to Goat Island. Then I saw the Hayward and swam to it and was taken aboard."

A statement that at least fifty persons were thrown into the bay was made by T.W. Parsons, Oakland.

"I managed to swim clear of the crowd and was picked up by one of the Hayward's lifeboats," he said.

Like a Shipwreck Scene

Like a shipwreck scene on the high seas, was the description of the accident given by Mrs. Lydia O'Neill of San Francisco, who saw the confusion from the forward upper deck. "It was horrible to stand there and watch water sweeping toward us over the bow.

"The Peralta was very crowded forward--packed with people. As I glanced toward the front of the lower deck all the people there seemed suddenly to lurch forward.

"The crowds below made a sudden, mad rush for the stern and the upper deck. About a dozen men and girls started clambering up the ladder leading to the wheelhouse. The crowd thronged the companionways were running with water that dripped from their clothing. The people on the upper deck remained calm except for a few women who went into hysterics.

"After some delay lifeboats were lowered from the other ferry (the Hayward). As everyone rushed to the port side of the Peralta to assist in the rescue and to watch, the Peralta listed. It seemed she heeled over almost forty degrees. Here the panic of the passengers saved them, for when they saw what was happening many of them scrambled back and the ferry settled to an even keel."

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