The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-03-13
A NARROW ESCAPE.

The Mail Steamer Colima Strikes the
Rocks at La Union.
There was considerable excitement In
this city yesterday evening when 1t was
made public that the Pacific Mail steamer
Colima had run on the rocks at La Union
on the San Salvador coast and had become
total wreck. This was intensified by the
fact that when the steamer Nicaragua of
the same company went ashore at Acajutla
the officers of the company did not allow
the news to be given TO the public for fully
twenty-four hours after the dispatches were
received at the company's office. The news
of the wreck of the Nicaragua reached San
Francisco at o'clock in the afternoon, but
was not given out until the following even
ing.
Within a very short time after the news
Of the accident to the Colima had reached
this city quite number of people who had
friends or relatives on board the vessel
gathered at tile Merchants Exchange and
other places where they would be likely to
obtain any news of the disaster. The first
dispatch received stated that the COlima
had gone ashore in fog and was total
loss, but no lives were lost. For several
hours nothing further regarding the steamer
could be learned. The officers OF the COM
pany protested to know nothing whatever Of
the affair." and no dispatches were
received at the Merchants Exchange. The
bad luck that has overtaken the Pacific
Mail Company during the last month or two
was freely discussed by those who have
friends on board the Colima and how the
shipwrecked passengers would be brought
TO San Francisco was also discussed. Many
were OF the opinion that one of the steam
ers now in port should be dispatched to
bring up both passengers and cargo, and 1t
was the general opinion among shipping
men that the new Spreckels' tug Fearless
would be dispatched at once to the scene Of
the disaster.
a CALL reporter saw John ID. Spreckes
at his residence last night, but he had heard
nothing OF the wreck of the steamer at that
time. In reply to question as to whether
the Fearless could be sent down, Mr..
Spreckels said that If she was wanted by
the Mail Company or anybody else the big
tug was ready and could put to sea within
twelve hours If necessary. This is just the
kind of work she is fitted for, as she carries
the most powerful, wrecking pumps afioat
on any tug.
At quarter to z o'clock last evening
Alex Center OF the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company sent message by telephone TO
the effect that he had just received a tele-
gram from the company's agent at La Union,
imparting the information that the Colima
passed In to La Union on the nth inst, and
struck something which caused the steamer
to spring leak. She was brought up on
the beach and the leak repaired. She was
then foated off. and is now as safe as she
would be at Oakland Creek.
The Colma was due at La Union March
10
There was a general feeling Of relief when
the news that the steamer was safe became
known and that the accident was not as Sc
rious as first reported. The Coima left
Panama for this port on February rs, In
charge Of Captain Austin. She Is a vessel
of 1900 tons register and was built in 1873 by
John Roach & Sons, at Philadelphia.