The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-06-07
HOW C0LIMA WAS WRECKED
STORIES TOLD BY THE SURTIVORS
OF THE FEARFUL AFFAIR.

One ofthe Passengers Says That There Was
Absolutely no Discipline Board the
Vessel and That Everything Was in a
Panic-The Steamer Was BADLY Steered in
the Gale-she Swung Her Head Around Il
Few Points, Careened and Went Down in
a Few Minutes.
San Francisco, June 6.--Steamer San
Juan arrived this afternoon from Pana-
man and way ports with the following
survivors of the wrecked Pacific Mail
steamer Colima:
Third Mate Hansen, r. A. Villas, a
carpenter, A. Richardson, T. Fish, men,
bers of the crew; H. A. Sutherland, G,
H. Gushing, jr., j. M. Thornton, H. H.
Boyd, George Rowan, Bruno Cenda,
Joseph Manuel, G. D. Ross, Louis San
gienes. T. j. Oriel, Juan A. Romos.
The following survivors were landed
at Mazatlan Thomas zaralai, D.
Olivas, A. Guittieres, Carlos Luitz.
AS soon as the marine observer re-
ported the ship two miles out the water
front became the scene of considerable
exitement. The Pacific Mail dock was
besieged by crowd that blocked the
streets. AS the revenue cutter bearing
the customs officers and newspapermen
neared the ship some one Of the Coli
mas rescued passengers with bandaged
heads were seen leaning on the bow
rail.
Just prior to the arrival of the re-
porters, however the Pacific Mail COM
pany's tug came alongside the San Juan
and took off Third Mate Hansen, who
more than anybody else could throw
light ON the cause of the wreck. There
was general disinclination among the
survivors to give any information.
George d. Ross, formerly boatswain's
mate on the cruiser Olympia, who was
on his way to New York, gave the fol-
lowing account of the wreck:
1--WE left Mazatlan May 26, at p. M,
with fair breeze blowing. Toward
ued blowing pretty fresh all night.
Next morning at 6 o'clock the wind
moderated considerably until about 9
o'clock, when 1t again came up and
steadily continued to gain in violence
untilit acquired the proportions ofa hur-
ricane The wind blew in great gusts,
causing the ship to list badly to star
board.
1.-THE Colima labored heavily and it
was evident that we were in a serious
The greatest excitement
prevailed aboard. Just at that moment
a fatal b1under was committed by the
third officer who cut the lashings of a
deckload consisting of $4,000 feet of
lumber. Some Of this was washed into
the sea, and what remained on deck
was driven about, knocking down and
manning those whom it struck A pret-
ty heavy sea struck the ship, tumbling
the foremast and snokestacR.
Shortly before this, however, a sue
cession of huge waves had punched a
hole in our starboard bow, through
which the sea poured. Women scream-
ed and rushed up the eompanionway,
the men to save them. The
ship gave couple Of heavy rolls, an
enormous sea climbed on us and
the hurricane deck, and with
one mighty lurch the ship went down.
AS she was making her last 1urch
dove into the sea, and when | came up |
she was out Of sight. People were
floating around, clinging to all sorts of |
wreckage, and some sinking under |
our eyes. Some who had managed to |
grasp boxes or planks were knocked |
senseIess and drowned. The force and |
effect of this floating mass of lumber |
cannot be described. 1t caused the |
death Of many who might otherwise
have been saved. 1t is a difficult mat
ter to say to what cause the wreck Of |
the Colima Is attributable. She must
certainly have shifted her cargo, as
1er strong list to port showed.
II firmly believe that but for the
shifting she would have rode the gale
had been in the water some time cling
ng to one object or other when finally
managed to get hold Of a good sized
Diece of hurricane deck upon which I
Iinbed I drifted about for time
Fhen observed man on another
|iece of wreckage close to me. He
|eemed about done up, so 1 seized his
aft and hauled him on to mine. He
urned out to be Thornton
"We were the closest in shore of any
a the survivors and were picked up Il
N the first officers boat of the San
han after being twenty-three hours in
he water"
Ross was severely cut about the head
N floating wreckage and had numerous
ther cuts about the body.
lT. j. Oriel, an electrician on his way
b Mexico, gave about the same ver-
lon of the commencement of the storm.
lie said the Colima during the height
he storm listed so badly after rush Of !,
laves that she did not recover. About
O'Clock ON the morning of the wreck, !,
said, went below to the steerage
harters and noticed water coming into :
e starboard scuppers. Shortly after I
bird quartermaster came down say {
n the captain wanted to see the en-
neer. The latter was on deck, but re- +
med to the engine room in three t
n four minutes looking like a ghost. S
S face was ashy pale That was the
seen of him. BY this time the steer fl
e passengers had all gone below when t
u seven men of war men from the b
herican cruisers Olympia and Phila- T
#phia tried to console those around =
nm. One of these finally told us
were doomed. We shook hands, said
#Pd bye and he knelt and said his :
yers. ,
ID started to go on deck, but the ship 2
He'd so badly that 1 could scarcely