The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-14

at all about the shipwreck. The two men,
of-warsmen, who were among the saved,
have been called from Mare Island and
to-day they will tell all they know of the
wreck of the steamer and the subsequent
loss of life.
While giving his testimony yesterday
Gustav Rowan made the statement that
an employee of the Cdstom-house, who is
stationed on the Mail dock, had told him
the Coiima was very poorly stored. Cap
tain Phillips at once instructed the witness
to bring the customs officer into court to-
day.
Rowan, who asked for an Interpreter
last Wednesday, was placed on the stand
yesterday. He testified as follows:
81 was passenger on the steamer Co
lima from San Francisco for New York.
We left Manzanillo about P. NJ, and the
storm sprang up about P. NJ. l found
that was unable to keep my legs on deck
make bed on deck. Three of my COM
panions, afterward lost, tried to sleep
with me on deck, but they were unable to
do so. That state of affairs continued till
A. NJ.
"At o'clock I heard the captain from
the bridge giving orders, as it appeared as
if the storm would keep up and get worse
were. AT A. NJ. the storm had not abated.
l went on the deck, just below where the
lumber is stowed-where the cattle were
and then | stationed myself to see every
thing that happened, because l feared the
worst. [ stayed there until 8 A. NJ. At
with whom Was acquainted, and suggest
ed that they throw oil on the water to calm
the seas. The officer said he would have
to await orders from the captain
~ remained in that place for some
time-half an hour longer, perhaps-till l
saw the vessel was not able to make head
way against the storm. At that time 1
ship. AT $50 1 went down in the steerage
to notify the passengers that there was
danger. / found that everybody was in
the same fear as myself They were all up
and trying to keep their footing. and the
vessel was listing from side to side. Some
sacks filled with freight were falling down,
and the space where the hunks were was
broken, and l saw that all was lost 1
plainly saw that the vessel was lost from
that time, which was about 8 o'clock.
while was in the steerage the vessel
listed very violently to one side, so that no
one was able to stand erect We all cried
out, we must save ourselves l wanted
to get life-preserver, but the steward
forbade me, because it would be too much
trouble to put them back again. l said
My life and the lives of others are worth
more than the trouble. After the stew
ard spoke the vessel listed so that we
could not have got the life-preservers If
we tried. Then in spite of the steward, I
got hold of a rope and put it around one
of the iron pillars and climbed to the cell
ing, where the preservers were, and
threw them for two or three minutes down
to all hands. l fell down among the
crowd of passengers and put -preservers
on five of my friends and dragged one of
them with me to save ourselves.
During all this time not one of the off,
GERS or crew came to warn US.
II went toward the deck where the ami
mails were, and four or five men were
stopping up the passage on the stairs, so I
pushed them out OF my way. l forgot to
add that Messrs. Oriel and Burke heard
and witnessed the refusal of the steward to
let me take the fe-preservers.
Gin looking around me to see how I
could save myself and friend, saw part
of the water lit up. | imagined this was
from water coming through between decks.
| dived into the water and when came I'D
the vessel was sinking. was drawn under
three or four times, and the last time |
caught hold of a heavy plank which bore
me up till the San Juan came.
'AS the vessel was sinking saw the
steam escaping and heard a big noise.
After that the water was covered with
wreckage. The lumber on deck was not
lashed, so it could move from side to side
as the vessel listed.
Two of the four sailors who came to
rescue me were not members of the San
Juan's crew, but were volunteers from
among her passengers. When l got on
board I was offered whisky, but asked for
milk, which was not given me. / then
took a little whisky, and they afterward
gave me milk once.
About an hour after was on board the
surgeon came along to sew up the wounds
on my head, but / refused because l saw
he was under the influence of liquor.
"Some time afterward sailor came
along to do the same thing, but he was
drunken than the surgeon and had