New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-30

the Office Of the Pacific Mail The dispatch con-
tained the following brief statements
Saved Wire father. RICHARDSON.
Richardson was the storekeeper on the Colima.
and was one Of the few at this time known to
have escaped from the sinking vessel alive.
When Railton received the dispatch he went to
the Merchants Exchange 10 corroborate the
news OF the vessels loss but failed to obtain any
Information there The Merchants Exchange
had received no advices from Manzanillo. and
the Information in the dispatch received by the
Pacific Mail bookkeeper was regarded as most
startling piece Of information.
A few moments later a telegram was received
from the company's agent at Manzanio to the
effect that the ship had gone down and that
fourteen passengers and five OF the crew had
reached shore in a small boat.
The latest news concerning the disaster Is
private message which reports that there Is
possibility that several more boats are adrift or
have landed on the coast.
The disaster occurred about fifty miles from
Manzanillo and between that port and Punta
San Telmo bend in the South Mexican coast
The boat containing the rescued men was
picked I'D at sea by the steamer San Juan, north
bound to this city from Central American ports
She Immediately put into Manzanillo with the
saved and according TO dispatches since received
at once went to sea again in search of other
boats.
The Colima had been out several hours when
the accident occurred 10 her machinery which
caused her to spring leak. She filled quickly,
and II being night and all the passengers having
turned in for the night, great difficulty was en-
countered in rousng them Confusion and wild
disorder followed. One boat was lowered and
five swung out. but. as far is known. the one
hat ofta "a cfa
from the ship before she went down. 1t was i'm
possible TO see whether the other boats pulled
away before being sucked under by the sinking
vessel or not All OF the rescued passengers lost
their clothing and baggage.
J. Z. Roberts. a passenger bound for New
York. old resident Of San Diego. His wife
was with him. and they had started on trip
around the world.
Fortunately for the other probable survivors,
the sea off the Mexican Coast In the vicinity OF
Manzanillo is usually as smooth as nillpond'
and way-port steamers are in the habit of hug
gng the shore line closely 1t is believed that none
OF the steamers boats that were launched could
have failed to make a landing or be picked up.
Immediately upon the receipt here OF the news
the Pacific Mail Company sent a dispatch to their
agents at Acapulco to send the steamer Barracott.
which had just arrived there from Panama TO
make a thorough search for the five other boats
which, 1t is thought. either afioat. with pas
sengers and crew or on the coast near the scene
Of the disaster.
Just how many passengers were aboard the
vessel when the accident occurred which sent her
10 the bottom cannot be ascertained at present
The vessel stopped at Mazatan and San Bias be-
fore reaching Manzanillo and passengers were
landed and taken at both ports. The corrected
passenger list can only be made out when the
names OF the passengers who went ashore ana
boarded the vessel at those two ports are re-
ctived
The Colma was bound for Panama. and was
due at Manzanillo on Sunday. the 26th. The ds-
patches show that the vessel foundered on Mon
day on Manzanillo which would indicate that
probably some accident 10 the machinery occurred
which hndered the progress Of the vessel ana
prevented her from reaching Manzanillo before
she foundered. The officers OF the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company do not believe the vessei
struck hidden ledge. They are more inclined 10
think that the cause Of the disaster was an acci-
dent to the machinery. They are sure that the
officers and crew did their duty when the trying
moment came. and believe that the loss OF life
will prove to be much less than Is at present
feared. The vessel had six lifeboats. which hung
from davits ready to be launched at moments
notice. and 1t is thought that all Of these could
have been launched matter how rapidly the
vessel sank. The telegram received by MI
Schwerin, manager of the line, only accounts for
one boat. and the fact that more had not arrived
At Manzanillo at the time the dispatch was sent
Is the only indication that the loss OF life may
have been great Alexander Center. general
agent Of the company. says he is confident that
other boats will come to land
No rocks are strewn along the coast south OF
Aanzanilo. but south Of port there are rocks IN