Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-06-01
STRUGGLE FOR LIFE
Results in Awful Scenes on Board the III.,at, d
CoIima.

SAN FRANCISCO, May 31-The Pacific
Mail Steamship company last evening re-
ceived the following dispatch from Man
zanillo, Mex:
Colima sank in 100 fathoms Steamer
we sent last night found nobody alive.
Three cabin passengers and two sailors got
ashore at Coahuayana alive. Until now
20 persons saved
The company has wired to ascertain, if
possible, tle names of the three passengers
and two sailors noted above.
Seventy-tive miles below San Bias, a
hurricane was encountered and it was de-
bated as to whether or not the ship should
attempt to gain partial shelter in the shall
low and treacherous Banderas bay, which
has rocks near its entrance, or whether it
were better to push out to sea.
One local Mexican passenger, Don Ma
tias Moreno, says the report, was about on
the deck, and testities that while eau
t1ously steering for what, to all appear
ances, was the usual entrance a slight
tremble was felt to go through the ship.
1t was so faint that it was hardly appar-
ent to the trained senses of the pilots and
captain. The captain ordered slight
change in the course and gave other drec-
lions, which were obeyed by the officers
and crew. In few seconds after the keel
ground on rock lightly, and there was at
once great excitement among the officers
and crew and fear on the part of the few
passengers on deck. Following the danger
signal, in less than 10 seconds the great
ship crunched on an unknown reef, and
shuddcr ran through the hull from stem
to stern.
Scene of Terror.
The PASSENGERS sprang from their berths
In terror and ran out on the decks scream
ing and praying in paroxysm of fear, for
the awful truth seemed to burst upon
them. The wind howled and a dense p'.l
of fog hung over the ship as she was tossed
by the surges and began to pound herself
to pieces OH the rocks. She rose and Zen
three times and then crash was heard
This was followed by silence for the spGc;
of a quarter of a minute, during which
time only loud sobbing was heard and
muffled prayers.
MAN the bOatsr" trumDeted the cap
tain, after Il short interval, in which an
other crash was heard from beneath the
water. The boats had previously be,
made ready, with all the lifesavers placed
at convenient places, although covered
from the view of nervous passengers.
Within three minutes of the first crash in
the hull the ship began to reel from its up
right balance, to settle and to sink in its
free hinderpart. The scenes about the life
boats were indescribable. According to
oil the testimony obtainablc, the panic
stricken passengers and the ships crew
struggled for first place, although, to the
credit of tho crew, few of the sailors or
ships people lost their presence of mind,
but gave their main attention to saving
the passengers.
A Frenzied Mothers Act.
There were a number of children on the
passenger list and one of these was
pitched overheard into the frothing sea by
a frcnzicd mother who aimed for one of the
lifeboats still upon the davits. A woman
of evident wealth and refinement among
the passengers, whose name is thought to
be Broslin or Crosslyn, displayed remark
able presence of mind, and in the most
trying moments passed among the frcnzicd
throng cxhorting the people to keep quiet
and take particular care of the women and
children.
Some of the passengers, not willing to
d"uit SliuuCt ioi q pave III 'hS oo"','
seized the lifcbclts and boldly cast them
selves into the sea, to their almost uni
versal fate, as they were tossed lifelcssly
upon the waves or dashed against the
rocks, which were easily observed from
the fast sinking ship.
The first boat to be lowered with its
heavy burden of humanity succeeded in
clearing the ships sides, but was swept
away by the mighty force and swallowed
by the night of fog. OF this load only one
of the sailors is known to have escaped the
engulfing tlood which swept over the boat
within five minutes after it was launched.
A similar fate bcfcll all the other boats,
with one exception.