The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-06-01
LAST EDITION
FURY OF THE GALE.
Graphic Description Of the
CoIima's Loss.
The Fiercast Storm Known in More
Than Twenty years.
Captain Taylor Went Down With the
Ship at His Post.


special from Mazatlsn says: The
steamer San Juan has arrived with the p
passengers picked up on Tuesday from
the wrecked Colima. From them your
correspondent has learned some OF the
particulars OF the dreadful disaster
which happened on Monday, at noon,
when the Colima was about twenty
eight miles out of Mazanillo and 10
miles from shore. All the rescued
are badly bruised. They were all picked
from pieces OF wreckage and RATS with
the exception Of A. ]. Sutherland, who
| had clung to boat after it had capsized
five times and drowned all the other oc-
cupants. 1t was the fercest gale of the
year. He is not yes in a condition to tell
a clear story of the wreck. The steamer
was heavily laden, and had
large deck load of lumber. When
the storm struck her she made bad
weather of it, the captain having great
difficulty in keeping her head to the sea-
The wind increased in fury until it is said
to have been cie fiorcest storm known
along this coast in 20 years. The sea rose
rapidly, waves washed the vessel and COW
| cred the deck load. d.-
About noon her head could no longer
be kept up and she breach he'd to. Once in
the trough OF the sea, a mighty wave
struck her and she was thrown ON her
beam ends. This wave struck her with
such force that the steamer trem bled as IL
she had run upon a reef, and most Of
the passengers thought this was
the cause of the shock. This
gave rise to the first reports that the ship
had struck on q reef. Whether because
OF the heavy deck load, the shifting OF the
coal and cargo, or the force OF the storm,
the steamer would not right herself. The
passengers were pretty badly stunned by
being pitched about, but rushed upon the
deck in a panic. Here they met another
danger The gale tore part of the deck
load OF lumber from its fasienings and
caused the heavy plsnks to be tossed
about with violence. Many were struck
and manned.
AT least one passenger was killed by
having his head crushed by the flying
timbers. The survivors say that the
officers of the steamer were brave and
active. Captain Taylor stood upon the |
bridge, his first officer, De Grifiiths, with
him. AT an order Griffiths rushed aft to |
surperintend the launching OF life boat |
No. 3. Second officer Langhorn was at |
boat No. 2, and succeeded in getting 1t |
launched and filled with passengers.
Then down went the ship and Lang
horne's boat was capsized. All in the
boats were supposed to have been
drowned. Captain Taylor went down
with the ship, sticking to his post. As
the ship pitched downward he blew three
blasts OF the whistle, supposedly as sig
nal OF good bye. Then she disappeared
between the waves. Down went the en-
gineers and firemen at their posts. Freight
c'ork Berry was in his room at the time
of the final plunge. Officer Hansen was
saved. AS tho steamer sank he cut some
ofthe lashings of the deck lumber. Then
he jumped or was thrown overheard on
the weather side of tho vessel and reached
the deck house. This had been
torn and washed away by the
great wave which threw the Colima
on her beam. There Hansen clung, buff
feted for "a hours. He saw men and
women sink about him, but was powerless
to aid them. Hansen says that as the
steamer foundcred her boilers burst. The
deck burst under his feet as he left the
ship. Ten other men were thrown fnto
the sea with him. The bursting OF the
boilers tore off the deck and threw
part OF II over at least
dozen men who were struggling in
the water, drowning them all. Two
other life RATS wero to be seen afioat. On
one there were three men, and on the
other six, including j. A. Chilberg OF Sc
attle, Wash, who seemed TO have been
leader on the work OF launching the raft.
Those in position to take in their sur
saw many who clung to bits OF
and the lumber from the deck
load. The gale caught this wreck
lge from the crests OF the great waves and
beat tho struggling unfortunates with it.
One mans skull was crushed by a whirl-
ing plank as he was about to Chamber
upon n life raft. The dash OF the sea
made each timber effaco all hope. The
ight for life began. There was no hope
Tor women or children and very little for
men in such a storm.
Professor Harold Whiting OF the Cali
'ornia University made heroic effort TO
ave his wife and four children and tho
nurse. He got into n boat in which A. J.
sutherland and others were. The boat
Sas soon swamped. Then II was lighted
-. Il