The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-06-07
AWFUL EXPERIENCE
or tho Survivors OF tho Collmn
Steamship Wrocls.
THEIR STORY OF THE DISASTER
Confirms tho Press Dispatches.
Scores OF Women aud Children
Drowned IN their State Rooms Like
Hnts-Tho Terrible Experience OF
tho Party on tho Raft-Tho Sad
sccncs Witnessed at Snn Francisco
Whom tho Survivors Arrived.

SAN FRANCISCO, GALA, Juno 6.-Sev.
cnteon OF tho survivors OF tho ill-fated
steamer Colima arrived in por. to-day
on tho San Juan. When sho docked,
hundreds ol friends and relatives OF
those who wen: down on the Collma
were assembled awaiting tho landing OF
tho passengers. Groups OF women with
tear.stained faces and knots OF anxious
mon implored everyone on board for
tidings Of the lost, all hoping against
hopo that thorO might have been somo
mistake in tho dispatches and como
nnmo omitted among tho saved. How
kcon was their disappointment in tho
iaco oi tho inevitable ASSURANCE tha.
thero was no hope, was evidenced in
their bittor lamentations. On tho up.
per deck OF tho steamer wero q few hap.
py people whose pleasure contrastod
sharply with the griet Of tho bereaved.
There were tho friends OF tho aurviv-
ors. who were embraced aud congratu-
lated at their miraculous rascuo.
Tho storios OF tho survivors all con.
tirmed tho telegraphic accounts OF tho
di,aster. They agree that the cause OF
tho laundering was tho top.heavy con-
dition OF the Colima due to her bulky
dcck.load. From tho beginning OF tho
voyage south, they say, tho steamer
acted badly and would not answer her
helm. Tho storm which sunk her was
encountered about o'clock Monday
night, May %, and blow turiously dur.
ing tho next II hours. Tho vessel lost
stectago way, swung shoreward in the
teeth OF furious southeas ,erly gale,
when she lay bel plossly battered by the
mighty tidal waves.
The steamer lay holplcsslY on hor side
for about fifteen minutes and tipped
over and sank. Tho women and child
rem were drowned in their state rooms,
whGse they were confined during the
gale. The passengers who had been on
deck wore thrown into the sea. Many
were killed and horribly mu!ilated by
the lumber on tho deck, blown by the
wind aud hurled on their heads as they
struggled in tho water. The raft Cush-
ing, Sutherland. Richardson and two
others we're atloat on dritted for about
twenty-iour hours. They gave up all
hope until tho San Juan hove in sight.
They attracted her attention by hoist-
ing piece Of red clotA,and. waving their
clothes.
On the raj. with the passengers wcre
two sailors. One seized n small cask
OF clare., oil which both drank. They
became drunk and quarrelsome. To
save the lives OF the rest on the raft, tho
men say thoy were obliged to push one
sailor, mad with drink. into tho sea,
whore he drowned. The passengers say
there was no time to launch the boats or
put on tho perservcrs when they real
lied tho serious plight on tho Colima
and, besides. the fury OF the storm made
itinpossib!e to launch or man tho boats
successfully.
Those who secured life poservers got
thom in the water, and those in the
boat picked up by tho San Juan clim-
bercd into her as sho Aoatcd towards
them in the struggling sea.