The herald., 1895-06-19
DID He LOSE HIS HEAD !?
Captain Taylor Blamed for the
Loss of the Colima
STORIES OF SURVIVORS
Passengers After Life Preservers Were
Beaten Back
Women and Children Washed Off the Decks
and No Efforts Made to Lower
Boats '-.

SAN FRANCISCO, June 1s.-An even.
ing paper says: When the governments
investigation shall be held there will be
no lack of testimony to show the culpa-
bility of the Pacific Mail company in the
Colima wreck. Besides the testimony
given by the hull and boiler inspectors,
A. u. Mcclellan has received a letter
from his brother, who has a coast ranch
in Mexico, near the scene of the wreck.
Ten of the wrecked passengers are being
cared for by him, and their story of the
wreck corroborates all that has been said
against the management of the ship. Nc
Lellan writes that, from the story told
by the survivors at his place, the wreck
wasall due to Captain Taylor.
Certain 1t is, adds the writer, that
he made no attempt whatever to save the
passengers. The rescued passengers tell
me that the coverings were not even
taken off the boats, and further that the
passengers were not notified OF the dan
ger until five minutes before the Colima
went down. The freight ports could not
be closed on account of the immense car
go of lumber and other merchandise.
The water rushed through these port
holes and in a lew minutes put out the
fires in the engine room. Then the Coli
ma was practically at the mercy OF the
waves. / learn that a feeble attempt was
made to hoist sail, though there was
such confusion then that it was practic-
ally useless to attempt to do anything.
The passengers attempted to take
down the life preseIvers, but the mates
forced them to put them back. One OF
the men here picked up preserver. and
he was peremp ptorily ordered to put it
hanly wboro bo had fOnp1 ~ III the
women and children we're on deck just
before the Collma went down, though
many were washed off by the rushing
waters or knocked off by the flying spars
before the end came"
The government inquiry will be direc-
ted to ascertain among other things, how
it was that the officers of the San Juan
failed TO pick up the passengers who
have been drifting ashore near the scene
of the wreck, af.er the San Juan's de-
Earture. There is abundant evidence
that they made nothing like a thorough
search for the survivors, and it is thought
that many lost their lives through this
neglect.
C. ii. Cushing OF Oakland, a Colima
survivor, picked up by the San Juan, was
before the steamboat inspectors this af-
ternoon. He testified that before the
steamer sank, there was no canvas out.
The lumber OH the Colima's deck was
piled iour and half feet high. In
answer to the question. Ibid the officers
of the Colima do all in their Eower to
save the lives OF the passengers?" Cush-
ing replied:
'The officers gave us no warning. No
life preservers were furnished us, and l
heard no order to lower the boats"
Cushing's testimony in regard to the
treatment he received on the San Juan is
in direct contradiction to that given by
other witnesses of the inquiry. who tes-
titled that they were most brutally treated
by the officers and crew of the San Jaan.
The investig alton will be brought to a
close tom orrow afternoon, when Manager
Schwerin of the Pacific Mail compay will
testify as to the condition of the Culima
on leaving this port on her last voyags.