The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-20
COL|MA'S DECK LUMBER.
Manager r. A. SChWerin Tells
How He Inspected
WAS THE SHIP TOPHEAVY?
Conversation With Captain TAYLOR
Before the Ship Left,
Here.

R. A. Sehwerin, vice president and gen.
eral manager of the Pacific Mail Steam
ship Company, was the only witness before
the Colima court of inquiry yesterday. He
testified:
questionable you have any conversation
with any one before the steamer sailed with re-
No.
Q.-Have you any idea how many people were
on the Coilma when she left Manzanillo? A
40; but can furnish you with that informa-
ton from the records OF the company.
Q.-Nll you please 90 that? Al will. /
would like 10 make q statement in regard to
the first question. / saw, in the MORNING CALL
newspaper, a conversation reported to be one
had with Captain Taylor of the Colima to the
effect that he had objected to taking the ship
out on the ground that she was topheavy and
that was quoted as saying unless he took her
out would put some other captain
on the ship who would. Under oath state
that this is not so. According to my usual
custom / thoroughly inspected the snip
before she went to sea, and after the inspection
was finished turned to the captain and said
"Captain, l have to congratulate you on the
appearance OF your ship Captain Taylor re-
you say this and it shall be my endeavor not
only TO keep the ship in present condition. but
II possible 10 try TO make her look better" My
last words TO him as l babe him good-by were:
captain, take good care OF your ship and your
passengers"
Q.-HaYe you had experience at sea? A.
United States navy.
Q.-There has been testimony concerning the
lfeboats OF the Colima. Did you inspect them ?
A.-Nes. inspected them and saw that the
equipments OF the boats were there, including
the boat outfit and provisions, and when the
ship left here every fall in the boats was
hooked and the boats ready for service. This
forms part OF my inspection of all our steam
ers in leaving San Francisco on sailing day,
with the captain, superintendent and heads OF
department..
Q.-There has been comment on the boats
being lashed. Do you think il proper for
g steamer to go out with her boats being las he'd
securely? A-None but landlubbers would go
10 sea without the boats being securely dashed.
1t Is only the matter of moment to cut the
lashings of any boats gripes.
Q.-Mr. Hanson. one of the witnesses, testi-
fed as to speed OF the wind as to 10. VIII
you explain that expression, which he thinks
technical? AIN order that simple method
can be used 10 measure the force of wind,
numerals are employed from zero to 10-Zero
representing calm and 10 hurricane. The
other numerals represent the light airs and
light winds.
Q;-Dd you carry any lumber on the upper
deck OF the steamer? AYES.
Q.-How high was ii piled? A should say
six inches above the light guard rail- around
the hurricane deck or about two and a half
feet high stood on the top of the lumber
with the captain myself, and told him wanted
n lifeline stretched from the forward shroud
OF fore rigging to an awning stanchion. There
IS no doubt that the Storage passengers use
this part OF the ship for loating, and wanted
the captain 10 use the greatest precaution 10
prevent accidents TO any of the passengers.
He then and there ordered the first officer TO
stretch the lifeline as directed.
Q--Was that lumber dashed? Ayes; as far
as ordinary weather was concerned. In sea-
faring life there are two classes of flashing; one
Is for safety and the other is for bad weather or
preventive IaShing. Additional security is
put on anything on the ship where in the
opinion OF the officer in charge, there might be
an opportunity for anything TO break adrift.
Q.-With your experience as g seafaring man
do Won think that the lumber on the upper
deck OF the Colima tended in any way 10 make
her topheaYy2 A.-No. If l had any such
opinion she would have never gone from San
Francisco the time l inspected her. 1t might
ne IS we'll said that q ship should not go 10
sea with her spars standing, that they ought
TO be cut down before she goes to sea because
in many eases OF seafaTing experience they
have been cut away to save the ship.
Q.-In your experience in the navy have you
ever seen mcn-of-WaT carrying heavy deck
loads? Al have seen ships with coaling
capacity OF ten days, so far as bunker coal is
concerned, carry their spar deck loaded with
coal in bags almost TO the top of the hummock
MEETINGS in order TO steam the distance neces-
ssry 10 carry out their orders.
Q.-Haye you any adyices of rescued pas
seugcrS or crew being their way to San
Francisco A.-No. According TO my knowl-
edge al the survivors have gone to their des-
tinatiOns.
The. inquiry was adjourned until next
Monday at l P. NJ.