The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-06-07
THE WRECK Of THE COL|MA
Graphic Stories of This Tragedy
Of the Sea Told.
The Shifting Of the Cargo Said to be
the Cause of the Sinking Of
the Vessel. a Fatal Blum
der Made by the
Third Officer.
BY Southern Associated Press.

SAN FRANCIsCo, June 6--The steamer
San Juan arrived this afternoon from
Panama and way ports with survivors
of the wrecked Pacific Mali steamship
Colina. As the revenue cutter bearing
the custom officers nnd newspaper men
nesred the ship some of the Collmas'
rescued passengers with baudnged
heads were seen leaning on the boat
rail.
Just prior to the arrival of the re-
porters. however, the Pacific Mail
Company's tug Millen Griffith cnmo
alongside the san Juan aud took oil
third mato Hansen of the lost ship, who
more than any one else could throw
light OH the cause of the wreck.
George u. Ross, formerly boutswain's
mate Oh the cruiser Olympia, who was
on his way to his home in New York,
gave the United Press reporter tho fol
lowing graphic account of the wrock:
1--WE left Muzatlan Sunday, May 26,
ut O'clock p. M, with IL fair breeze
blowing. Toward 8 O'Clock in the even.
ing tho wind increased little. Next
morning ut 6 O'Clock tho wind moderat.
ed considerably until about . O'Clock,
wbcn it again camo up and STEADILY
continued To gain III violence until 1t
acquired the proportions of u hurricane.
Tho wind blew III great gusts, causing
the ship to list badly to starboard.
The Colima iabored heavily aud it was
evident that we were in very precari.
Gus predicament.
Unfortunately, Just at the last mo
ment, fatal blunder was committed
by the third officer, who cut the last
hinges Of q deck load oonsistipg OF
81, UU0 feet OF lumber. Some of this
was washed into the sea and what re
mained on deck was driven about, knock.
ing down aud manning those whom IT
struck. a particularly heavy sen struck
tho ship, tumbing the furemast mud
smok esiuck. Shortly before this, how.
over, II succession Of hugs waves had
punched hole IN our starboard bow,
through which the sen poured.
Women screamed and rushed up the
companion wny imploring the men to
save them. The ship gave q couple of
heavy rolls. an enormous sea climbed
on us, smashed the hurricane deok, and
with ono mighty lnrch the ship went
down. AS sue was making her last
lurch | dove into the sea, aud when |
came up she was ont OF sight. People
were floating around, cllnging to ell
sorts of wreckage, and some sinking
under our very eyes. Some who hnd
managed to grasp hold of boxes or
plauks were Knocked seuseless and
drowned.
The force and effect of this floating
mass of lumber cannot be described.
1t caused the death OF many who might
OF }her wise have been saved.
at Is difficult matter to say to
what cause the wreck of the Colima is
attributable. She must certainly have
| shifted her cargo, as heI strong list to
port showed.
81 iirnly believe that but for the
shifting OF the cargo the ship would
have rodo out the gale. 4 had been in
the water some little time clinging to
one object or another when tiually |
managed IT, get hold of good sized
piece of hurricane deck upon which
climbed. | drif,ed about for some time
when 1 observed q rsther-etfeminats
looking fellow on another pieco OF
wreckage close TO me.
He seemed about done up, SO | seized
his raft and hauled him on TO mine.
We made the rest of the trip towards
shore together. He turned out to be
Thornton. We were the closest in
shore of any of the survivors and wore
picked up by the first officers boat of
the San Juan, after being twenty eight
hours III tho water"
Ross was severely cut shout the head
by floating wreckage and had numsr-
GUS other cuts about the body.
Sailor Carpenter was one of thaEmen
On the raft. ~ think that someihlng
shifted below, said Carpenter.
Following IS the list OF survivors
landed to-day; Third Mste Hansen,
X Aviliea, A Carpenter, A Richardson,
Thomas Fish, members of the crew; II
A Sutherland, q II Cushing, Jr, j NJ
Thornton, II II Boyd, George Rowan,
Bruno Cenda, Jose Manuel, q ID Ross,
Louis Sangienes, L j O'Riel. Juan A
Ramos.
The following survivors were landed
at Mazatlan: Thomas Seralia, d. Oil
vas, 4. GuteriZ. Carlos Luitz.
Na. MI