The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-04
CAUSE OF THE DISASTER.
Recognized authorities Agree That tn
CoEimd Vas TOp-Hedry.


COEinaG Vas TOp-Hedry.
Speculation and theory as to the causes
which led to the loss of the Colima have
made way for certainty in the minds of
nearly all who have any connection with
nautical affairs.
1t is no longer question how the Colima
and her $50 precious souls were lost, but
why? That is the vital question. Why a
steamship company should place such a
low valuation on the human lives in
trusted to its care as to make everything
in the management and navigation of its
vessels subservient to freight and its trans
portation. Doubt no longer fingers in the
minds of those acquainted with matters of
the sea, that the terrible loss of life was
the direct result of the hasty and careless
handling of the cargo.
Up to within three years ago, the lad
ing of the Mail Company's steamers
was done under the direct supervision of
trusted and careful employees of the COM
pany, but the system was thought to be
too expensive. In order to save a few dol
lars per cargo, the company decided to let
out the loading by contract, and bids were
accordingly accepted. There was some
competition, and as is natural in such
cases the company accepted the lowest
bid.
Whether or not a contractor who is load
ing ship for so much ton is more likely
to hasten his work and slight it than
would the foreman in the employ of the
company with regular employees under his
Correction is question which needs not be
answered. Though the contractor would
demur to the charge. by implication or
otherwise, that he sighted his work, yet
the fact remains that he must load any
cargo which the company may designate
and in such a manner as its officers may
instruct. There are those who have no
hesitancy in saying that the loading of a
passenger steamship under the contract
system cannot be as careful and thorough
as when done by the employees of the COM
pany with a competent man to supervise
the work.
Attention was also called to the fact that
cargoes differ. That is very true. and a
lighter cargo may be much more difficult
to load and more dangerous to the ships
than one several tons heavier. This may
be applied to lumber particularly, The
time is fast approaching when lumber and
bulky deckloads will no longer be carried
on passenger steamers.
After summing up all the facts in pos
session of the public mind at this time, it
is conclusive that the Colima was top
heavy. There was no weather severe
enough to wreck vessel of the Colima' s
size and stanchness of build. What
brought the vessel into the trough of the
waves? The captain realized that his ship
was too top-heavy to stand any kind of a
blow, and sought to wear ship and put
back to port in order to rearrange or
tighten his cargo. There could be no proof
more conclusive, in the opinion of expert
enced stevedores, who have made a careful
study of the facts, so far as known, than
that furnished by the ill-advised effort of
the captain to avoid the results of the COM
pany's avariciousness 1t is thought by
many that the terrible disaster could have
been averted had he kept the steamers
head to the wind and thrown overheard
his deckload as fast as possible By so
doing his ship would have been relieved
of her unbalancing load and been rem
dered as seaworthy as ever In this con-
nection it is advanced, as a possible ex-
PLANTATION of the captain failure to keep
his ship to the sea, that some portion of
the machinery may have given way. 1t
may nave pten INC Iudlu CyllHueT, IHen-
toned in the CALL of yesterday morning.
But in looking at the fearful affair from
all sides and under all possible lights,
every conclusion points with finger of
blame to the company and to its manager,
Schwerin, who came here from the East
to swell it's Golfers and increase the carry
ing capacity of its vessels.
Another point in the issue which was
brought out yesterday is to the effect that
the vessels of the company were loaded
without the supervision and survey of the
underwriters. Why such has heretofore
been the case was not explained. The
company may be able to tell.