The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-11
ANOTHER PHASE.
The Government Takes Cognizance
of Talbot and Philips
Conduct.

vi 0lOOI anu -IllliPS
Conduct.
The Colima investigation has taken a
new turn, and the so-called investigators
are to be investigated. incidentally all the
facts connected with the equipment, stow
age of cargo and the manner in which the
ship was handled during the gale will be
gone into.
The scope of the inquiry will not be con-
fined TO the Cohma alone. Every one OF
the Pacific Mail Company's steamers will
be overhauled, and if they do not come up
TO the requirements of the law it will go
hard with the Inspectors of Hulls and
Boilers.
During the inquiry now in progress be-
fore Inspector of Hulls Enoch S. Talbot
and Inspector of Boilers W. A. Phillips a
stranger arose and requested permission to
ask few questions. He wanted to know
whether If the mainSail had been set il
would not have brought the ship up into
the wind.
The answer of Mate Hansen was that no
sail ever made could have stood the gale
that was blowing. THAT was not my
question:" said the stranger "What |
wanted TO know is if the sail had been set
or could have been set, would it have
helped to bring the ship up?' The wit
ncss says canvas could stand in the gale
"
Talbot. We'll, I'd just like to know if the
canvas would have helped the ship" per-
sisted the stranger, and finally the mate
admitted that had it been possible to get
sail on the ship it would have helped her
considerably.
The fact of the matter is that the CO.
lima had no mainsail on board or in fact
any other sail except a iib," said the
stranger afterward. The lumber on the
forward part of the ship was piled to
height of four feet, or up to the top of the
rail. While the weight did not amount to
much, yet the shingles and laths held the
wind and thus prevented the ship from
coming up in answer to her helm"
The stranger who was present at the in
vestigation last Saturday was there again
yesterday and took notes of all the testi-
mony. Later 1t vas learned that he was
there for the special agents of the Treas
urv, and his notes will be used in the in
vestigation that will be begun the latter
part OF this month. The basis of the in
quiry will be the wreck of the Colima,
but the men who will really be on trial
will be Government Inspectors.
The Pacific Mail Companys steamer San
Juan sailed Yesterday for Panama and wav
ports, and Special Agent of the Treasury
H. A. Moore paid visit to the Mail dock
liz consequence. He made quiet tour of
the ship and also picked up all the infor-
nation he could about the loading and
equipment of the company's steamers. 1t
is said that not one of the vessels is prop
erly fitted out, and this is what Special
Agents Moore, Benton and Charming will
look into.
When spoken to about the matter YES
terday Special Agent Charming admitted
that an inquiry was to be held, but after
ward said he referred to the investigation
now going on before Messrs. Talbot and
Phillips. He admitted that Mr.. Moore
was at the Mail dock, but for what pur-
pose he could not or would not tell The
stranger who attended the two sessions
already held in behalf of the special
agents of the Treasury is A. ]. Smith, an
employee of the Custom-house, who has
been engaged in secret service work for
some time. He is an old steamboat man
and knows great deal about the ms and
outs OF the Pacific Mail service.
The preliminary examination, as it may
be called into the loss of the Colima was
resumed before Inspectors Talbot and
Phillips yesterday. The only witnesses
Mail Company, so nothing detrimental TO
the corporation was brought out.
James B. Chase testified:
I am a stevedore and l furnish ballast to
ships
Do you furnish ballast to the Pacific Mail
Company?
Yes, sir.
Did you furnish any ballast for the Colima?
Yes sir, on May 16 last.
How much?
One hundred tons of rock.
DO you know where it was put in the ship?
Yes; in the after hold.
Do you know why that ballast was put In?
Did she need it going down?
don't Know suppose she did.
DO yon know If any ballast was IN the snip
before you put that lot in?
l don't know. have put ballast In pre-.
Piously.
Phillips-How long before May was it put In?
don't know exactly, but it was several
months. In regard to the loading of the ship
don't know anything.
George D. Korts, the States bar pilot,
was the next witness.
Did you take the Colima to sea? asked Cap
tain Talbot.
l did, on May 1S last
Make statement as TO how she acted
The snip lett the Mail dock at IL O'Clock We
steamed down bay and got on bar AZ low water
about O'CLOCK. The steamers draft was %
ieet lhches; a strong northwest wind was
bloWlng at the rate of thirty-two miles an
hour. L steered the mid-channel course over
the bar under slow bell, the bar being very
rough. After crossing the bar in the vie,nity
OF the automatic buoy it was still blowing
hard. The ship was hove to and the pilot-boar
came and took me off.
While ship was hove TO she was broadside on
TO the sea and wind, and in that position left
her.
How did she behave?
Beautifully.
Did she appear to be cranky at all?
No, sir; never saw any ship behave better
than she did.