The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-08

p M. and had fair weather, except
! heavy swell at time we LETT. Att P. M. a
! strong east-southeast wind sprang up anu
| the southeast swell increased. During all OF
! that night very heavy rain squalls came
| up at intervals until about A. NJ on tne
| 9th when the wind Increased 10 a neaVy
gale and hurricane. The ship was hove TO.
| She answered her helm and we were move
| to until about A. NJ.
"Shortlv after 9 o'clock she fell off into
the trough of the sea, but came to again
at times until 10 o'clock. Shortly after
A. NJ. the captain sent down for the chle1
and the mate and told the former to give
her more steam and go ahead faster. The
| to the sea steady. We kept her that way
until 10 o'clock, when she fell off to south
by west and wouldn't come head to the
sea again.
cat 10 :15 A. NJ. she gave heavy roll to
starboard and the starboard lifeboat was
| washed off the hurricane deck. She righted
up again until 10 as, when she gave.another
| heavy list to starboard and filled her main
decks on that side with water. Before she
| had time to recover another heavy sea
came along and shifted her over more.
| We got another heavy swell-three of them
| in succession-and she listed on her beam
ends with her masts in the water. From
| the time she gave that heavy lurch until
| she sank was five or six minutes"
Inspector Talbot asked:
| HOW long nave you Decn going W seal
! Hansen-Thirteen years last April.
What as?
Seven years as sailor sailing ship and
| the rest OF the time on steamers.
Who was in charge of the Colima when the
| storm came up?
From in the morning l was in charge of the
bridge.
Anybody with you?
| No, sir. The captain was in the pilot-house
/ all the morning, however.
The captain was really in charge OF the deck,
| then?
Yes sir; he was on deck.
| Did this wind veer any between A. NJ and
| the time the ship sank?
Yes, sir. From E. by s. to Sc. it was veering
all the time. 1t would blow from five to ten
minutes in one direction and then change
| around two or three points.
Would that throw her off into the trough of
the sea when the wind headed her?
Yes, sir. 1t would throw her off into the
| trough of the sea.
| About what time did the gale get so heavy
| that you hove the ship to?
About O'Clock the morning of the 9th.
What course were you steering at time you
! hove tor
At the time left the bridge, at A. M, we
| were steering east-southeast; when l came up
| at A. NJ. we were heading her into the sea or
| southeast.
What sail did you have on when you hove to?
| We had no sails on.
| How long before the ship went down did you
think she wouldn't live?
About two or three minutes.
Were the boats cleared away ready for
| lowering?
They were in the davits.
We're they swung out?
No, sir. The weather boats we couldn't get
out and the other ones were swept away.
How bad was the sea? Can you give US any
idea?
square picked up and hurled ten to fifteen
feet into the air with about a ninety-ton force.
You think it was impossible to get boats out
and people into them?
1t was impossible, sir.
Now, in regard to discipline aboard the ship.
Was 1t good?
As far as could see II wes very oood Tbaro
was no INSTRUMENTATION or refusal to do duty.
Did you hear any orders given TO the engi-
neer?
Yes, sir ;>shortly after 9A.M.
What were they2
The captain sent for the engineer and told
him to give him more steam.
Did you hear any orders to the chief officer?
saw the captain give chief and second or
ders, but did not hear what was said.
Did you hear them express any opinion in
regard to the chances of the ship?
No, sir.
the ship was handled?
think she was handled as good as any man
could handle her.
How long were you with Captain TAYLOR?
Sixteen months when was quartermaster Of
the City OF Sydney, part of which time he was
Did you have any chance to read the barom-
eter?
second officer read it at 730 and it was still
the same. At so'elock It was 1915.
Any trouble with steering gear?
In going out OF San Francisco did the ship
show that she was tender?
No, sir.
How was she leaving Manzanilio-was she
cranky?
She acted very nicely. She didn't roll any,
but pitched good deal, owing to the swell.
We discharged some cargo going down, but
took in about a like amount
Did you have any personal knowledge of
how the cargo was slowed?
Itwas slowed good, as good as it possibly
could be, and checked off properly so she could
not shift any. The lower hold was full.
How was the lower tween decks?
1t was full, and so was the forward freight
What kind of goods in the lower hold?
Part of it was flour.
What was in lower tween decks?
Flour aft and forward was potatoes and mer-
chandise.
Was there any freight on the upper deck?
Yes, sir. Lumber on the hurricane deck
| About forty tons.
] Did that fetch away?
No. sir. Not until the lashings were cut
away.
Inspector Philhps-when was that?
| About three or four minutes before she went
down.
Was there any ballast put il her?
| No, sir 1t was taken out before she left San
| Francisco There was, if l remember right,
about $50 or 200 tons left in the stern of her
Do you know if all lower ports and dead,
| lights were closed?
| Yes, sir; because heard the captain order
| them closed at II o'clock the night before she
went down.
| Who did he give the orders to?
| The steward and night watch; and he went
| around afterward to see that the order had
| been carried out.
Was it possible for any passenger to open
| them again?
| No, sir.
| What is your opinion in regard to the loss OF
| the ship?
| 1t was due to heavy weather, a strong wind
and heavy sea and swell.
Do you know if the Colima ever showed
| signs of weakness?
| No, sir.
Did you ever see loose rivet anywhere about
| the ship?
| No, sir. In my opinion the Colima was. a
! very strong ship or she could not have stood as
| long she did
Was there any other cargo on deck except
| the lumber?
Yes, small wagon taken on at Mazatlan.
Was there any explosion?
Yes; there was something like as If a pipe
/ had burst.
| off the safety valve?
| Yes, it might have been.
4 T1,Nan ~