The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-11
MORE AFFIDAVITS.
Thomas J. Oriel and a San Juan
Passenger Make Strong
StateneptS

Further afidavits were secured yester-
day that tend to sustain the charges
already made by both the rescued passen-
gers from the Colima and those who came
up on the last trip of the San Juan.
Thomas ]. Orlel and William Martin
made the following affidavits before No
tary j. NJ. Ellis yesterday for the CALL.
The statements are quite plain-spoken and
tell their own story best:
STATE OF CALIFORNIA,
City and County of San Francisco %
Thomas Jefferson Oriel, being Only sworn,
deposes and SAYS: l was one of the ship
wrecked passengers of the Pacific Mail steam
ship Colima and was afterward taken on board
the same company'S steamer San Juan. 1
make the following statement of my own free
Will concerning the treatment of the injured
shipwrecked passengers by DR.. Robertson of the
steamer San'Juan. The three cabin passengers
were given the best of care, while the steerage
passengers were left to take care of themselves.
DR.. Robertson sewed up a few of their wounds
at the start, but be afterward LETT them to
care for themselves or to receive such assist
ance as they could obtain at the hands of the
other passengers. Many of them suffered
this, all of which was due directly to the in
difference OF DR.. Robertson, who was most of
the time under the influence of liquor. One of
the Portland returning crew, Jose A.
Soliz, who was very badly hurt, was
left in charge of seaman WHO was
totally incompetent to take care of
Deiis uAueF Tue luUueDce OF liquor. We
held an Indignation meeting and was sent to
Or. Robertson to have him come to look after
SollZ went TO him, and when he got til rough
taking with some ladies he attended TO me
He hemmed and hawed awhile because he said
he had no place to put Solz. Finally he re-
moved him from the women's steerage to the
mems Steerage, where he had n little moro
light and fresh air. Then between the mas
sengers we managed to keep him alive till he
came to San Francisco. During the trip DR..
Robertson gave Soliz no medicine whatsoever
further say that it is my firm opinion that
II the San Juan had cruised around the scene
OF the wreck longer many of the Colima ms
sengers might have been saved. I mention in
particular the case of John Hannah who was
on raft drifting around near US most OF the
time. The San Juan arrived in Manzanillo at
4 P. M. on the day we were picked up.
The testimony of Third Officer Hansen re-
garding the shifting of the cargo and the mort
holes being closed is incorrect and untrue.
TH0S. J. ORIEL.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 10th
day of June, A. D. 1895. JAMES NJ. ELLIS
Notary Public in and for the City and County
OF San Francisco State of California.
STATE OF CALIFORNIA,
City and County of San Francisco ( IS
william Martin, being duly sworn deposes
and says: My name is William Martin and
was one of the crew of the steamship Aztec and
a passenger from Pasadena to San Francisco
on the steamer San Juan. On the morning of
Nav IS, between the hours of and we
sighted lot of wreckage and life raft con-
tanning two men. AS soon as the chief officer
got sight of the raft he ordered the men to
lower the boat. 1t took them thirty five min
utes from the time the order was given until
the boat struck the waters edge, and when she
struck the waters edge she swamped very near
and came very near killing five, Chief Officer
Grindell and four of the Seamen, all Greeks. If
Mr.. Grindell had had cool head at the
time of lowering the boat he would not