The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-25
End of the Investigation Into
the Foundering of the
Steamer.
SAILOR ALTMAN WAS ABSENT
The Report Of the Inspectors VIII
Have No Bearing on the
Responsibility.

Pacific Mail steamer Colima was closed
yesterday by Inspectors Talbot and
Philips, and in few days the report of
the latter will be made to Supervising In
spector Birmingham. There were no
witnesses examined yesterday for the
reason that none put in an appearance.
The inspectors, United States Court Re
porter Clement Bennett and Ward Nc
Alllster. the latter representing the inter
ests OF the Pacific Mail Company, were on
hand, and the inquiry was kept open until
2 o'clock, at which hour il was declared
officially closed. The only man who ap-
peared before the inspectors on SATURDAY.
morning was 1. E. Thayer, inspector for
Bureau Veritas, who testified to the con-
dltion OF the lost vessel when she was last
in port.
Captain Talbot, inspector of boilers, con-
Quoted the examination, and Thayer, being
duly sworn, said that he was a marine
surveyor, especially for Bureau Veritas.
His examination was as follows:
Was the Colima classed in Bureau Veritas?
Yes
What class?
First division, 3-3, L, IL; the highest class
given to steamships.
Did you superintend the overhauling of the
Coima in 1887?
Yes.
State what those repairs or overhauling con-
sisted of.
Primarily the ship was to have new boilers
and when the old boilers were removed the
general repairs were made. Most OF the floor
plates and reserve frames in the boiler space
ana the main and boiler keelsons and the
Dige strlngers were renewed. Bottom plates
or the bulkheads to the bunkers were removed
and made good. The inside of the ship was
scalded and cleaned throughout The cement
was examined and raDairad whore Oaadod
everything at all defective was made good.
Inc topsldes were cleaned to bare iron and
were reprinted. There were put in one new
steam wlndlass, new steam steering gear, tour
new boilers. One cylinder of the engine was
taken out and rebored. The engines were all
taken apart and refitted. new propeller
shaft and propeller were put in. At that date
she had eight good iron boats, one warden
boat and two RATS.
State in regard to the cement in the bottOm
of the ship?
In the bottom of the ship and to the upper
turn OF the bilge the skin of the ship is not to
De seen on the inside, as it is coated with
cement from one to three inches in thickness:
but by testing that cement we know if it adj
heres to the iron that the iron is good under
meath.
How late did you see that snip in the dry
dock?
May IA last.
In what condition did you find her bottom?
found 1t in frst-class condition. I wish to
state that the last complete examination of the
ship made was in 1892. In that year she
touched bottom and a new plate was put in /
examined the ship throughout, hull engines
and boilers, and found her in complete good
order and gave her the certificate she held
when she was lost-the same class gave her
in 1887.
State the condition in which the Pacific
Mail Steamship Company keeps its vessels
1 am familiar with nearly all the Pacific
Mail ships. The company keeps them in gen.
any requirements ask
AT the last examination of the Colima, were
the boats slowed properly for use?
She had the same outfit of boats as at the
first examination. Those boats were slowed
in manner which 1t is best that boats should
be slowed as determined by sea service, right
side up in checks, secured by gripes either
with lanyard or triphook and canvas cover
ing to keep them clean and not permit them
being numbered. In addition to their thorough
examination made in my official capacity am
at frequent intervals aboard these ships and
am familiar with their general keeping, which
is good.
The report of the steamship inspectors
from all accounts will have but little bear
ing on the causes which led to the loss of
the Collma and her precious cargo of
human freight. 1t is not in the province
of Inspectors Talbot and Phillips to GEN.
sure or exonerate the Pacific Mail Com
pany. Their business is with the licensed
officers of the ill-starred steamer, and as
Third Mate Hansen is the only officer who
was saved from the wreck he is the only
man upon whose actions an opinion can
be expressed. Had Captain Taylor been
saved by miracle his license would have
been revoked, according to the evidence
adduced. This would have afforded little
consolation to the mourners, but it would
have been good basis on which to begin
a suit for damages against the Pacific Mail
Company. AS the case now stands the
findings of the inspectors will cut no
figure, one way or the other, when the
matter comes up in the United States
courts.
The testimony of the three sailors who
arrived on the City of Sydney on Saturday
was not taken.