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

you have done any better than Captain Taylor
No, sir. No man going to sea could do any
better.
Inspector Talbot asked:
Where was the lumber slowed?
. From the after part of fore rigging forward to
the capstan. 1t was piled even with the rail.
There was no deckload over the fore hatch.
The lumber was light boards and scantlings.
The holds were full of general merchandise, all
except the after freight deck and across the
hatch and both sides of the hatch The bal
last that was taken out had been in her for
two or three trips.
What was it taken out for?
on the last trip did you have full cargo of
coffee
No, sir.
Is it customary when ships are coming up
light TO put in ballast?
No, sir, ii is not.
Do those ships come up from Panama with
out any ballast and flying light?
No, there has always been freight on the
Colima as long, as have been on her. She
never took any ballast.
Who has charge of the stowage?
The second and third officers, and we take
our orders from the first officer.
How long were you with Captain Talyor on
different ships
Sixteen months on the City of Sydney and
twenty-five months on the Colima.
The next witness was Albert Carpenter,
seaman. His testimony was as follows:
Was it your watch that morning
y
] went on al A NJ. May 81. The first order
that was given was TO turn to at 80. 1 asked
the boatswain what he wanted when l opened
the storeroom door, and he asked for large
coupling. l gave 1t to him and they went
away 10 wash down the deck. Then he
came to me and said he had quit washing
down and TO stand by. We stood by to 8
o'clock, and then the gale began TO increase.
Then one OF the horses on deck fell down. We
triced him up and put him in sling and went
10 breakfast. After breakfast we went aft to
look after the wheel chains, and then was the
first sea that came aboard the ship and carried
away the closet.
The boatswain and l went and reported it
to the mate. Then, after we reported to the
mate, we came forward and covered up the
forecastle hatch. Then went and cut the two
horses adrift. | next cut the two large bulls
adrift. Then l heard the quartermaster asking
for an ak. Iwent and got the ak and gave it to
him; Then he went on deck.
''She shipped one large sea about 10 As, and
three followed in succession. / crept TO wind
ward and got on the hurricane deck. l heard
Captain Taylor say to the quartermaster, what
time is ltY He said, fifteen minutes to IL
Then he gave three blasts on the whistle, and l
started 10 cut away No. boat.
When / looked up again 1 couldn't see Mr..
Grithths, the mate, but saw Captain Taylor.
When l cut the other lashings of the boat l
looked up again and couldn't see Captain
Taylor any more. l sat N the boat until she
hoated clear of the wreck. With the heavy sea
and the wreckage the boat capsiZed. l staid
underneath her until the wreckage burst a
hole in the bottom. Then 1 came out and
as can tell you. Then the squal came and
blew me from the wreck l got n cut on the
forehead and another on the back OF my head
from the flying timbers. Then 1 got to the
wreck was picked up on.
Which side WAS the boat on?
IL was on the port side, forward of the bridge.
How long have you been going TO sea?
TWentg-four years. sir.
How long have you been on that ship?
on and of eight years | have been off her
six months, that was all.
Did she appear any different-was she more
cranky or tender going out?
How did she appear coming out of Mama
nillO2
Just as straight and solid as the day she left
San Francisco.
Have you any knowledge of how the cargo
was slowed?
slowed, the different holds were full and there
was no chance for II TO fetch away.
Where was the lumber on deck piled?
Forward of the pilot-house, about two ieet
Did the lumber get adrift?
No, sir; not until it was cut adrift. Even
then il only moved two inches. 1t never left
the deck until the ship went down.
Were you in either OF the holds at Mama
milo?
Yes, sir; in the forward hold 1t was blocked
right up. The other decks were also full.
Did the ship show any signs OF being tender
after leaving Manzanillo?
No, sir.
Was the wind varying?
II seemed 10 be as far as l could judge.
Do you think any OF those passengers could
have got into the boats and been saved?
Yes, sir, if there had been good management.
Could they have got into those boats?
Yes, sir. Some of them got into the boats be-
fore they left the ship and some were on the
lfe-rafts.
Could the boats have been launched?
No, sir; the ship foundered too quick.
Did you hear any orders given?
Yes, sir; heard the captain order the oil put
over the bow.
Was that done?
cir. g., No., sc Ill.
Phillips-Did you hear any explosion when
the ship went down?
No, sir.
Did you hear the firemen or engineers speak
about defective machinery?
No, sir.
How was the discipline aboard2
1t was good; all orders were obeyed Eyery-
thing was done that could be done to save the
shin and the lives of the passengers.
What was in your opinion, the cause of the
The three successive seas, which would not
let her right herself, and then the tremendous
gale that was blowing.
Did you consider the ship in danger before
those last three seas came?
No, sir.
Thomas Grace, seaman, was the next
witness His testimony was as follows:
eve left Manzanillo about P. NJ; pretty
good weather. About 10 P. NJ. it began to
blow and the captain said take in the
awnings. After 6 in the morning the gale
increased until about 9. Then the wind
went down little, and at 10 minutes after
10 l was abreast of the pilot-house. At 10: 80
the ship was lying on her side and big
sea carried three lifeboats away and
knocked me down. 1 stayed there about
three minutes after got hurt and then l
rolled into the smoking-room. ! saw
three passengers sitting there and they
went out on the port side. L followed
them. When I came TO No. 3 boat [ saw
Mr. Langhorne and another one of the
crew, the firemen's messboy. | pulled a
knife out and started to cut the lashing of
the lifeboat Mr.. Langhorne called out
Give me the knife and | gave it to him.
Next / found myself in the water with the
boat upside down l saw one of the crew
IN the water and l tried to save him be-
cause he was hurt. With his weight and
mine the boat rolled over. When / saw
that it was impossible to save both of us
on that boat | left it and swan to piece
of wreck. There were two others on the
wreck and it ca psized with the force of the
wind and sea half dozen times. We did
the best we could and then my friend dis
appeared. 1t blew so heavy that he
couldn't hold on. | was hurt by the wreck
age.
How long have you been going to sea?