The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-28
HOW SUTHERLAND WAS SAVED.
Passenger on the san Juan Tells OF the
loItruass Wreck.

'T was on board the steamer San Juan,
which picked up A. j. Sutherland, OF your
city, and twenty others Of the wrecked
Colirna," said r. de La Poer, of Water
ford. Ireland. at his hotel in this city
last evening.
Sutherland was the last man rescued
but one. ard We spent six hours from
a. N. until ! 2. m, OF the day following
the wreck in looking for them. Our YES
sci. which was bound from Panama 10
San Francisco, only passed through the
latter end OF the storm, and we ex-
perienced no especial danger. Early in
the morning OF May IS we saw the wreck
age aad knew that a boat had gone
down. Our boat was stopped while the
sea was still running high. and we be-
gan picking up men who were clinging
70 every kind OF wreckage, but none had
time 10 construct RATS. j cannot tell
Just where we found each individual OF
the party but when we came 10 Suther-
land II was well toward noon, and he
alone was drifting in a lifeboat- His ex-
perience was very thrilling. and 1t is
wonderful that he escaped drowning, but
stranger still he was the only one OF
the whole party who was neither bruised
nor scratched.
When the CoIima foundered he was
standing alone on the hurricane deck, and
when she tipped over he seized a rope
and slid down TO the water. but purely
by accident he dropped into lifeDoat
which contained one sailor. The steamer
then fell squarely on her side and mast
struck the lifeboat and smashed IL at one
end, but | am not certain whether II was
the stern or bow. They showed the boat
from under the mast. and. getting safe
~ away from the wreckage, picked up
several persons, among whom were Prol-
Whiting and two ladies. The sea was
running fearfully high and capsized the
boat many times. but how many Sutner-
land could not tell. Every time one or
more persons were lost. but curiously
enough one lady always hung on until
the last time when the boat was turned
completely over, with Sutherland lying
inside and then the lady must have
been lost. He does not remember now
long the boat remained top side down
with him inside. but Is sure that IL
must have been an hour, when another
huge wave came and righted Ii with
Sutherland intact and not hurt, put
every one of his companions was drowned.
When we reached him he was drifting
along quietly on very calm sea, fully
twenty-four hours after the wreck. L
became we'll acquainted with MIN AFTER
that and he is now in San Francisco,
where l am told that he has secured en-
ployment and l hope he is doing well.
1.-THE wreckage which We saw consisted
of the top cabins and pieces OF every de-
scription from the upper decks. but they
were all literally torn and smashed TO
pieces and no one piece would carry more
than eight men. There were no women
among the rescued party"
Mr.. de Ia Poer arrived in the city yes
terday from Portland. and while stop
ping at the Hotel Portland had slight
experience with bunko man. 1t became
known that he was a passenger on the
San Juan. and while he was sitting In
the hotel Office pleasant-mannered
stranger approached him. and during
short conversation asked about Chilberg,
of the wrecked Colima, the stranger stat
ing that Chiberg had a brother IN Port
land. He offered 10 introduce Mr.. de
La Poer TO the brother. and they imme-
diately went 10 a brick building just
south of the postoffice and but snort
distance from the hotel. They passed
into a room where two men were playing
cards, and Mr.. de la Poer was offered
a hand, but he was shrewd enough for
them. ard Immediately bowed himself
out. leaving the brother without It'd
ings OF the wreck.
Mr.. de La Poer il accompanied by his
wife. and is making a pleasure tour Of
the Coast.