The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-06-07
WRECK OF THE COLIMA
THE STORY TOLD OVER AGAIN by
SURVIVORS AT SAN FRANCISCO.
All Agree that the Cause of the Di..
aster Was the TOp-Heavy Com
ditiOn of the Steamer.

SAN FRANCISCO, June 6.-Seventeen of
the survivors of the ill-fated steamer Co.
lima arrived in port to-day on the San
Juan. When she docked hundreds of
friends and relatives of those who went
down on the Colima were assembled await
Ing the landing of the passengers Groups
OF women with tear-stained faces and knots
OF anxious men implored every one on
board for tidings of the lost, all hoping
against hope that there might have been
some mistake in the dispatches and some
names omitted among the saved How
keen was their disappointment i'm the face
OF the inevitable assurance that there was
no hope. was evidenced in their bitter
lamentations. On the upper deck of the
steamer were a few happy people. whose
pleasure contrasted sharply with the grief
of the bereaved. These were the friends of
the survivors, who were embraced and
congratulated at their miraculous escape.
The Colima survivors who landed at this
port to-day are:
Passengers-A. ]. Sutherland. c. Fl. Cush-
ing, j. NJ. Thornton. +. II. Boyd Gustav
Rowan, Bruno Caid, Jose Antonio Sliz
Jose L. Marriela, George d. Ross. Louis
Sangene, n. J. Oiel and Juan A. Ramos
Crew-O. a. Hansen, r. a. Willes, Albert
Fish.
The following were landed at Mezatlan:
Thomas Searaboa. Domingo Aliahans, Angel
Guithez and Carlos Ruse.
The seventeen men. saved when they had
given up all hope of rescue. were a sorry
looking party when they arrived at the
docks. Some had their arms in sllngs. the
heads of others were swathed in bandages.
They limped they walked and their
bruises were plainly in evidence. All looked
thin and showed only too plainly the effects
hours when they awaited succcr. The
stories OF the survivors all confirmed the
telegraphic accounts OF the disaster. They
was the top-heavy condition OF the Colima,
due to her bulky deckload. From the be-
,na., stlinnrLS ol Ihe v9XSase soutn Ihey say the
her helm
The storm which sunk the Colima was
May q, and blew furiously during the next
fourteen hours. The vessel lost steerage
way, swung shoreward in the teeth of a
furious southeasterly gale. where she lay
helplessly battered by the mighty tidal
waves The steamer lay helplessly on her
side for about fifteen minutes and then
tipped over and sank. The women and
children were drowned in their staterooms
where they were confined during the gale.
Those passengers who had been on deck
were thrown into the sea Many were
killed and horribly mutilated by the lumber
on the deck, blown by the wind and hurled
on the heads Of the struggling men in the
water. The raft upon which Cushing
Sutherland. Richardson and the two Others
were aftoat drifted for about twenty-four
hours. They gave up al hope until the
San Juan hove in sight They attracted
her attention by hosting a piece OF red
cloth and waving their clothes. On the raft
with the passengers were two sailors. One
seized small cask OF clares, OF which
both drank. They became drunk and quar-
relsome. To save the lives of the rest on
the raft. the men say they OBLIGED to
push one sailor. mad with drink. into the
Sea. where he drowned. The passengers
say there was no time to launch the boats
or put on ire presefvers wnen they real
lied the serious plight OF the Colima, and,
besides. the fury OF the storm made il Inn
possible TO launch the boats successfully.
Those who secured life preservers got them
in the water. ard those In the boat picked