The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-30

planters In q ncv steamship fne between
Central America and Puget sound.
The Pacific Mali officials have received
no further information beyond the dis
patch from Capt. Pitts. OF the San Juan,
giving the iist Of those saved. Ths very
latest dispatch from Naxafisn VIA New
YORK says: IRE aceiSenf occurred az
sDout Il Is O'Clock. 100 missing"
A cipher word that IN not exactly under
stood by the steamship people may change
the wording o< the message as regards
tue time. The following messages were
received from the agent OF the Fireman
Fund Insurance Company at Manzaniiio;
Am ready 10 proceed to the scene Of the
Colsna disaster. Urgent nee1 OF some one
caring for the San Francisco under~rit-
ers' interest Can obtain diver here
The Inference here Is that the vessel
struck on a rock. The insurance board
held meeting today. but took no action
The agent at Manzaniil0 will be notified
what 10 do tomorrow.
The colima was "a single screw propeH-
ed With iron hull She was built In IsSs
at Chester. Pa, by John Roach e. Sons.
Her tonnage was ia gross. 1.if3.ss net.
her horse power / 100. and her speed iils
knots. This was her Izsth voyage 10 Pan
anna She carried about zoo tons OF car
10. valued at xilg. 90.
Aeager ss liz the information about the
loss OF the coiinla, the ofscers OF the
company do not believe the loss OF life
was as heavy as reported This hopeful
view OF the case is not shared BY the
friends and relatives OF the passengers
and crew I'm tnls city. The ship was lost
Monday night, and the fact that only one
email boat load mas been picked up leads
many to believe that the vessel went
down so rapidly that the others did not
have an opportunity 20 save themselves
In support OF their optimistic views os
the situation the officers of the company
assert that the Coiima was go well
equipped with small boats that she could
hardly have gone TO the bottom quickly
enough TO prevent everybody on board
from getting away IN safety. General
Passenger Agent Avery, VINO mas frsaF-
ersed the route many times. says Inc
ocean in the vicinity OF AanzanHio Is as
calm as a millpond at this time OF year.
and the deep water along the coast en-
sbles steamers TO make the entire trip 10
Panama la sight OF land. At night, he
saws, they usually 20 out mile or two
farther for safety. but even then are
within seven miles OF land. He argues,
therefore that II the Colima went down
Monday night. as reported. the accident
could hardly have been severe enough
70 prevent the small boats being lowered
and everybody getting away In safety.
He believes the passengers and crew got
safely away from the Colinn before she
sank and are now floating about in a be
Gained sea. II. indeed. they have not al
ready reached shore. He says that II
the boats had reached shore In safety the
news would probably not be received here
for a day or two from the fact that the
telegraph offices on that part OF the Mex
ican coast are few and the facilities poor.
The wires are strung on trees, he says,
ard messages are often delayed for DAYS.
In support OF this assertion he elites the
fact that the company has been unable
70 communicate with its agent at Man
xanilIo since tho news OF the accident
was received
But hopeful az are the officials OF the
stsamship company. each hour intensifies
the feeling OF those who had friends or
relatives that all except the nineteen who
reached ManzaniIlo on the San Juan were
lost All day long the Office OF the COM
pany has been besieged by an anxious
crowd OF watchers awaiting some tidings
from the Inflated ship. While the com
pany has had absolutely no news to give
out II has continued to extend the hone
that the next hour. perhaps, would bring
the coveted news. Clinging to this shred
OF comfort, the crowd waited until dark
and then IL was announced that the office
would be kept open until midnight to re-
ccive any news that might come. But
when the hour for closing came no addi-
tionai information had been received. ana
the crowd departed. 10 return tomorrow
morning at s o'clock.