The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-06-13
SURVIVORS OF THE WRECK.
A SAD SEA TALE.
Seventeen Lame Passengers of the Col
ina Land in Frisco.

Seventeen Of the survivors of the ill-fated
fated steamer Co.ima arrived In San Francis
co on the San Juan. When she docked, hun
dreds OF friends aud relatives OF those who
went down on the Coima were assembled,
waiting the landing OF the passengers.
Groups OF women with fearful faces and
knots OF anxious men implored every one on
board for tidings OF tho lost, ali hoping
against hope that there might have Teen
some mistake In the dispatches and some
name omitted among the saved. How Keen
was their disappointment In the face oil In
evitable assarauce that there was no hope
was shown In their bitter lamentations
on the upper deck OF the steamer were
few happy people whose pleasure c'ntrasted
sharply with the grief OF the bereaved. These
were the friends OF the Survivors. who were
embraced and congratulated at their miracu-
ious rescue
The IL men saved from watery grave
when they had gwen up all hope of rescue
were a sorry looking party when they ar
rived ut the main docks. Some had their
arms in slings. The heads OF others were
swathed in bandages. They limped as they
walked, aud their bruises were plainly In
evidence. All were looking thin IN weak
and showed plainly the effects OF the terrible
strain during the fearful hours when they
waited for succor.
The stories OF the survivors all confirmed
the telegraphic accounts OF the disaster.
They agree that the cause OF the laundering
was the top-heavy condition OF the Colima
due TO her bulky deck load. From the be-
ginning OF the voyage SOUTH they say, the
.tsamer acted badly and would not answer
IA helm.
The storm which sunk her was encountered
about Q o o'clock Monday night, May ~. and
blew furiously during the next IL hours.
The vessel lost steerage way and swung
shoreward In the teeth OF u furious southeast
erly gale, when she lay helplessly battered by
the tidal wave.
The steamer lay helplessly on her aide for
about 10 minutes and then tipped over and
sank. The women and children were drown
ed In their state rooms, where they were
confined during the gale. The passengers
who had been on deck were thrown into the
sea- Many were killed and horribly mutt
lated by the lumber on the deck, blown by
the wind aud hurled upon the heads OF the
struggling men In the water.
The raft on which Cushing, Sutherland,
Richardson and two others were aiioat DRIFT
ed for about "a hours. They gave up all hope
until the San Juan hove in sight. They at
tracted her attention by hoistiug n piece OF
red cloth aud waving their clothes.
On the raft with the passengers were two
sailors. one seizad n small basket OF claret,
OF which both drank. They became drunk
and quarrelsome, To save the lives OF the
rest OF the craft, the men say they were
obliged tn push one sailor, mad with drink,
into the sea, whore he drowned.
The passengers say there was no time TO
launch the boats or put on the preservers
when they realized tho serious plight OF the
Colima, and, besides. the fury OF the storm
made IL impossible TO launch or man the
boats successfully. Those who secured life
preservers lost them In them In the water.