Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-06-07
LOSS OF THE COLIMA.
Thrilling Stories. Of Survivors Of THO
Wreck.
FATAL LIST TO ronr.
IL IL Supposed That the Cargo Must
Have shifted-Terrfble Blunder In
Cutting Fnsfeninss OF Deck-b"ao
of Lumber.

steamer San Juan arrived this afternoon
from Panama and way ports, with sur
v,vors Of the wrecked Pacific Mall steam
ship Colima. As soon as the marine oo-
server reported the ship two miles out inc
waterfront became the scene Oh con-
siderable excitement. The PACING Ma"
dock was besieged by curious crown
that blocked the street.
AS the revenue cutter bearing the Gus
toms officers and newspaper men hed'eu
the ship some OF the Colimas rescueo
passengers, with bandaged heads were
seen leaning on the bow-raiL JUST prior
TO the arrival OF the reporters, however
the Pacific Mail Compsny's agent. Milieh
Griffith, came alongside the San Juan ana
took of Third-Mate Hansel. OF the ios'
ship. who more than any one else can
throw light on the cause or the WRECK
There was general Discrimination among
the surviving passengers to gave any III
formation, the only reason given for their
refusal to be interviewed being that under
the circumstances they did not feel DIS
posed to talk.
George ID. Ross. formerly boatswains
mate on the cruiser Olympia. who was on
his way to his home. In New iork, CAV
he United Press reporter the foloWihs
graphic account OF the wreck:
I'VE left Mazatlan Sunday, May 9th'
at o'clock p. NJ, with fair breeze p'o"-
ing. Toward o'clock In the evening the
wind increased a little and continueu
blowing pretty fresh all night Next
morning at o'clock the WIND rnouera'eu
considerably until about O'clock when
II again came up and steadily continued
10 gain In violence until IL acquireo 'ne
proportions Of a hurricane.
GREAT GUSTS OF WIND.
"The wind blew In great gusts. causing
the ship 10 list badly to starboard. Inc
Colirna labored heavily. and II was eVi-
dent that we were In a very precarious
predicament. The greatest excitement
prevailed on board, and the faces OF the
passengers plainly showed that they were
keenly alive to their perilous position.
UNFORTUNATELY, just at the last moment
a fatal blunder. was committed by the
third officer who cut the lashings OF a
deck-load. consisting Of S2,VO ieet
of lumber. Some Of this was
washed into the sea. but what remained
on deck was driven about, knocking down
and manning those whom IL struck
particularly heavy sea struck the SNIP
tumbling the foremost and smokestaek.
Shortly before this. however, a SUCCESSION
of huge waves had punched a hole IN our
starboard bow, through. which the sea
poured. Women screamed. and rushed up
the companion way. implOring the men
to save them.
SHIP GOES DOWN.
.''rhe shin gave a couple Of heavy rolls,
an enormous sea climbed on US ana
smashed the hurricane deck, and with one
mighty lurch the ship went down. AS
che was making her last lurch l Owed
into the sea. and when | came up she
was out OF sight People were noating
around. clinging to all sorts Of wreakage,
and some sinking under our very eyes
Some who had managed 20 grasp hold OF
boxes or planks were knocked senseiess
and drowned The force and effect OF
this floating mass Of lumber cannot be de-
scribed. II caused the death OF many
who might otherwise have been saved.
SHIFT OF CARGO.
1T is a difficult matter TO say to what
cause the wreck Of the Colima Is attribu-
table She must certainly have shifted
her cargo. as her strong u.s. IL pors
showed.
Il firmly believe that but for the shift
ing OF the cargo the ship would have rid
den out the gale. 1 had been in the water
some little time clinging TO one object or
another, when finally | managed TO get
hold OF a good-sized piece Of hurricane
deck upon which l climbed. 1 drifted
about for some time. when 1 observed
a rather effeminate-looking fellow on
another piece OF wreckage close to me-
lie seemed 10 be about done up. so 1
seized his raft and hauled him on TO
mine. We made the rest OF the trip to-
wards shore together. He turned out TO
be Thornton. We were the closest in
shore OF any OF the survivors. and were
picked up by the first officers boat Of the
San Juan. after being twenty-three hours
In the water.
Ross was severely cut about the head
by floating wreckage and had numerous
other cuts about the body.
ANOTHER VERSION.
T. J. O'Rell, an electrician on mis- way
10 Mexico. gave about the same version
OF the commencement Of the storm. lie
said the Colima during the height OF the
storm listed so badly after each sue
ceeding rush OF waves that she did not
recover. About o'clock on the morning
OF the wreck" he said. Il went below
to the Storage quarters. and noticed
water coming into the starboard Soup
pers. Shortly afterwards q quartermas-
ter came down. saying the captain want
ed to see the engineer TIE latter went on
deck. but returned 10 the engine-room IN
three or four minutes. looking like a dead
man. His face was ashy pale. That was
the last seen OF him."
While O'Rell was telling this part or
the story a relative Of the engineers.
who had boarded the steamer with the
reporters. broke into tears and shook con-
yulsyely.
by this time" ORell continued, 1.-THE
steerage passengers had ali gone below.
when the seven men-of-war's men from
the American cruisers Olympia and Phiia-
delphia tried 10 console those around
them.
DOOMED.
.'One OF these finally told US we were
doomed We shook hands. said good-by,
and he knelt on a sack OF -four and said
prayers. / then started TO 20 on deck.
but the ship listed so badly l could
scarcely make my way up stairs. Al this
time the third officer cut the lashlngs
OF the lumber. The ship was on her beam
ends. and the decks buIgeo out. ana were
finally rent. / then jumped into the
water seized a box. and was washed
about from one float 10 another. like
many others. The heaviest squall came
Just following the disappearance of the
snip While II prevailed many Of those
who were struggling in the waves were
mangled and drowned by floating lumber.
Five OF us--Tom Fitch. Jack Carpenter.
two Mexicans. and myself-got on a raft.
and were picked up by boat in COM
mand OF Captain Long. formerly captain
OF the Colima A Mexican named Ze-
rlbia went crazy from drinking salt
water"
c. II. CUSHING'S EXPERIENCE.
&. II. Cushing. Jr., was In bed during
the npst part Of the blow. but got up In
time 10 be hurled into the sea with the
cabin roof lie told has story as follows:
Il found myself In the water without
knowing just how l goe there. BY some
means or other. Just when | had ADAM
doned all hope Of being saved. l found
myself floating near portion OF the
cabin-roof with two others, They pulled
me on the raft. Shortly after We got on
the raft a keg Of clarst fioated near. and
we captured II. IL was a long time be-
fore we got the key open. and am sorry
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