The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-15

$50. and then the sun tried to break out OF
the clouds, SO said to Cushing, GAS this won't
hold us up long we'd better be looking for
something bigger" We kept looking around
and l spfed q piece of the hurricane deck about
$50 yards away. He said. 'Do you think il
will hold us?' said, "Hold half dozen like
u.s." We swan to it and remained there until
we were picked up by the San Juan.
How was the wind?
1t was from the south ard. 1t was pretty
strong before the sea came up. 1t was a cross
sea.
How was the ship heading when 1t became
dangerous?
She was trying to head up to the sea. Before
she went down | thought something was
wrong. l saw the first mate and some of the
men trying to pour oil through the scuppers.
Any after-sail on the ship?
No, sir; not particle. There was no at
tempt made to put it on.
If the sail had been bent would IL have
stood or would it have done any good?
1t would have helped her, but there was nc
attempt made to setit.
What course did the captain pursue to save
his ship?
/ don't know.
Would it have been possible to save that
ship?
No. sir but if they had thrown that lumber
overheard it would have helped. Everything
was done to save the lumber, and it was moi
cut away until the last moment.
After you were picked up, what treatment
did you receive on The San Juan?
The first day the doctor did the best he could
but after that there was nothing done. There
were no facilities on that ship, any way.
Is that all you know? asked Captain Talbot
No. When | came on board the Colima ]
noticed tina all the lifeboats were dashed down
in the chocks except the two after ones, and
that the falls were unlocked and the boats in
such position as to be impossible to launch
them. l asked the mate: "How on earth can
even get boat out If there is any danger?''
and he laughed and said: "We'll get them out
when the time comes" There was not boat
lowered on the ship before the disaster.
Were those square portfolios open? asked
Oriel.
1 should think they were, was the reply.
Walter Woolnough, a stevedore in the
employ of the Pacific Mail, testified as fol-
lows:
stow the Colima. The forward lower hold was
for La Libertad. 1t was mostly -four and gen
eral merchandise. The hold was quite full
The after lower hold was transfer freight for
Acapulco. 1t also consisted mostly OF -four
That hold was not exactly full. 1t lacked
about fifteen tons of being square with the
hatch. The orlop deck forward. was for San
Jose de Guatemala. 1t also was mostly filled
with -four. The freight deck was filed with
cargo for Panama and Acajutla. consisting of
-four, cement, iron and general merchandise.
Was any dunnage used?
Yes sir. There were no chocks needed with
the -four.
Do you know anything about the lumber on
the forward deck?
Yes, sir. 1t was piled about an inch below
the top of the rail.
Was it lashed?
Yes, sir. The sailors did that.
Who is liable for damage by bad stowage?
do not know.
Was there any ballast put in2
Yes sir; 100 tons on each side of the shaft
alley, and the cargo was slowed on top of that
The cargo was well slowed.
Patrick Derby, Pacific Mail Company
stevedore, was the next witness. He SUI
perintended the slowing of the lower for
ward hold, and gave practically the same
testimony as the preceding witness. There
was something over 200 tons in the for
ward hold, he said, and it was well slowed.
Iron stamps, quicksilver, coal and -four for
Mazatlan were slowed over the matches on
the freight deck.
At this point the inquiry went over to
Monday at P. NJ. The Pacific Mail Com
pany gave notice that it wanted Charles H.
Cushing Of SIT Adeline street, Oakland,