The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-06

United States Inspectors Find That No.
body Was to Blame.

Dous vas 10 Blame.
Washington City, July 5.-Gen. Dumont,
supervising inspector general of steam yes
seIs, has received from the inspector Of
the San Francisco district the following
report of the loss of the Pacific Mail
steamship Co,lma:
San Francisco. June Is. ss5-Capt. Ber-
mingham, supervising inspector first dis
trict, San Franciseo.-Sir: We have 10 re-
port that the Pacific Mail Steamship Com
pany's steamship Coiima. ]. F. Taylor,
commander, May q last for Panama and
way ports In Mexico and Central America
with Al cabin and 81 STORAGE passengers,
and crew of 50 persons all tod and 1850
tons of cargo. foundered in violent gale
OF wind about 1915 a. m. May a. about
forty miles south from Manzanillo, taking
down with her all who were on board. ex-
cepting, as far as known, twenty-seven
passengers and twelve of the crew who
were fortunate enough to have been able
10 struggle and save themselves by swim
ming and clinging to floating wreckage.
Some of these were picked up by that COM
pany's steamer San Juan. and others
drifted TO the beach
I'VE have investigated the nature OF this
deplora BILE disaster, taking the testimony
of the surviving passengers and crew, 10
Guiding that OF the third officer. o. c. Han
sen. who IS the only officer saved. and also
of others who were competent to speak on
the vessel herself. We find from the testi-
mony that nothing unusual occurred on
the voyage from San Francisco TO the way
ports of MaMtlan. San bias and Mama
milo. and she gave no evidence or indi-
cation whatever OF being cranky or tender
from the time she left San Francisco and
crossed the bar, which was rough. until
the morning she was lost.
AT the way ports above named several
passengers left the ship. and others board
ed her for ports south. and at the same
time about 100 tons of cargo were dis
charged and an equal amount received on
board. The Colima left Manzanillo at 4
o'clock a. m, May Is. A strong breeze
sprung UP at p. m. from +. s. E. with a
Sc. swell. and continued throughout the
night until the morning of May q, when
1t blew gale which at about 1890 the
same morning suddenly increased to what
is described as a hurricane by some OF the
survivors. and in which the steamer was
knocked down on her beams end and filled
and sank From the evidence there ap-
pears 10 have been no danger anticipated
until five or ten minutes before the ship
went down.
at appears that there was good disci-
pline maintained on board IN the deck and
engine departments, ali orders having
been oheyed and we therefore can attach
no blame to Third Officer Hansen Capt.
Taylor was In charge OF the bridge on the
steamer all the morning on May q, until
che foundered, and II may be ne was at
tempting 10 keep her off before the sea
or wear her around on the other tack.
when she was caught In the trough OF the
sea and thrown on her beams end But
without his testimony. or that Of his first
officer and chief engineer OF the steamer.
!, Is ,n,possfble to decide the true cause
Of the disaster. With regard 10 the steam
or Colirna there can be no doubt that she
was n staunch and seaworthy vessel. She
was inspected March Is. 1875. and her hui,
boilers and equipments found 20 be In good
order She was examined in the dry dock
MAY ID 1895 and her bottom round In good
condition and new blades were put on
her vroneller She was classed BILL IN
puresu veritas. which Is the highest class
which that society awards steam vessels.
..rhe collma was an iron vessel. built
g., rs-s AZ Chester. Pa. She uad new
boilers in 1857 az San Francisco. was OF
. e0s 60 tons gross. ei45.sS tons net, and was
valued at SOS 900
..-rhe exact number OF lives lost is not
oh,ainahle at present. for the reason that
mo number OF way passengers received
| "a no. vet reported by the agents 10 the
cornnanv's Office at San Francisco. The
| number go far known with any degree
80 rer.aintv 20 he lost is s. passengers
ana 81 ~ the crew. Very respectfully,
"E. r. TALBOT.
| "w A. PHILLIPS.
.vnfed states Local Inspectors"