Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-06-03
DASHED ON THE ROCKS.
No Hope for the Safety of Those
on the Panama Mall

San Francisco, CAL, May 30.-The Ex-
aminer this morning says that a SPECIAL
messenger arrived at Manzanilla at l a.
N. today with official news of the disas-
ter of the Colima. The report is very
obscure and laments the loss of the 100
people more than it goes into the causes
and details of the wreck
Seventy-five miles below San Bias q
hurricane was encountered and II was
debated as to whether or not the ship
should attempt to gain partial shelter
in the shallow and treacherous Panderas
bay which has rocks near its entrance,
or whether it were better to push out to
sea. One local Mexican passenger, Don
Matias Moreno, says that while the cap
tain was cautiously steering for what to
all appearances was the usual entrance,
a slight tremble was felt to go through
the ship 1t was so faint that it was
hardly apparent to the trained senses
of the pilots and captain. The captain
ordered a slight change in the, course
and gave other directions which were
obeyed by the officers and crew.
In a very few seconds after the COllma
grounded on rock lightly and there was
at once great excitement among the Of
fcers and crew and fear on the part OF
the few passengers on deck. Following
the danger signal, in less than ten sec
unknown reef and a shudder ran through
the hull from bow to stern, the passen-
gers sprang from. their berths in terror
and ran out onto the decks, screaming
and praying in a paroXysm of fear as
the awful truth began to burst upon
them.
Passengers Panic-Stricken.
The wind howled and pail of fog hung
over the ship as she was tossed by the
surges and began to pound herself to
pieces upon the rocks. She rose and fell
three times and then crash was heard.
This was followed by silence for the space
of quarter of a minute, during which
time only low sobbing was heard and
muffied prayers.
Man the boats!'' trumpeted the cap
tain. After short interval another
crash was heard from beneath the water.
Within three minutes of the first crash
in the hull the ship began to reel from it's
upright balance, to settle and to sink in
it's free hinderpart.
The scenes about the lifeboats were
indescribable According to all facts OBJ
tainable, the panic-stricken passengers and
the ships force struggled for first place,
said that few of the sailors or ships
people lost their presence of mind, but
gave their main attention to saving the
passengers.
A Brave Woman.
There were number of children on the
passenger list and one of these was
pitched overheard into the frothing sea
by frenZied father who aimed for. one
of the lifeboats while still upon the dav-
its. woman of evident wealth and re
fnement among the passengers, whose
name is thought to be Broslyn or Cross
lyn, displayed remarkable presence of
mind and in the most trying moments
passed among the frenzied throng ex-
horting the people to keep quiet and
taking particular care of the women and
children. Some of the passengers, not
willing to await the chance of place in
the boats, seized the life belts and boldly
cast themselves into the sea. Death was
their almost universal fate, as they were
tossed upon the waves or dashed against
the rocks which were easily observed
from the fast-sinking ship. The first boat
to be lowered with it's heavy burden of
humanity succeeded in clearing the Ship
side, but was swept away by the force
of the wind and swallowed by the bank
of fog OF this load only one of the sail
ors is known to have escaped the engulf-
ing flood which swept over the boat with
in five minutes after it was launched. A
similar fate befell the other boats with
one exception.
A Later Dispatch.
Inc 1dcluc Mall
received the following dispatch today from
it's agent at Manzanillo, Mex: "Manza-
Milo, May 29.-Colima foundered at sea
fifty miles from Manzanillo May q at
II a. m. Have sent vessel to her as
sistance. Will send full particulars as
soon as received. k
Il. r. Brewer, a Gautemalan coffee
planter, now in this city, whose wife and
two children were passengers ION the
steamer Colima, sent a cable to NIanzanil7
la yesterday asking for information, and
today he received a reply stating that
boats and RATS from the Colima were
being picked up at intervals and the occu-
pants rescued. This is the first news of
an encouraging character which has been
received here since the wreck was first
reported. Brewers dispatch states that
the steamer foundered fifty miles from
Manzanilla at II p. m. Monday. A dis
patch ta the Pacific Mail company today
gives the hour as II a. m.