The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-19
DOWN WITH THE COL|MA,
Cabin.Passenger Cushing Tells
His Story of the Wreck
of the Steamer.
SAID THE COAL HAD SHIFTED
Heard No Orders Given by the Off,
GERS With View of Saw
ing Life.

The inquiry INTO the wreck OF the RACINE
Mail steamer Colima was resumed yester.
day, Charles H. Cushing Jr. of $40 Adeline
street. Oakland, who was cabin passenger
on the Inflated vessel when she was lost on
May 81, was the only witness examined
He said:
We left Nanzanillo about P. NJ. May %
After travelling about forty miles, judge,
heard the captain say that we were going to
have storm. as the barometer was falling very
fast. He ordered all canvas (awning) taken in
and the pumps tested. l did not notice that
there was danger OF a storm at the time.
was standing on the upper deck in the evening
talking with some passengers, and the spray
from one of the waves on the port side wet us q
little. L still did not think there was any
my stateroom and remained there till the
morning. I slept all through the night and
did not realize that we were in any danger
until about 8 A. NJ. Monday.
My brother and | did not go to breakfast
but remained in our cabin. During the time
we were in our stateroom the water at inter
walls, kept washing through the keyhole and
over the sill of the door. still did not realize
any danger until got up in the upper berth
with my brother. / looked through the yentl'
lator into the dining-room The boat, at this
time, had listed so TO starboard that the sea
washing the staterooms and cabins on
that SIDE.
When first looked through the ventilator
could see nothing but water and pieces OF
cabin being washed away. 1t was then my
brother and realized the danger we were II
and we decided to get down from the upper
berth,
While on the floor of the stateroom heard
what thought were Two very distinct heavy
shocks or noises. At that time the vessel listed
so much to starboard that it was impossible fol
me TO open the stateroom door leading into
the pasSageycay. I thought we had struck 8
reef and said to my brother. "It's time for US
TO get out of here" l told afterward
that it was the coal shifting in the bunkers
which caused these noises.
Not being able to open the door of my state
room, which No. u on the port side,
pulled open the door which led into stateroom
Is. which was unlocked 1t was wet, damned
and hard to open. When opened it by good
deal of hard work we managed to make ouI
exit through TINS stateroom into the passage
way leading TO the port side OF the vessel and
'thwartships also into the dining room.
When got out OF the stateroom | noticed
that all the framework of the remaining state
rooms was held by just the ends of the rails
and ready to collapse at any moment. / told
nv brother that we should get hold of tn e rail
on the port side. l reached this rail and took
hold of one of the stanchions. 1t was very diff
fcult to get as Far this rail account of the
position the vessel was in at the time. Ny
brother was within three feet of me and could
not reach the rail. While was holding on TO
the stanchion heavy sea struck me and caused
me TO let go my hold. When the sea struck me
was thrown down against the framework OF
the staterooms and the floor of the gangway.
AS soon as struck or while was lying on the
floor right against the cabin, heard tremen-
dous crash, and at the same time I remember
the vessel going right down and with it.
Had you ever been to sea before?
No. this was my first voyage.
When did the ship begin to roll heavily?
1t was rolling all morning, but did not re-
alize any danger until the time spoke of.
slept all night and awoke at 80 O'Clock in the
morning.
On leaving Manzanillo, or at any time pre-
eious did you notice the ship leaning over on
one side?
No.
d, Did you notice if any canvas was set on the
chip?
/ could see when I first reached the door
from the way the vessel listed, that there was
none.
Did you notice any lumber on the forward
deck?
did
Do you know whether it was replied afte,
leaving here?
do not think it was.
How high was it piled?
/ Judged four and half feet, because
noticed that TO get on top of this pile of lumber
] would have to get onto settee and then
step from the seat of the settee onto the lum
Der.
Have you an idea how far off shore the vessel
was when she went down?
No, did not notice whether land was in
sight or not.
Were all orders obeyed aboard ship?
heard few orders-in fact, heard none ex-
cept the order to take in canvas in the evening
/ wish to remark that while in the cabin,
pressed the button for assistance and received
no reply
Was the ship struck broadside by the seas?
/ think so.
Was anything piled on top of this lumber?
No. 1 noticed dumpcart in front of the
lumber.
Any portfolios open.
noticed there was the day before, but not Il
any were open that morning. 1t was quite 9
little while after leaving ManZanillo that the
captain said we should have q storm.
Who told you the coal had shifted?
One of the men who had survived-a sea
man-while on the raft.
How long before the vessel went down was II
that you heard the noises yop spoke of?
Fifteen or twenty-five minutes.
Were you picked up by the San Juan:
was.
How were you treated?
Well, very nicely.
DID the surgeon of the San Juan treat you
well?
He did.
Did you,ever see him any time under the in.
fuence of liquor?
No, / did not.
Did you see him every day?
Well, my stateroom was next to his, and he
passed my room very often.
In your opinion, do you think anything more
could have been done for the safety and lives
of the passengers?
l received no warning whatever from
the captain or officers of the dangers about
us. No attempt was made to lower lifeboats
did not notice the lifeboats-how they were
set know they were in their places; that's
all.
Do you know what the officers were doing for
the fifteen minutes prior to the vessels going
down?
No.
This ended Cushing's examination, and
the inquiry was adjourned until this after
noon at l 30 o clock.