The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-05-31
WENT ON THE ROCKS
The Wreck of the Colima Was
Caused by a Severe
Hurricane
SHE WAS SEEKING SHELTER
.Thirty-Three Ontario Lumber.
men Drowned in the Span
iSh River.

aminer prints the following from
Colima, Mexico:
A special messenger from Manzanillc
arrived nc a. m. with official informa-
ton for the governor of Colima regard
ing the Colima steamship disaster off
Manzanillo. 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.
SeveHty.fiye miles below San B,.s q
hurricane was encountered and it was
debated as to whether or not the shiI
should attempt to gain partial shelter
in the shallow and treacherous Pom de
Ras bay, which has rocks near its
entrance, or whether it were better tc
push out to sea.
One local Mexican passenger, Don
Matias Moreno, says the report, was
about the deck and testifies that while
cautiously steering for what to all ap-
pearances was the usual entrance, q
slight tremble was felt to go through
the ship, and it 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 very few seconds after the keel
grounded on rock lightly. and there
was at once great excitement among
the officers and crew, and fear on the
part of the few passengers on deck.
Following the first shock in less than
10 seconds the ship crunched on a reef
and shudder ran through her from
bow to stern. The passengers
sprang From Their Berths in Terror
and ran on the deck, screaming in par
oxysms of terror as the danger began
to burst upon them. The wind began
to rise and the waves beat over the
ship as she was tossed by surges and
began to pound herself to pieces on the
rocks. She rose and fell three times
and then crash was heard. This was
followed by silence for the space of a
quarter of a minute, during which
time only low sobbing and muffied
prayers was heard.
Man the boats" trumpeted the
captain. In the short interval which
followed another crash was heard from
beneath the water. The boats had
previously been made ready with all
life, preservers placed at convenient
places, although covered from the view
of the nervous passengers. Within
three minutes Of the first crash in the
hull, the ship began to reel from its
upright balance, to settle and to sink
in its free hinderpart.
Scenes Were Indescribab.e.
The scenes about the lifeboats We're
indescribab!e. According to all the
testimony obtainable, the panic stricken
passengers and the ships force strug-
gled for first place, although to the
credit of the crew be it said, that few
of the sailors or ships people lost their
presence of mind, but gave their main
attention to saving the passengers.
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
davits.
fnement among the passengers, whose
name is thought to be Broslyn or Gros.
lyn, displayed remarkable presence OF
mind 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, their al
most universal fate, as they were tossed
lifelessly upon the waves or dashed
against the rocks, which were easily
observed from tha fast sinking ship
The first boat to be lowered with its bur
den of humanity, succeeded in clearing
the ships side. but was swept away by
the mighty force and swallowed by th'
night of fog. Of this load only one O
the sailors is known to have ESCAPED
the engulfing food which swept owe,
the boat within five minutes after i
was launched.