The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-16

monosyllables instead of sentences. The
captain simply reiterated that he mis,ook
the New Years Island fog whistle for the
Pigeon Point fog whistle, and that is
about all there is to it, and about all he
had to say. When he heard the Pigeon
Point whistle he believed it was the foot
of another vessel and changed his course
to starboard. Five minutes later the
Colombia was crunching in among the
rocks. If the rocks h ad not stopped her
in another half minute she would have
had her nose buried in the sand of the
beach.
Third Officer Thompson, who was on
watch on the bridge when the Colombia
struck, told the best story of how it hap
pened.
I'VE had passed New Years Island light
and thought it was Pigeon Point" he
said. 1.-THE captain was on the bridge with
me. We were listening for the fog signals
and did not hear any, after passing New
Years, until we were about where we
stand now. Then we heard two short
whistles. close together, and thought 1t
was another vessel. The captain COM
manded Hard a-starboardF and down
went the wheel hard a-starboard. In about
five minutes she struck. She went on
easy, but we could hear her crunchlng on
the rocks. The fog was so thick 1t could
be scooped up with a shovel. Twas on the
bridge and couldn't see the bow of the
ship. You can almost throw line ashore
now, but We could not see the shore. l
saw breakers and shouted Breakers
ahead r but 1t was too late them"
"Do you think the ship can be saved ?"
81 fear not" he replied. The vessel
rocked and rolled and pounded against
the bottom while this conversation took
place Third Officer Thompson had to use
his best sea legs to keep on his feet.
"Isn't there danger of her swapping a
SPARE" was asked.
THAT'S what I'm looking out for" re-
piled Ships Surgeon Arberry.
''That Pigeon Point whistle ought to be
changed" resumed Third Officer Thomp-
son. at sounds too much like steamer.
1t was very low and the instant we heard it
we went to starboard to get out of the
way. The whistles ought to be longer or
shorter or more of them"
Captain James Mariner is the keeper of
the Pigeon Point light station. He has
been there eight years. Captain Mariner
is a typical lighthouse-keeper. He has
the breeze of the sea in his ioviaI air. In
regard to the criticism of his fog signals,
he said:
THE fog signals are fixed by the Gov
eminent. Ny duty is to see that they are
carried out and the whistles blown. l
blew my whistles from IL :35 O'Clock on
the night of the 18th to 1925 O'Clock on
the afternoon of the 14th, when the fog
lifted. heard the ship go on the rocks.
The noise could be heard plainly up here.
l thought at first she was the Madrona,
but when the fog raised saw big black
ship. Nv signal is whistle of four sec
onds' duration. an interval of seven Sec
onds, another blast of four seconds and
then an interval of forty-five seconds and
then repeat. That of the New Years
Island light is a blast of ten seconds dura-
ton, an interval of fifty seconds and re-
peat.
NOW, the captain of the Colombia has
nobody but himself to blame" continued
Captain Mariner. "He has his charts, maps
and books to tell him where he is, and l
do not see how he came to. get in so close.
His books would have told him which was
the Pigeon Point light. But cannot talk
much. Captain Clark will be examined in
the City, and will be subpenaed."
]. C. Williamson, merchant of Pesca-
dero, says the Colombia is the fifth vessel
to go ashore IN the six miles between
Pigeon Point and New Years Islaud. The
ship Sir John Franklin was the irst to go
ashore. This was in 1868, and seventeen
lives were lost. A tom ostone on the island
marks the disaster. The bark Carrier was
wrecked on that treacherous shore in 1869
She was coal-laden, and twenty-one lives
were lost. In 1857 the ship Courier was
wrecked on the point. The ship Hellespont
was wrecked in 1870, in almost the Same
spot as the Colon bia.
AT 10 o'clock tonight the Colombia was
lying somewhat easier. She did not pound
so hard, and that change in her condition
if it is permanent, may prove her saliva.
ton in the event that there is no rough
weather She seems to have slipped
around into an easier berth on the sand,
but she still rolls badly. This afternoon at
low tide the steam-schooners were ex-
tremely cautious in approaching her and
lying alongside. The swell was heavier,
and the waterlogged Colombia reeled fear
fully. The Newsboy anchored as far away
as she could without interrupting tine work
of tightening. Her sides were protected
by bales of hay to prevent the Colon bia
from crushing them in. Frequently the
steamship on her backward reel would
strike the schooner hard blow, but the
hay prevented damage, though the con-
cussion several times knocked the men off
their feet.
The work of tightening continued to-
night, small boats carrying the cargo from
the ship to the schooners which were
anchored considerable distance away
About all the coffee is unloaded, but there
are tons and tons of new York merchan-
disc yet to come out. Underwriters
Agent Metcalfe says that further salvage
Of the cargo will necessitate the use of
two scow schooners, and he will send to
San Francisco for them. The plan and
the hope of the underwriters and of Cap
tain Clark is to take out all of the cargo as
speedily as possible, then pull the Colon
bia off the rocks and tow her to San Fran
cisco. This is considered possible if she
is not stove in more ana water does not