The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-15

shock as the vessel was going along care
fully. There were, in fact, three little
bumps in quick succession. Everybody
rushed out from the cabin, but there was
hardly anv excitement and what there
was lasted only moment.
'sThe captain Immediately gave orders
TO lower the boats and there was the best
of discipline among the passengers and
the crew. Captain Clark was perfectly
cool and had the men well under control.
The purser went off in the first boat and
carried the news of the accident ashore.
"About O'Clock two or three tugs came
in sight of the vessel, the Active being the
FIRST TO come up to us and take us on board.
"The Colombia was resting entirely on
her forward compartments on the rocks
and had only a little water in
her hold when we left her. There
is a big hole knocked in her prov
about twelve feet from the stem.
I believe that it will take a great deal of
repairing to put her af1oat again. We
struck at extremely low tide.
Captain Clark is certainly one of the
finest officers and one of the most perfect
gentlemen that l have ever sailed with
and l have been Oh the sea a great many
times.
Before leaving the vessel the passen-
gers wrote paper to which every one sub
scribed their names. 1t was in substance
as follows:
We the unde assigned wholly exonerate Cap
tain Clark from any blame whatever in con-
nection with the accident to the Colombia
and desire to express our sincere thanks
TO him for his courtesy throughout the trip.
We further desire to compliment Captain
Clark for the perfect discipline of his men and
their prompt action at the time OF the accident
mo, sir; Captain Clark was sadly de-
luded by the echo of the fog horn. No
mortal man could have done better than
ne under like circumstances.
Among the most stoical of the rescued
passengers was Emil Meyer. Mr.. Meyer
stood on the deck of the Active as she ap-
preached the City, and looked anxiously
toward the lighted docks, but did not join
in the complaints which the other pas
sengers were making.
at was about o'clock this morning
when the vessel struck" said Mr.. Meyer.
at was foggy, and at first we did not
know what was the matter. When we did
find out what was wrong there was
nothing to be frightened at. We were
resting on the bottom, but we were as
sured there was no danger. At any time
we could have gone ashore in the boats
if it had been necessary. We stayed
there in sight of land all day as patiently
as possible under the circumstances. 1t
was nearly o'clock when the Active came
to relieve Us. Then, of course, we were
glad to get away from the stranded vessel.
The trip from the scene Of the wreck here
has been of great inconvenience. Especially
has this been so for the ladies. The
weather has been miserable for travel in
an open boat, and the ladies have suffered
severely.
1--WE have no complaint to make of the
actions of the officers. To- day we passed
resolutions exempting them from all
blame, and we have no complaint to make
about our treatment"
Isaac straughan of New Jersey was one
of the passengers who claims to have been
on the deck when the catastrophe oc-
Cured.
There was no excitement when the
vessel struck" he declared, but the rea-
son, perhaps, was that very few knew thai
anything had happened. There was nc
perceptible jar and there was no sign o.
the vessel having struck.
1.-The first the people knew of the acct
dent was when they were informed by the
officers, and then they were assured Their,
was no cause for alarm.
The shore was in sight, and it seemed
such little way to dry land that the
passengers readily kept up their courage
1.-THE most disagreeable part of the
whole incident has been the trip up from
Pigeon Point.
The accommodations have, of course
been very poor, but we were in luck to ge
off with our lives, so L suppose we ough
not to complain"