The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-16
COLUMBIA GOES
To THE BOTTOM
Seattle-EOnOIulu Liner
Sinks at HilO.
PASSENGERS AND CREW SAVED
SERIES OF THRILLING MIS-
FORTUNES.
PASSENGERS AND CREW SAVED
Tossed by Furious Gale for Two
Days and Nights, Her Back
Broken and Hold Filled
With Water.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

PORT TOWNSEND, Wash, Nov. 10.
The steamship Centennial Of the Sc
attic and Honolulu line arrived this
morning, bringing additional details of
the misfortunes of the steamship
Columbia Of the same line. The Column
bia was placed on the Seattle Honolulu
route and on her arrival at Honolulu
she vas covered with libel suits. After
much delay the Iibels were temporarily
satisfied and the vessel started on the
return voyage October %. From the
time she left port defects were being
found among various parts of her ma
chinery which kept the engineering de-
partment busy fixing them, and the
pumps commenced giving out one at a
time. To add to these misfortunes a
heavy northeast wind sprung up, the
vessel rolled and pitched and the pas
sengers were tossed about like leaves,
ii being impossible to walk either on
deck or in the cabin. On November 81
the gale increased and it was found
that a seam had opened amidships, that
the steam pipes were Stralnlng badly
and the vessel was being filed with es-
Gaping steam from the joints.
Investigation showed that water was
streaming in over the cement places on
the sides of the room opposite the en-
gines and that the boilers had broken
loose from their cement foundations.
Further investigation revealed the fact
that seven streams from six to eight
inches wide and one inch in thickness
were pouring in amidships and another
stream twelve inches wide was pouring
into the fire room. The condition of the
vessel became critical and Captain
Minor called the officers together for
consultation. Running for various
points was discussed and it was de-
cided to make for HiIo. The vessel was
in latitude 26 degrees Il minutes north,
400 miles from Hilo, when the order was
given to put about.
When the vessel turned the steam
steering gear broke and hand gear was
coupled on. The storm increased in
fury, two more seams opened in the
stern, and the one amidships was con-
stantly growing larger. Another also
opened in the sleeve of the stern gear
ing through which the water was rush
ing. The shaft had been knocked out
of place and was turning at an angle,
causing a friction which cheated the
water coming through that part of the
vessel. The Water-tight bulkheads in
the lower Mold separating the boiler and
engine-rooms from the fore and aft
compartments We're torn loose. These
spaces would open and close with the
rolling of the vessel So heavily did the
vessel labor that her backbone parted
amldShlpS and 1t became fight for life.
Boats were got in readiness for i'm
mediate use, and according to Captain
Minor it seemed impossible to reach
port. Great GOODNESS was displayed in
the engineers del ~rtment, where the
bursting of the main steam pipe was
momentarily expected, which meant
death to all therein.
The Columbia finally reached Hilo in
a sinking condition and the passengers
and crew were landed while the vessel
was gradually going to the bottom.
Several of the crew were severely in
Jured. The passengers were transferred
to the Centennial and safely landed
here. Captain Minor has asked for a
survey of the steamer by the board OF
underwriters. The Columbia has had
bad luck ever since her advent on this
coast She received injuries on the
South American coast, requiring ex-
tensive repairs, which were not proper
ly made. leaks being plastered up with
cement and painted so it was not no
ticeable to the underwriters inspectors
The vessel had been condemned by
the board of survey. She was valued
at about 800, 900, was insured for 100000
and was owned principally by Alex
ander Baltic Of Tacoma.