The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1907-08-01
COLLISION At SEA
SIXTY L|VESLOST
Steamer Columbia, Heavily
Laden With Tourists. Run
Down by Schooner.
Disaster Occurred at sidnight. When
the Passengers and Crew Were
Asleep, the Vessel Sinking
Eight Minutes After Be-
ing Struck.

! EuIEhdf A1fAty i-fNo WIZ
ost in a collision between the steamer
Columbia and the steam launch schoon-
en- San Pedro in Shelter Cove, twelve
miles southwest OF the Mendocino-
Humboldt county line. between IL and
l O'Clock Sunday morning.
Eight minutes from the time the
San Pedro struck the Columbia the
later had filled full OF water and sunk.
Tbe night saloon Waterman notified
all the passengers to go TO the up
climbed out OF their bertas and rush
ed out II was only two or three
minutes before the deck was awash.
Six boats and three life RATS were cut
loose. and as many passengers as pos
sible were crowded into them. There
was scarcely any evidence of pan.
ic, the women acting with heroism
The crew of the San Pedro immediate
ly lowered boat and picked up a
large number of survivors. while the
San Pedro.
When the Columbia sank, she car
ried down with her about seventy-s IT
passengers. This estimate IL not ac-
curate. and the Number cannot be
definitely determi led until full partcu.
lars are rec.lvet from Shleter Cove,
where four beats are said 10 have
been landed. Captain Doran and First
Officer Whitney 1eic on deck when
the Columbia .enk, the captains last
words being:
God bless you"
According to Purser ]. Il. Byrnes OF
the Columbia, there were 1870 passen-
gers aboard-16S first, 90 In the steer.
age, and SO crew
II Is known that 107 passengers
have been saved and 81 OF the crew.
The exact number at Shelter Cove is
yet to be determined. Just as the Co
iumbia was sinking. her boilers ex.
ploded. This counteracted the suction
and saved many lives. Husbands ana
wives were separated and fathers
and mothers and children become lost
TO each other In the excitement
Wneh tine DOatS cOllided.
O. Swanson. sailor Of the San Pc
dro. was at the wheel when the fatal
collision occurred. In his report TO
Sailors Agent John Erickson the blame
Is laid upon the shoulders Of the Co
lumbia's officers Other members of
the crew of the San Pedro substantiate
the story OF Swanson He says that
the order was given to him when the
lookout sighted the Columbia to put
the wheel hard aport Three points
aport carried the San Pedro seward
apparently. and out of the way OF the
approaching vessel, whose name at
that time was not known. Short toots
from the whistles OF both vessels
warned the skippers The Columbia
was on the coast side, the San Pedro
on the sea side. Apparently both yes
sells were proceeding at full speed.
II all had gone well, the San Pedro
would have clear the Columbia. but il
IS evident that an order put the wheel
hard astarboard" was given or the Co
umbia- This sent her directly across
me bow OF the steam schooner
Whether or not the speed Z either
Fessei was slecked Is immaterial, for
me crash OF the ,essels was terrific
me Columbia, an iron vessel. bore
me brunt OF the impact, and her iron
plates cracked and gash seven feet
icross the forward hatch all, we'd the
water free ingress at great velocity.