The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1907-07-25
Steamer Columbia, Heavily
Laden With Tourists, Run
Down by Schooner.
Disaster Occurred at Midnight, When
the Passengers and Crew Were
Asleep, the Vessel Sinking
Eight Minutes After Be-
ing Struck.

Eureka, Cdl,-olAIy lives were
lost In a collision between the steamer
Columbia and the steam launch schoon-
er San Pedro in Shelter Cove, twelve
miles southwest of the Mendocino-
Humboldt county line between IL and
| o'clock Sunday morning.
Eight minutes from the time the
San Pedro struck the Columbia the
later had filled full of water and sunk.
The night saloon watchman notified
all the passengers to go to the up
per deck Without clothing they
climbed out of their berths and rush
ed out. 1t 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 pam
ic, the women acting with heroism.
The crew of the San Pedro immediate
ly lowered a boat ana picked up
large number of survivors, while the
boats from the Columbia lay to by the
San Pedro.
When the Columbia sank, she car
ried down with her about seventy-four
passengers. This estimate is not ac-
curate, and the number cannCt be
definitely determined until full psrticu-
lars are ec1,ved from Shelter Cove,
where four boats are said TO have
been landed. Captain Doran and First
officer Whitney We're on deck when
the Columbia sank, the captains last
words being:
God bless you"
According to Purser j. e. Byrnes of
the Columbia, there We're 1870 passen-
gers aboard-16S first, 22 in the steer.
age, and 60 crew.
1t 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.
lumbia was sinking, her boilers ex.
ploded. This counteracted the suction
and saved many lives. Husbands and
wives were separated and fathers
and mothers and children become lost
TO each other in the excitement
when the boats collided.
.. Swanson, a 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
lumbias 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 yessels
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, bur il
Is evident that an order put the wheel
hard astarboard" was given or the Co.
lumbia. This sent her directly across
the bow of the steam schooner.
Whether or not the speed of either
vessel was slacked is immaterial, for
the crash of the essels was terrific
The Columbia. an iron vessel, hole
the brunt of the impact, and her iron
plates cracked and cash seven feet
across the forward hatch allt wed the
water free ingress at a great velocity.