Gilpin observer., 1907-07-25

and mothers and children became lost
to each other in the excitement when
the boats collided.
That some poor navigation was made
and that the lives lost are upon the
head of someone is generally conceded.
1t is said that the San Pedro was under
slow bell, and the Columbia, accord
ing to the testimony of passengers. was
going full speed. 1t is said she was
headed west when the collision oc-
cured, and one passenger stated that
the Columbia crossed the bow, or at
tempted to cross, the bow of the San
Pedro.
r. Hawse, third officer on the Co.
lumbia, said he was in his room at the
time Of the wreck and he noted the
shock and heard the alarm given. He
makes the official statement that the
Columbia foated eleven minutes after
the San Pedro struck her Officer
Hawse tells of the heroic rescue of a
woman passenger by Maybelle Watson
who resides in Berkeley, California.
Miss Watson was in one of the small
boats with about twenty of the passen-
gers and crew. The boat capsized
when the ship went under and they all
went down. Only about ten or twelve.
who had on life preservers, came up.
Miss Watson had been in the water
about thirty minutes when a young
woman appealed to her for help. She
had put her life preserver on wrong
and could not keep her head above wa
ter. Miss Watson asked someone -
help, but all refused. She held tho
girls head above water for almost
two hours. The girl was unconscious
most of the time. When Officer Hawse
approached in a boat and asked Miss
Watson to give him her hand so that
lie could help her in. she refused as
distance until they had lifted her IN.
conscious companion aboard. When
the two girls were taken on board the
San Pedro the doctors said that Miss
Watson'G companion was beyond re-
oovery, but when they learned of the
heroic efforts of Miss Watson to save
her they worked hard and the young
woman revived and is now all right.
Miss Watson is only sixteen years OF
age.
Captain Doran Hero.
]. s. Flynn, a passenger on the Co
lumbia, gives this graphic description
Of the wreck:
NV God, how fortunate / am to
survive this terrible disaster off the
MenGocino coast. In allowing my mind
10 gather in the details of that terrible
wreck my heart goes out to the rela-
tives and friends of Capt. p. A. Do
ran of the Columbia and his conscieu-
tious and competent seamen.
"A hero in the face of a terrible dis
Gster. he went down to his grave with
his ship after he had performed one
Of the most heroic feats that ever
ctme TO my notice. Captain Doran, in
FIVE minutes, which was the length Of
time the Columbia remained above wa
ter after she was struck, launched four
boats and two RATS with eightyeigh.
passengers from the doomed ship.
"An passengers below the hurri-
cane deck, and the engineering force
at work in the hold of the vessel, were
siven no chance for their lives. but
were drowned like rats. Most of the
passengers were women. They had
retired early in the evening and must
have been sound asleep at the time OF
the collision. From my personal OBJ
scrvation,I did not see a single wo-
man saved.
1T was foggy at the time. We were
proceeding, think, under slow bell.
"The San Pedro. which sailed from
Eureka, lumber-laden, was proceeding
at high rate of speed, and it is my
belief that the consequences of the
disaster rest entirely upon the shoul-
ders OF the San Pedro's master. We
struck at right angle, about midships.
and sank almost Immediately. In
backing away from the Columbia the
San Pedro allowed the passenger
steamer to fill. and in five minutes the
Columbia had sunk from sight.
Il don't think I will ever forget the
terrible scenes of panic which ensued
Upon the half-lit deck of the Columbia.
Men rushed panic stricken the entire
length OF the deck, and fought with
their fellow passengers for chance
to escape death Above all the disor-
der Captain Doran, cool and collected,
strove to maintain order. and in the
wild confusion succeeded in putting
over the side all of the starboa"1
boats.
After passing through ten miles ot
wreckage on our way here the Roam
oke succeeded in picking up life raft.
Under this raft was found the deal
Lody OF man in life preserver.
There was another man In the
room with me. Lord knows what be-
came of him. was in one of the boats
which was picked up by the Roanoke,
and in this manner managed to escape
recall the captain OF the Roanoke
having offered his assistance to the
Elder. but that vessel reported that
she was able to make Eureka all
right"