Washington State journal and Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1906-1907, 1907-07-24
Steamers COLLIDE !
81. H.. Il. 100 LIVES. LOST


Columbia and the steam schooner San
Pedro off the Mendocino coast, one
hundred passengers lost their lives Sat-
urday night. 30. .-........ . .......a .,.
The Columbia was sunk and lies sub
merged in the deep waters Of Shelter
Cove. "''~ ell $3.50
Captain Doran, master Of the Colum-
bia, stayed with his vessel and ia
among those lost.
The collision occurred at midnight
when all on board save the lookout aud
officers on the bridge were asleep in
their berths.
The Columbia was steaming north
at an easy rate, having left here at
noon Saturday. e.. .4
Suddenly out of the fog doomed the
dark hulk Of The schooner San Pedro.
south bound, which was evidently out
of her course. ID. ..l...-...-..
! Whistles were blown and frantic
efforts made by the helmsmen of each
vessel to avert the collision, but they
were OF 10 avail
The San Pedro struck the steamer ON
the port bow tearing an immense hole
in her side, through which the water
rushed in great volume. ...... 81
Alarms were sounded throughout the
passenger ship and the terrified passen-
gers scrambled from their staterooms
in an effort to escape from the doomed
vessel, but the time was too short to
! aid the life-savers.
The vessel sank within FIVE minutes
of the time of the collision. ~ r
! A life raft was launched with num-
Der Of passengers on board, but only a
few Of the number aboard were saved.
One hundred lives were lost.
The steamer Roanoke, carrying q
number Of the dead and some OF the
rescued, reached here at 6:l5 Monday
morning, bringing the fisrt news Of the
) disaster. ..
The dead were conveyed to the NOR.
que.
Shelter Cove, where the collision &C.
CURED, is 179 miles up the coast. ..
A life raft bearing number Of the
survivors is being towed to this port
by the Daisy Mitchell. .-1,. 81"
The San Pedro is beinging towed to
Eureka by the steamer George w.
Elder.
The Columbia was steel vessel of
1746 tons and was. 800 feet long, SO
feet beam and las in depth. She car.
ried crew Of "a men under Captain
p. A. Doran, who had been master of
the vessel for the past I've years.
The ship was built At Chester. Pa.
in 1880 and was owned by the San
Francisco and Portland Steamship
company. -,.-.4 ...-t... ,.- %
During tho earthquake and fire the
Columbia was lying at the drydock Of
the Union ironworks and the shock
loosened some Of her blocks with the
result that the vessel captsized.
But she was entirely reiitted and
when she left here Saturday she car
ried full list Of passengers--about
/ 800.
The San Pedro WAS commanded by
Captain Hansen and Is . wooden vessel
of 818 tone. She is 1855 feet long, 81
feet bsam and ~ feet deep. 'io
A later report from Portland est.
mates that between 20 and 80 persons
lost their lives in the steamer wreck.
That there was blunder in navigation
is the opinion Of some Of the Survivors.
The boiler Of the Columbia, blew up
as she was sinking. She lies in deep
water and is q total loss The nearest
place Of any size In Eureka Cal. ~ .
The list OF dead and unaccounted for
Is sent from that place. There il
known to be number unaccounted for
who are pOssibiy'at Shelter Cove, hav.
ing reached there in RATS and boats.
Reports say. there were 240 persons on
the Columbia a. 'aiIHWuDiiiA t
The place Of the disaster was OF the
Humboldt Mendocino county line. .-..
The vessel which sank or Shelter
Cove on the California coast was rated
a summer home by many Portlandsrs.
who annually made trips to San Fran.
cisco in this paiatial fioating hotel. I'd
he The list of passengers ON the sunken
vessel is slmost half comprised of, PORT
land people or persons coming here to
join relatives. which mates the blow
all the harder on this city. .,,o Of POM
/ As near az can be learned some IS
persons lost their lives in the wreck. q
The captain Of the Columbia often
| made the statement that Il In the event
of serious disaster ovetaking a vessel
in his charge he would never be seen
alivs again unless every soul on board
was saved, which would indicate that
the heroic seaman went down with his
, vessel. 3" ''''- ''''''''''''
| The steamship Columbia has been on
the ,rup between Portland and Sen
Francisco for 81 years, having left the
Bay city on the first voyage to Port
land ON July 30. $780, This is the FIRST
mishap she has ever experienced while
en- route between the two ports
o. Swanson, . sailor Of the San PEI
dro, was at the wheel Saturday night
when the fatal collision occurred. In
his report to Sailors Agent John Ere
ickson, the blame is laid upon, the
shoulders Of the Columbia's officers.
as OtiYer members " the San Pedro sub.
ata II ate .fholl RtcnVi n RNeans0s1 iifF4A|