Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1907-07-26
81 ARE MISSING
Estimate of Victims OF Steamer
Columbia Disaster

San Francisco, July 24.-Sixteen
names have been added to the list of
survivors of the COlum bia- San Pedro
collision which occurred early Sunday
morning Ia miles off the coast of Cali
fornia. These 16 passengers were in
boat which landed at Shelter Cove.
The list of survivors now includes 16O
names. Ninety-seven persons are IN
accounted for.
Vice President and General Man
ager Schwerin of the San Francisco
and Portland Steamship company was
asked for an official statement regard
ing the disaster. He said:
II do not see that there is anything
can say except to express my profound
sorrow over the event and my deep
sympathy with those who have suf-
fered by ii. We are using our utmost
endeavors to get in direct communica-
ton by wire with Purser Byrnes of the
Columbia, who is in charge Of the sur
vivOrs ut Eureka. Nor have we any
facts to offer in addition to those al
ready published regarding those saved.
Formal inquiry into the disaster
and its causes will be held by the com
pany. An inquiry will be held 10y the
state officials entrusted with such du-
ties. The moment vessel is lost its
officers and crew lose all connection as
such with the company. 1t is provided
by law. In due time an official inquiry
will be instituted and tile exact facts
will become known"
The cool head of Second Steward
Marks of the Columbia saved many
lives when the Columbia sank. AS soon
as the ship struck the steward ran into
the glory hole where his men slept
and ordered them to their posts. The
men were well drilled and they wasted
no time in their duties. They ran
through the cabins assigned to them,
waking and dragging people out of bed
and adjusting their life preservers for
them. This accounts for the fact that
all those who were on deck had life
preservers on them.
When the walters were about half
through their work on the starboard
side, the vessel gave heavy list and
those who still remained in their state
rooms on that side of the boat were
doomed. The vessel filled to the deck
and the doors of their cabins were
TANNED so that they were unable to
break themselves free before the vessel
up-ended and dove to the bottom.
The stRrboard deck was filled with
half-dressed people when the fatal list
came. Those who were already on the
deck were able to climb to the port side
and cling there until the last plunge
was made
The vessel went down without no
ticeable suction, but the passengers
found that they were unable y remain
on the surface of the water, although
buoyed up by the life preservers.
Many assert that they sank as deep as
30 feet before they began to rise.
The Columbia. a 3OO-foot steel vessel.
while bound from san Francisco TO
Portland, Or. with 1870 passengers and
crew of 60. collided with and was
rammed by the San Pedro, a 11O-foot
wooden steamer, south bound for this
city.
The sea was smooth, but the wea ther
was foggy The San Pedro, looming
out of the mist few ship lengths away,
bore down on the Columbia at high
speed, despite frantic efforts to clear.
With a grinding crash the San Pedro
lumbia's port bow.
Nearly all of the Columbia's passen-
gers and many Of her crew were
asleep in their cabins and hunks when
the crash came. AS the San Pedro
backed away the sea poured in through
the ragged hole in the COlumbia's bow
above and below the water line and in
five minutes the Columbia sank to the
bottom, the deep waters of Shelter
Cove covering over the tops Of the Co
lumbia's masts.
Shortly after the collision the steam
ers Roanoke and George W. Elder and
the steam schooner Daisy Mitchell
came on the scene and stood by. The
Elder took the San Pedro in tow and
the latest report announces their ar
rival in Eureka. The stem of the San
feurO was sudsueu W spiiulers, oue vi
her masts was snapped Off at the deck
and she was settling and had heavy list
whom taken in tow. Captain Hansen
vsmained on board.
The Daisy Mitchell offered assistance
10 the Elder, but this was declined
She picked up lifeboat and IA raft OF
the Columbia and brought them TO this
city.