Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1907-08-01
~ PERISH IN
WRECK AT SEA
PASSENGER STEAMER COLUMBIA
CUT DOWN Nv LUMBER CHIP
OFF SHELTER COVE.
SURVIVORS CLlRG TO WRECK
Mistake N sIanals Made a Time Most
Of Those Aboard slept, and Few
Escaped Panic and Seized
Slight Chance "a Eaeape.

San Francisco, Cai--one hundred
lives were lost whom the steamer Co.
iumbia, northbound from this port for
Portland. collIded with the lumber
laden steamer san Pedro on Shelter
Cove.
About so persons were saved By
clinging 20 the badly damaged San
Pedro. from which they were rescued
later by tho steamship Roanoke.
There was a heavy fog at the time
and. through a mistake In signals, the
San Pedro. heavily laden with lum-
Der. struck the Columbia on the port
bow with such force that she was cut
down TO the water and sank in about
ave minutes.
Capt. p. A. Dorian Of the Columbia
went down with HIS weasel.
A few survivors were picked up by
the San Pedro, but on account OF the
fog and darkness II was impossible
for the crew OF the latter vessel to
gather in more.
The passengers and most of the
crew were asleep on both steamers
when the crash occurred. Many of
the Columbia's passengers did not
have time to get out Of their state
rooms. Their shrieks and groans
were drowned by the overwhelming
waters, while there was panic and
coinmotion on board the San Pedro.
The San Pedro was badly damaged,
but was kept afioat and her passen-
gers. as well as those who boarded
her from the Columbia, were taken on
by the steamship George w. Elder,
and the vessel Is being towed into
Eureka.
The scenes aboard the Columbia. "a
meagerly told In reports reaching
here. were terrible. Men and their
wives were parted. and many who
clambered upon. the San Pedro saw
their loved ones swallowed up by the
sea as the Columbia sank
Carried More Thar zoo People.
The Columbia left here carrying 900
passengers and a crew OF about 40, un-
der command OF Capt. p. A. Doran.
Soon after dark heavy fog came
ON. and the steamer was feeling her
way along the coast. The sea was
calm. and the majority Of the pas
sengers were in their berths when
Shelter Cove was passed. Capt.
Doran was on the bridge, when, a few
minutes later, and just after midnight.
the black : hulk Of the San Pedro
lcomed up almost dead ahead. Tho
Columbia at cnce reversed its engines.
and Capt Doran put the helm hard
aport, but Il was too late 10 prevent
tho collision.
With scarcely diminished speed the
San Pedro, laden With lumber. crashed
into the part bow OF the passenger
ship with force that cut the steamer
TO the water line. Many OF the pas
sengers must have been stunned or
killed IN their be.ths. for the force Of
the blow was terrific. and both ships
reeled apart as II they had struck
solid rock.
Frenxied Panic Ensues.
Half clad and irenzied By fear. men
and women rushed from the state
rooms 70 the deck OF the Columbia,
which was settling rapidly by the
bows. An EFFORT was made 20 launch
the lifeboata, Capt. Doran standing
calmly on the shattered bridge Of his
boat and shouting his ordera through
q meEaphone. Several Of the boats
hac been shattered IN the collision.
and so quickly did the Columbia 60
down that there was no time to launch
the others.
Cases Of rare hsroism are reported
Il 10 said that Ia some cases where
wives could escape they preferred 20
die with their husbands. refusing 70
leave the ship
The time for escape was 30 short
that there was little chance for assu-
ment and only those who wero on