The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-23

of the Columbia there were 100 mas
sengers aboard-168 first class, 22
steerage and go crew.
! Just as the Columbia was sinking
her boilers exploded. This counter
/ acted the suction and saved many
lives. Husbands and wives were sep
arated and fathers and mothers and
children became lost to each other IN
the excitement when the boats coIlid-
ed. The only dead person caught by
the Elder was George T. Sparks pres
ident of the bank at Fort Smith. Ark.
He and his daughter were on their
way home. Sparks when pulled upon
the raft was weak from swallowing
salt water and shortly after. when
transferred to one of the boats, he
died from cold and exposure. His
| daughter was saved
Two hours after the wreck the fog
lifted and a cold wind commenced to
blow. The people in the boats suffer-
ed much.
BIames the Oficers.
O. Swanson, a sailor Of the San Pc
dro, was at the wheel when the ia
| tai collision occurred. In his report
to Sailors Agent John Erickson the
blame is laid upon the shoulders of
the Columbia's officers. Other mem
\ bers 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 Colum-
bia to put the wheel hard aport.
Three points aport carried the steam
er in the way of the approaching yes
sci. Short toots from the whistles Of
both vessels warned the shippers. The
Columbia was on the coast side, and
directly across the bow of the steam
schooner. Whether or not the speed
of either vessel was Stacked is imma-
terial for the crash of the vessels was
terrific. The Columbia. an iron ves-
sci, bore the brunt of the impact and
her iron plates cracked and a cash
seven feet across the forward hatch
allowed the water free ingress at a
great velocity.
S. G. Peterson. a sailor aboard the
Columbia, was on watch on the fore
castle. He could see the lights of the
San Pedro some hundred yards away.
He gave notice of this fact in shout
to his superiors on the bridge. What
they did he does not know. but at any
rate the Columbia shot across the path
were exchanged between both vessels.
but there was hardly time enough to
slacken speed or make any prepara-
ton to meet the inevitable.
What Passengers Say.
Passengers say the collision occur
red at 1890 or thereabouts. that it
had been misty and foggy, but at the
time of the disaster the weather had
cleared up somewhat and after the
collision the steamer San Pedro could
be seen where she had drifted away
quarter of a mile. That some poor
navigation was made and that the
lives 1OSI- are upon the nodU Oh Some
one is generally conceded. 1t is said
that the San Pedro was under a slow
bell and the Columbia, according to
the testimony of passengers, was going
at full speed. 1t is said that she was
headed west when the collision occur
red and one passenger stated that the
Colum bia crossed the bow or attempt
ed 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 CoIum bia hQated eleven minutes
after the San Pedro struck her. Officer
Hawse tells of the heroic rescue of a
lady passenger by Maybelle Watson,
who resides In Berkeley, Cal. Miss
with about twenty of the passengers
and crew. The boat capsized when the
ship went under and they all went
down. Only about ten or twelve who
had life preservers came up. Miss
Watson had been in the water 80 min
utes when young woman appealed
to her for help. The young lady had
put her life preserver on wrong and
Miss Watson asked some to help but
they all refused. She held the girls
head above water for almost two
hours. The girl was unconscious most
of the time. When officer Hawse ap-
peared in a boat and asked Miss Wat
son to give him her hand SO that he
could help her in, she refused assist
ance until they lifted her unconscious /
companion on board. When the two
girls were taken on board the San
Pedro the doctors said that Miss Wat
sons companion was beyond recovery.
but when they learned of the heroic
efforts of Miss Watson to save her they
worked hard and the --oung lady re-
vived and is now all right. Miss Wat
son is only 1 6 years of age.
A Survivors, Story.
T
Seattle gave the following account of
the wreck:
LAS nearly as I can learn from
those who did not lose their watches,
the collision occurred at about 15 min
utes after midnight. The shock was
hardly noticeagle, but 1 heard the
crash and scraping sound which fol-
lowed. For a few seconds heard no |
other sound and decided to await de-
velopments or Information. Soon I
heard one of the crew shouting all
hands on deck Still, supposed only
the crew was wanted and did not leave
my berth until the cry was changed to
everybody on deck. She's struck.
From the Scraping sound / inferred
that the vessel was aground on a
rock or n bar, and concluded that l
would not Join in any panic or stam-
pede for the boats but would rather
wait until all the women were put off
and take my chances of getting one of
the boats that might come back after
going to shore, or trust to life pre-
server and what swimming 1 could do.
Without any waste of time, though not
in real hurry, 1, completely dressed, |
even to buttoDing my vest, tying my
cravat and lacing one of my shoes, but
decided I would not lace the other be- |
cause l might need to remove them in |
case 1 had to swim. After adjusting
a life preserver, 1 gathered up ray two |
grips and two bundles and began to
hurry for the stairway near the stern. |
The halls were apparently empty and
inferred that all the passengers had |
the stairway the vessel lurched consid-
erably to one side and I quickly felt