The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1907-07-26
PASSENGER STEAMER cOLUM SlA
CUT DOWN 6Y LUMBER SHIP
OFF ELTER COVE.
SURVIVORS CLING TO WRECK
Mistake in Signals Made at Time Most
OF Those Aboard Slept. and Few
Escaped Panic and Seized
Slight Chance 20 Escape.

CAu AnNl~CAs AAa--OAr~
lives we're lost when the steamer Co
lumbia. northbound from this port for
Portland. collided with the lumber
laden steamer san Pedro on Shelter
Cove.
About so persons were saved by
olinging 20 the badly damaged San
Pedro. from which they we're rescued
later BY the steamship Roanoke.
There was heavy fog al 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
five minutes.
Capt. p. A. Dorsn OF the Columbia
went down with his vessel
a few survivors were picked up by
the San Pedro. but on account Of the
fog and darkness Il was impossible
for the crew OF the latter vessel 70
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 10 get out Of their state
rooms Their sarieks and grOans
we're drowned by the Overwhelming
waters. while there was panic and
commotion on board the San Pedro
The San Pedro vas badly damaged.
bur was kept saOat and her passen-
gers. as well as those who boarded
her from the Columbia. were taken OF
BY the steamship George w. Elder,
and the vessel is being tOwed tnto
Eureka
The scenes aboard the Columbia as
mesgerly 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 Than 200 People
The Columbia left here carrying zoo
passengers and a crew OF about 40. IN
der command OF Capt P. A. DOTan.
Soon after dark a heavy fog came
on. and the steamer was feeling her
way along the coast The sea was
calm. and the majority OF the pas
Shelter Cove was passed. Capt.
Doran was on the bridge. when. few
minutes later. and Just after midnight
the black hulk Ct the san Pedro
doomed up almost dead ahead The
Columbia al once reversed its engines.
and Capt. Doran put the helm hard
sport. bur it was too late 10 prevent
the collision.
With scarcely diminished speed the
San Pedro. laden With lumber. crashed
into the part bow Of the passenger
ship with a force that cut the steam er
TO the water line Many OF the pas
sengers must have been stunned OF
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
Frenzieo Panic Ensues.
Half clad and frsnzied by fear. men
and women rushed from the state
rooms TO the deck of the Column bia
which was settling rapidly by the
/ bows. An effort was made TO launch
the lifeboats. Capt DoTan standing
calmly on the shattered bridge OF his
boat and shouting his orders through
a megaphone. Several Of the boats
had been shattered In the collision
and so quickly did the Columbia &
4 down that there was no time 10 launch
the others.
Cases OF rare heroism are reported
II Is said that In some cases where
wives could escape they preferred &c
die with their husbands. refusing L
leave the ship
The time for escape was 80 short
that there was little chance for argu
ment and only those who were or
deck and jumped without hesitation