The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-24

Portland eomparN o9 IS asked today for an official stat O. regarding the Co., iumbia- San Pc .saster. He said:
 T do not hat there Is anything that l can sas .cept to express my pro- found sorrow over the event and my deep sympathy with those who have suffered by it. The San Francisco and Portland Steamship company is not, owing to the service between this city and Europa, in possession of anything additional than that secured by the newspaper. An in- quiry will be held by the state officials entrusted with such duties. The moment a vessel Is lost, it's officers and crew lose all connection IS such with the company. That is provided by law. In due time an official inquiry will be instituted, witness es will be placed under oath and the ex- act facts will become known"
 Mir Schwerin was asked about the proof of the published charge that the wreck was. in large measure. due to the habit of eoastwise masters to "hugging the shore" in order to save coal flor owners. He said:
 That charge is absolutely false and nothing better illustrates 1t than the fact that at the time of the collision the Columbia was foureen miles off shore. The extreme range of lighthouse lamps is on.y twenty miles and masters must be within that range to get their bearings, o"leNi"iS AtA AoS53 HNHtiANAf
 CoIunhia We'll Built.
 As for any criticism of the Columbia as to improper construction, it is not supported by facts, The Columbia had five water-tight compartments and col lislon bulkhead.
 Tt is an impossibility to build an un- sinkablo vessel for practical use, put in as many water tight bulSheads as you lPease, have as many water tight com partments as you like
 Inc cool head of Second Steward A. Marks of the Columbia. saved many lives when the Columbia sank. As soon as the sAip struck the steward ran into the Glory Hole where his men slept. and offered them to their posts The men were vel drilled and they wasted no time '~ their duties, awakening the passengers They ran through the cabins assigned 10 them, dragging the people out of -ed and adjusting their life preservers for them. This accounts for the fact t~at aii those who were on deck hHd life preserV CTS on them. The walters were about half through their work on the starboard side when the vessel gave a hsavy list, and all those who still re- mainei in their staterooms on that side oI the boat were dooomed. The vessel filled tn the deck and the doors of their cabins were damned so that they were unable to break their wa free before the vessel dove to the bottom.
 .. Murphy. waiter one of the sur vivors of the Columbia, who arrived here today. said:
 eNheH tlie San Rsflre s'ahek aa a.e shock a@oke me right away The next moment the second steward. Marks, called us to our several posts and l ran to the deck on the starboard side toward the stern where my post was. When I saw the San Pedro I knew what was up. 1 was pretty sure she was s.lking so I ran into every cabin shaking the people in the hunks and dragging out their life preservers. I put life preservers on eight women on that side Everybody was cool but nobody knew what to do. They stood around dazed and let me put the straps over their shoulders just like ehl dren would and would not ask any ques- tions or try to help themselves. l would not let them stop to dress.
 The boat. lay on her right side until she sunk. When we were all cllnging to the port rail- hardly any of us with any clothes on. the captain stood on tke bridge and looked down on us and said; well boys, I did all I could for you and I can do no more. She's a goner. Good bye h