Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-07-29
SIX UTAHNS Who
MISSED THE BOAT
Did Not Board Columbia on Fatal
Trip Owing to Misunder-
standing.
THEY ARRIVE IN SALT LAKE.
Miss Hettie White and Miss Reynolds
OF Provo Bring Further Details
From San Francisco.

That the Inflated Columbia, which
was wrecked off the Pacific coast
week ago, did not carry at least an
additional half dozen Utah passengers
was wholly due to misunderstanding
between applicants for transportation
and the railroad company. The tour
lists in question had been led to believe
that their tickets could be changed so
that they could go from San Francisco
to Portland but they had been mtsin-
Informed, and when Application was
made for berths on the Columbia the
request was denied. The six persons
were the Misses Anna and Mamie Oh
lerton of Parowan Alice and Viola
Redd of Harmony, Hettie White OF
Beaver and another N.irS,' name has
not been learned here.
The young ladies were much disap-
pointed at the turn of affairs that pre-
vented them from going up. the coast
to the Oregon city. but now they feel
that Providence held guiding hand
over them. for had the journey been
taken 1t might have been their last.
Miss Blanche Musser and her cousin.
Miss Winona White, made such ar
rangements when they purchased their
tickets at Milford that trip to Port
land was made possible. When they
applied for places on the Columbia
only Two bertis RENAMED. an,! these
were in opposite ends of the boat from
each other It was only. by strenuous
effort that the staterooms were OBJ
tained. and the boat was reached by
the girls not minute before the gang
plank was drawn
SAVED BY PEEVISH LADY.
Miss White had the stateroom at the
front of the vessel and Miss Musser
secured the one at the rear. Next to
Miss Whites room was a lady very
seasick and the two Utah girls were
with her much of the time during the
evening of the terrible fatality. When
bedtime came there was an unclaimed
berth nearby. and it was suggested to
Miss Musser that she take possession
of 1t. About that time the owner of
the room. a woman, put in an appear
ance, and she was politely asked IL she
would not exchange apartments SO that
the cousins might be close together.
She peevishly and spitefully refused to
consider the proposition, and Miss
Musser went to her own room. To
that fact she owes her life. for the
bow of the boat was submerged a mo-
ment after the Columbia had been
struck.
Miss Hettie White, who sought for a
place upon the Columbia and who met
with refusal. Is cousin 10 Miss Win
ona White. as also to Miss Musser. She
F spent dliAtOuS udys anu lIiSutS dllti
the news came that the .'Niiini'i;, had
gene ~ The bottom. Early and late
she was in quest of news concerning
her cousin. Miss Hattie White ar
rived in Salt Lake yesterday accom-
panied by Miss Alice l.. Reynolds OF
Provo.
Both Miss White and Miss Reynolds
saw and conversed several times with
Miss Musser, after the latter's arrival
In San Francisco. The young girls
presence of mind, resolute will and
nercism were upon the lips of surviv-
she would say but little concerning her
own experience. From others who
passed through the terrible ordeal Miss
Whit, and Miss Reynolds cleaned
many interesting items that had rise
never been told.
THREE RED HEADED GIRLS.
Tile man who had charge of the l!fe-
loft Thich pic;,cd up the party of
which Miss Muster was member, aft
er they had drifted On the fraii raft.
WAS the quarter1iastsr OF the Column
hla. ara to his experience was Inc the
fact that those survivors were so
quickly placed upon land. When dag
light came and the officer gazed upon
the wet and cold men and women hud-
ding in the boat. he remarked. in "A
way intended to bring ray of good
there are three of you with RED hair"
Miss Musser's hair happens to be u
that color. and she said in reply. "Oh,
but l thought 1t would be white by
this time"
Miss Musser's foot was terribly cut
In some way and bled profusely, but
she did not notice II until her atten-
ton was called to 1t by n fellow pas
senger All were so cold that SEEM
ingly no sense OF feeling was left in
their bodies This state of affairs,
however. did not appear TO their souls,
for 1t is said that the spirit of un-
selfishness that pervaded that little
band. especially those who belonged to
the ships crew. was most admirable.
It is stated that Miss Musser will
not leave San Francisco for home un-
til her cousin. Miss Winona White. Is
found, or at least until II is deemed
probable that she may not be living.
Two llfeboats and one raft are still
unaccounted for and the hope is hell
out that Miss White may yet be res
cued. though as the days pass the
probability lessons IN the minds OF her
anxious relatives and friend