Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1907-07-26
CITY OF TOPEKA CARRIES
ELEVEN COLUMBIA SURVIVORS
By Associated Press.

By Associated Press.
SAN FRANCISCO, July %. - The
steamer City of Topeka arrived at
o'clock this morning with eleven more
survivors of the Columbia disaster.
This leaves only a few in Eureka and
those in the hospital
The Topeka left Eureka yesterday ar
ternoon at / o'clock, docking at Broad
way wharf No. / this morning.
A large crowd of relatives and friends
of the survivors were at the wharf ana
carried them away in automobiles and
carriages to be fitted out with clothes
and cared for.
The following survivors were on
board:
w. H. Smith of San Francisco.
Miss Alma Osterberg of Cleveland, o.
c. c. Roland of Spokane.
Phil Ashford of Livermore, Cal.
J. F. Cavanaugh of Oakland.
H. S. Keever of Denver, Colo.
Mr.. and Mrs. H. H. Decker, Telsa, Cal
Mrs H C. Shaw of Stockton.
A. w Dunn of Poplar Bluff, Mo.
Miss Lulu Hansen of Minneapolis.
Members of the Columbias crew who
arrived on the same vessel were;
w. I. Lawrence.
j. ]. Fogarty.
A. st. Claire.
G. e. Nolan.
R. Engman.
Purser J. e. Byrnes.
The survivors on the Topeka could not
say enough to express their appreciation
of the kindness shown by the people of
Eureka.
When the steamer George w. Elder ar
rived at the dock there were doctors,
nurses, medicine, food, clothing. car
riages and ambulances waiting to aid the
rescued passengers.
Nothing was too much trouble for the
humane citizens of Eureka.
Criticise Crew
While there was very severe criticism
of some of the crew of the Columbia,
the survivors vindicate the sailors and
Capt. Hansen of the San Pedro
They explain that Capt. Hansen took
aboard all the wrecked passengers he
could safely land on the San Pedro.
He and his wife stood on the bow of
the schooner all night, cut off by wash
ing lumber from their cabin. and di-
rected the aid that was extended to
those on RATS and clinging to drifting
timbers.
The San Pedro was not able to take
aboard many on account of the loose
lumber awash on the deck.
All the deck load was free, with the
lashings broken, and with the San Pedro
rolling in the choppy sea encountered the
whole deck and surrounded the vessel
with washing, grinding timbers, making
1t almost impossible to pick up boats or
RATS.
The crew, however. was able to take
some aboard by taking chances with
their own lives.
After daybreak they were able to do
more by cutting the deckload loose, but
before long the Elder arrived.
Purser Byrnes of the Columbia had the
following so, say:
Purser Tells of Collision
"Of the circumstances surrounding the
collision I can tell nothing, as I was
asleep in my berth at the time. jumped
out of bed and at the impact rushed on
deck.
"By that time the steamer had bad
list to port.
81 did not have a chance to get my
papers and as there was nothing else
for me to do jumped into a lifeboat
near at hand.
1--WE pulled away from the steamer SO
as not to be caught by the suction when
she went down.
Her lights were still burning, as L re-
member It,
when we were about fifty yards from
her side her bow sunk and her stern
rose and she disappeared under the
water.
1--WE cruised around during the night
picking up those whom we could.
I'VE did not put them on the San
Pedro at the request of her captain. The
whole deckload of the steam schooner
was afioat and he was afraid if anyone
tried to come near he would be crushed
by the timber He did not know how
badly hurt the San Pedro was and re-
allied that in case of any further acct
dent TO the San Pedro the few boats
were the only hope of the survivors