Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-07-24
Woman Who Had Gone Through
Horrors Almost Without Number
Tells Fearful Tale IN Sim
pie Manner.
CAPTAIN DORIAN THE BRIGHT HERO
Commander Of the Columbia Was
Faithful to His Trust to the Last
Moment, is the Tribute Paid to
Him by All Who Were Near-Exact
Number Of Dead Not Known.
lny Associated Press

kby Associated PTcSS.)
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL, July "a
The Pacific Coast Steamship Com
pany steamer Pomona arrived in San
Francisco from Eureka at 1890 to-
day bringing from the latter place
one of the surviving passengers of
the wrecked steamer Columbia and
the 30 members OF the crew of the
Columbia. who were saved out of her
total complement OF so The passen-
ger Is Mrs. o. Liedell of this city.
The Pacific Coast Company's dock at
the foot of Broadway was crowded
with people when the high black hull
of the Pomona hove in sight around
the bend. The first comment from
the watchers was. "she brings no
bodies for the flag at her stern rail
was lying at the masthead The
starboard rail of the Pomona was
black with passengers and among
them as the vessel ran alongside the
wharf could be discerned members OF
the Inflated Columbia crew whom
the crowd upon the dock picked out
by the nondescript clothing they
wore.
An erroneous report spread that
the Pomona brought q number OF the
Coumbia's passengers and this IN
part accounted for the throng OF
eager men and women assembled on
the dock. When the gang plank was
hoistcd to the Pomona's deck, officers
OF the Pacific Coast Company had
difficulty In restraining people from
clambering aboard. The crowd was
made to stand bark and keep the lane
open while the 20, .nonas passengers
came ashore. Each was stopped at
the foot of the s. .srlank and asked
excitedly were you passenger
on the Columbian"
with one exception the answer was
mo"
The exception was Mrs. Liedcii
When asked by newspaper men for
recital OF her experience she broke
into tears and turned. shaking her
head, Il don't want TO say anything.
l don't want to talk" she murmured
Captain Was Cool.
Later Mrs. Liedell consented to
talk and In describing her experience
said: when the crash occurred |
got out OF my stateroom. Every one
was cxcited-everyone except the
captain. He stood on the bridge his
arms extended. begging the passen-
gers to be cool The crew stood at
the boats cutting away mt the lines
that held them. There was no chance
to lower them. All who could piled
into the boats. Lots OF people jump
ed overheard trying to climb on to
bits of wood which were floating in
the water. / did not have time to
think. ran TO the side. There un.
der the side was raft. There was
no body on 1t. | jumped ard struck
on the raft. Other women got onto
1t also. Some crawled from the wat
er, others jumped from the boat
Then the Columbia went down, bow
first. The raft drifted around and
water was nil over us. Two women
and little child we're washed off and
was left, Her hold was weak She
begged me to help her. tried to
hold her on, but was too weak She
died before my eyes. Oh, can't for
get that. I'll never forget that. She
drowned and ! could not help her.
Who she was | don't know. Now
and then got n glimpe of another
raft or boats. We got some pieces
of wood after n while and used them
for oars, and finally. 1t must have
been hours afterwards we climbed on
the San Pedro, 1t was terrible climb
ing up her sides. Men helped but
i felt so weak and nervous | never
thought | would get over it. The
waves kept striking over us. We
were dripping wet and ii was so
cold. On the San Pedro we were
sittington two little narrow pieces of
lumber. Suddenly n wave carried
away the lumber we were sitting on.
we managed to stay on the ship
however. but there were some who
got that far who got no further for
without warning the San Pedro gave
way and swept several into the sea.
One or two were brought back alive.
but OF the others we saw nothing and
the darkness hanging over everything
made It terrible We did not know
If the San Pedro would hold together
all though the crew did their best to
cheer us up. The fog still hung low
and the light only appeared gradual
ly. but then we could see who was