The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1907-08-02
100 SINK WITH SLIP.
Two sTEAMEEs COLLIDE orr
CALIFORNIA COAST
Large Vessel nsans fog Portland,
Oregon, with More than 200 Fer-
sonzs on Board. sent 10 the nettes-
by Lumker Carrier.

Probably one hundred persons were
drowned and scores OF others were req
clnsd after cIinglng for hours % drift
ing wreckaae AZ the result on terrible
sea collision, word Of which was re-
cesged Ia San Francisco Monday morn
ing. The ships we're the passenger
steamer Columbia. north bound from
San Francisco TO Portland, and the
small lumber steamer San Pedro south
ward bound and heavily laden.
The disaster occurred early Sunday
morning of Shelter Cove, Mendocino
County, and from the meager reports
which have come it is certain that more
than half the columbia's 30 passen-
gers and crew went down with the ship
In the fog and darkness.
Carried About $50 Passengers.
The Columbia left San Francisco on
Saturday evening. carrying 1S9 passen-
gers and a crew Of about thirty under
the command Of Captain r. A. Doran.
Soon after dark heavy fog came on
and the steamer was feeling her way
along the coast. The sea was calm and
the majority Of the passengers were in
their berths when SHELTER Core was
passed. Captain Doran was on the
bridge when few minutes later and
just after midnight the black bulk Of
the San Pedro doomed up almost dead
ahead The Columbia at once reversed
its engines and Captain Dsran put the
helm hard aport, but 1t was too late to
prevent the collision.
With scarcely diminished speed TIE
San Pedro, laden with lumber, crash
ed into the port bow Of the passenger
ship with force that cut the iron
steamer to the water line. Many Of the
passengers must have been stunned Or
killed In their berths, for the force of
the blow was terrific and both ships
reeled apart as II they had struck solid
-ock.
Lifeboats Had Been Shattered.
Half clad and frenxied by fear, men
and women rushed from the state
rooms to the deck Of Che Columbia,
which was settling rapidly BY the bows.
An effort was made to launch the life
boats. Captain Doran standing calmly
on the shattered bridge OF his boat
and shouting his orders through meg
aphone. Several Of the boats had been
shattered In the collision, and 50 quick
~ did the Columbia 60 down that there
was no time to launch the others Sur
viyors say that all the officers OF the
Columbia did their duty brayely and
tried to save the women and children,
but that they were poweriess
Maay Leap Iato Ocean.
Feeling the steamer sinking beneath
their feet, many OF the men among tn
Columbia's passengers and crew leaped
into the sea and swan to the San Pc.
dro, which could be made out drifting
away through the fog. They alone. it
seems, were saved. One iifeboat was
launched, but 1t was swamped the mo-
ment It reached the water By the rush
Of frenzied men and women. All whs
were In II are believed to have perish
Cd, drawn dom by the suction Of this
steamer when she went down with Z
fnal rush, her decks still dotted with
screaming men and women.
Capitals Goes Down with ship.
At the last moment the stern AZ the
Columbia rose high above the water,
and many of the unfortunates slid the
length Of the deck as the steamer shot
beneath the waves, with Captain Doran
clinging to the bridge and making no
attempt to sare his own life
The San Pedro, wooden boat, was
severely damaged by the collision. but
was kept afioat by her cargo. Finding
their steamer was SAFE for the time, the
crew turned to the task of rescuiRg the
Columbia's passengers, and about
eighty who had swun to the sides Of
the freighter were drawn on board.
Boats were launched, and number Of
Others who had chung To wreckage wers
found and taken on board.
survivors among the passengers ef
the Columbia say that the San Pedro
was not seen until she burst through
the fog curtain less than hundred
feet away aud headed straight FOR tho
passenger steamer. Why the fog horns
were not heard Is not made clear.
Sighed By Another ysssel.
The San Pedro drifted around help
lessiy for tso hours before the fog lift
ed and the water-logged ship WAS made
out By the steamer George W. Elder.
which threw her line and tawed her
to Eurekg. The steamer Roanoke soon
came UP aud rock or the passengers.
many OF whom were clad only Iii their
night garaents and were suffering ~
yereiy frani exposure. They were TAX
pa 10 EEreka. Amy OF the drowned
acre residents III SIM Francisco. 9th
ers lived at Portland. the cGlambla's
destination. and ctl,rr towns along the
uortI saast.
The colaia3la was an iron-screw
steamer of 2.212 tons register. she
was bull; n iSsU is y noch i son. Of