The Ordway new era., 1907-07-26

and mothers and children became lost
to each other in the excitement when
the boats collided.
That some poor navigation was made
and that the lives lost are upon the
head of someone Is generally conceded.
1t is said that the San Pedro was under
n slow bell, and the Columbia. accord
ing to the testimony of passengers. was
going full speed. II is said she was
headed west when the collision Oc-
cured, and one passenger stated that
the Columbia crossed the bow, or at
tempted to cross, the bow OF tie San
Pedro
r. Hawse. third officer on the Co
lumbia, said he was in his room a; the
time OF the wreck and he noted the
shock and heard the alarm given. He
makes the official statement that the
Columbia floated eleven minutes after
the San Pedro struck her. officer
Hawse tells OF the heroic rescue of "A
woman passenger by Maybelle Watson
who resides in Berkeley. California.
Miss Watson was in one OF the small
boats with about twenty OF the passcn-
gers and crew. The boat capsized
when the ship went under and they all
went down. Only about ten or twelve.
who fad on life preservers, came up.
Miss Watson had been in the watar
Inboa, thirty minutes when a young
wCr,ar appealed to her for help. She
had put her life preserver on wrong
and could not keep her head above wa
ter. Miss Watson asked someone u
help bu; all refused. She held the
e!Il's head above water for almost
tive hours. The girl was unconscious
IlnOst of the time. When Officer Hawse
approached in a boat and asked Miss
Watson TO give him her hand so that
re could help her in. she refused as
distance until they had lifted her m
conscious companion aboard. When
lihe tive girls were taken on board the
San Pedro the doctors said that Miss
Watson's companion was beyond re-
covery, but when they learned Of the
heroic efforts OF Miss Watson to save
her they worked hard and the young
v'omar revived and is now all right.
Miss Watson is only sixteen years OF
age.
Captain Doran Hero.
!. s. Flynn, a passenger on the Co
lumbia, gives this graphic description
|Cf the wreck:
NV God how fortunate | am ID
.STrvivc This terrible disaster on the
MenGucino coast. In allowing my mini
10 gc,hcr In the details of that terrible
wreck my heart goes out to the rela-
tlvcs and friends OF Capt. p. a. Do
ran of the Columbia and his conscieu-
llous and competent seamen.
~ hero in the face of a terrible dis
Ester he went down to his grave with
his shir after he had performed one
q, the most heroic feats that ever
, IcImc TO my notice. Captain Doran. IN
, FIVE minutes. which was the length or
time tho Columbia remained above VIZ
ter after she was struck. launched four
Itoats and two RATS with eighty-eigh.
, passengers from the doomed ship.
"All passengers below the hurri-
cane deck, and the engineering force
ut wcrl, in the hold of the vessel. were
( siven no chance for their lives. bu'
were drowned like rats. Most of the
passengers were women. They had
retired early in the evening and must
: lhCve been sound asleep at the time OK
the collision. From my personal oh
e scrvation, did not see single wo'
: man saved.
| 1T was fogey at the time. We wers
, proceeding. think. under slow bell.
. THE San Pedro. which sailed from
, Eureka, lumberladen. was proceeding
| TT n high rate of speed. and IL is m,'
, relief that the consequences OF the
( disaster rest entirely upon the shout
t ders oi the San Pedro's master. We
+ struck at right angle. about midships.
2 and sank almost Immediately In
. backing away from the Columbia the
, San Pedro allowed the passenger
' steamer TO fill. and in five minutes the
: Columbia had sunk from sight.
5 II don't think | will ever forget the
l terrible scenes OF panic which ensued
Upon the half-lit deck of the Columbia
Men rushed panic stricken the entire
length of the deck. and fought with
their fellow passengers for chance
= to escape death. Above all the disor-
, der Captain Doran. cool and collected.
. strove to maintain order, and in the
wild confusion succeeded in puttinS
7 over the side all of the s:arboa"d
!. beats.
: After passing through ten miles o.
wreckage on our way here the Roam
oke succeeded in picking up life raf'-
f Under this raft was found the deal
Lody of man in life preserver.
There was another man IN the
room with me. Lord knows what be-
, came OF him ! was in one of the boats
, which was picked up by the Roanotc.
and III this manner managed TO escap"
: recall the captain of the Roanoke
5 having offered his assistance to the
!. Elder. but that vessel reported that
$ she was able to make Eureka all
5 right"