Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1907-07-26
COLLISION At SEA
SIXTY LIVES LOST
Steamer Columbia, Heavily
Laden With Tourists. Run
Down by Schooner.
Disaster Occurred at Midnight, When
the Passengers and Crew Were
Asleep, the Vessel Sinking
Eight Minutes After Be-
ing Struck.

Eureka, Cal.-SIxty lives were
lost In collision between the steamer
Columbia and the steam launch schoon.
er San Pedro in Shelter Cove, twelve
| miles southwest of the Mendocino-
Humboldt county line, between 10 and
l O'Clock Sunday morning
Eight minutes from the time the
San Pedro struck the Columbia the
later had filed full of water and sunk.
The night saloon Waterman notified
| all the passengers to go to the up
per deck. Without clothing they
climbed out Of their berths and rush
ed out 1t was only two or three
minutes before the deck was awash.
Six boats and three life RATS were cut
loose, and as many passengers as pos
sible were crowded into them. There
was scarcely any evidence of a pam
ic, the women acting with heroism.
The crew of the San Pedro Immediate
ly lowered boat and picked up a
large number of survivors, while the
boats from the Columbia lay to by the
San Pedro
When the Columbia sank, she car
ried down with her about seventy-four
passengers. This estimate is not ac-
curate, and the number cannot be
definitely determined until full particu-
lars are received from Shelter Cove,
where four boats are said to have
been landed. Captain Doran and First
Officer Whitney were on deck when |
the Columbia sank, the captains last
words being:
God bless YOU
According to Purser ]. E. Byrnes of |
the Columbia, there were 100 passen-
gers aboard-168 first, 90 in the steer
age, and so crew.
1t is known that 107 passengers
have been saved and 81 of the crew.
The exact number at Shelter Cove is
yet to be determined Just as the Co
|umbia was sinking, her boilers ex-
ploded. This counteracted the suction
and saved many lives. Husbands and
wives were separated and fathers
and mothers and children become lost
% each other in the excitement
when the boats collided.
o. Swanson, sailor of the San Pc
iro, was at the wheel when the fatal
collision occurred. In his report TO |
sailors Agent John Erickson the blame
s laid upon the shoulders of the Co
umbia's officers. Other members of
he crew of the San Pedro substantiate
he story of Swanson. He says that
he order was given to him when the
ookout sighted the Columbia to put
he wheel hard aport. Three points
port carried the San Pedro seward !
apparently, and out of the way or the
pproaching vessel, whose name at ;
hat time was not known Short toots /,
rom the whistles of both vessels
armed the skippers The Columbia
'as on the coast side, the San Pedro I
n the sea side. Apparently both YES b
els were proceeding at full speed. t
all had gone well, the San Pedro +
'ould have clear the Columbia, but it "
evident that an order put the wheel g
ard astarboard" was given or the Co /,
Imbia. This sent her directly across n
lie bow of the steam schooner | a
Neither or not the speed of either 8
sssel was Stacked is immaterial for h
lie crash of the -essels was terrific. | n
he Columbia, an iron vessel, bore | =
lie brunt of the impact, and her iron Al
ates cracked and cash seven feet @,
ross the forward hatch allt we'd the n,
alter free ingress at a great velocity. Fl