Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-07-24
R. ]. Alley. waiter.
A. L. Blocker, waiter.
Total, 16.
OfflclaI Statement 81 OgfIcers.

lpldl, D.
Official Statement 0f Officers.
Three of the officers Of the. Column
bia, who arrived here today on the
steamer Pomona, made statements un-
DER oath to Inspectors OF Hulls and
Boilers Bolles and Bulger
said: = ~
AT az o'clock midnight saturday,
Iuly ~, lrelieved First officer w. +.
Whitney on the bridge Of the Colum-
pias being sixty-eight miles to the
north Of Point Arena, by the ships
i0g and steering northwest "a north,
Dy pilot house compass Captain Do
ran was also on the bridge, as the
weather was foggy, but he went down
% his room for about two minutes;
then he returned to the bridge again.
About 1916 a. m. Sunday, heard
whistle on the starb0ard bow, and
reported to the captain, who said he
had heard It, too. We kept our whis-
tie going regularly and so did the
other steamer. The sound apparently
still came from the starboard bow,
which proved later to be the case. for
about 1920 we saw the other steam
ers headlight and her red sidelight
bow. We We're going full speed ahead
as shown by the indicator on the
bridge. The captain ordered me to
blow two blasts. While blowing the
second blast the other steamer am
swered with one blast. The captain
then ordered the engineer, Full speed
astern.' His order was answered
from the engine room and the captain
hlmQnlf hInW fhnnn Il tct lnnr
after the steamer collided with The
Columbia and struck her about thir-
ty feet from the stem on the starbOard
side. This was about 1922, as / look
ed at the clock
Captain Doran shouted: What are
you doing, man2' and told the other
steamer to stand by us, as she was
loaded with lumber.
Captain Doran whistled down TO
the engineer, but got no answer; SO
he sent down to the engineer on
watch to learn If the ship was maxi
ing any water l went down to the
engine room and asked the first as
sistant engineer, M. Burpee, if there
was any water there. He said there
was not. Returning 10 the bridge, l
reported to the captain. Just then
the watchman came on the bridge and
reported water streaming In forward.
THE first officer came on the
bridge and the captain ordered him to
take the bridge, and me to take off
the head covers and get the boats
ready for hosting. BY this time the
ship listed to starboard and started
to go down by the head. Several men
were by this time getting the boats
over. The captain ordered me to cut
the after life RATS adrift.
while doing this I heard the whis-
tie blow, and looking around, saw
the bridge nearly under water. Il
saw there was no time to spare. so I
threw a life buoy overheard and
jumped over the stern into the sea.
As struck the water the Columbia
disappeared and the suction brought
me down with II. | got to the sur
face about thirty seconds later and
was picked up in No. 10 boat by one
of the Quartermasters."
Praises Women for HerOisn.
In his report. Third officer Robert
Hawes tells of the rescne OF a num-
ber OF passengers. and takes occasionI
to praise some women who were in
his boat. while he condemns the ac-
tlOn of the men survivors who were
with him.
when I was aroused by the shock
of the collision" says Hawse, II rush
ed on deck and heard Captain Doran
give orders to lower boats on the
lee side At the same time he shout
ed: Women and children first I,
hurried to the lee side and lowered
boat No 6. I directed the loading OF
the boat and when we pulled away
there were fifteen persons In It. We
rowed to the San Pedro and piled the
aboard Upon returning to
the scene of the collision we passed
many RATS and could have filled the
boat at once, but were afraid they
would swamp us. and decided to pick
up the Isolated men and women who
were struggling as best they could on
pieces OF wreekage, and with life pre-
servers. We took four women and
six men In the boat One Of the wOm-
en- was but slightly clad and delirious.
We again went to the san Pedro. but
they refused TO take any more people
aboard, saying the vessel was crowd
ed Even though I urged them owing
TO the condition OF the woman, my re-
quest was not granted / made the
woman as comfortable as / could by
covering her with sail. MY only
was with the delirious woman.
The other three behaved fine. l have
nothing but the highest praise for the
women who were with me. and moth
Ing but the lowest contempt for the
men. who would do nothing to make
more bearable the condition 81 the
I'VE rowed around until daylight, |
and I made arrangements with the
captain OF the San Pedro to take two
of the women aboard. I planned TO
sail ashore and summon assistance.
BY that time the George w. Elder
came In sight and We were taken
aboard"