Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-07-23

only dead person caught by the Elder
was George r Sparks. president OF
the bank of Fort Smith, Ark. He
and his daughter were on their way
home. Sparks. when pulled from
life raft, was weak from swallowing
salt water. and shortly after, when
transferred TO one of the boats, he
died from cold and exposure. His
daughter was saved.
Eight minutes from the time the
san Pedro struck the Columbia the
latter vessel had filled full of water
and sunk The night saloon watch
man notified all the passengers to go
to the upper deck. Without clothing
they climbed out of their berths and
rushed out. IT was only TWO or three
minutes before the decks were 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 panic,
the women acting with heroism.. Ihe
crew of the san Pedro Immediately
lowered a boat and picked up large
number Of survivors, while the boats
from the Columbia lay TO by the san
Pedro.
Two hours after the wreck the fog
lifted and a cold wind commenced TO
blow The people in the boats suf-
fered much.
q. swanson. sailor of The San
Pedro. was at the wheel Saturday
night when the fatal collision occur
red. In his report to Sailors Agent
John Erickson, the blame is laid on
the shoulders of the Columbia's Off
GERS. other members of the crew OF
the San Pedro substantate the story
Of Swanson. He says that the order
was given to him when the lookout
sighted the Columbia, to put the
wheel hard aport Three points aport
carried the san Pedro seward. appar-
entity out Of the way of the approach
ing vessel whose name at that time
was not known. Short toots from
the whistles of both vessels warned
the shippers. The Columbia was on
the coast side. the San Pedro on the
sea side. Apparently both vessels
were proceeding at full speed. If all
had gone we'll. the San Pedro would
have cleared the Columbia, but II Is
evident that an order, Put the wheel
hard a-starboard,' was given on the
Columbia. This sent her directly
across the bow of the steam schooner.
Whether the speed of either vessel
was slackened Is immaterial. for the
crash of the vessels was terrific, The
Columbia, an iron vessel. bore the
brunt of the impact, and her iron
plates cracked and cash seven feet
across the forward hatch allowed the
wafer free ingress at a great velocity.
$. c. Peterson, a sailor aboard the
Columbia. was on watch on the fore
castle. He could see the lights of the
san Pedro some hundred yards away.
lie gave notice Of this fact In a shout |
to his superiors on the bridge. What |
they did he does not know. but at any |
a.. h, Oh
path Of the san Pedro. He says that |
signals were exchanged between both |
vessels. but there was hardly time |
enough to slacken speed or make any |
to meet the inevitable |
disaster.
Passengers say that the collision oc-
CURED at half past - or thereabouts, |
that II had been misty and foggy. but |
at the time of the disaster the wealth |
er had cleared up somewhat. and |
after the collision the steamer san
Pedro could be seen where she had |
drifted away a quarter Of a mile.
That some poor navigation was
made and that the lives lost are upon |
the head OF some one is generally |
II Is said that the san Pc |
dro was under slow bell and the CO.
lumbia, according to the testimony of |
was going at full speed.
II Is said that she was headed west
when the collision occurred, and one
passenger stated that the Columbia
crossed the bow or attempted to cross !
the bow OF the San Pedro. u. Hawes,
third officer on the Columbia. said |
wreck. and he noted the shock and
heard the alarm given He makes
the official statement that the CO.
lumhia floated eleven minutes after |
he san Pedro struck her
Heroic Rescue nv Girl.
officer Hawse tells OF the heroic
rescue OF lady passenger by May
belle Watson. who resides in Berke-
ey. Cal Miss Watson was in one Of
he small boats with about twenty Of
he passengers and crew. only about
en or twelve who had on life-Pre-
servers came up. Miss Watson had
leen In the water thirty minutes when
young woman appealed to her for
ielp. The young lady had put her
ife-preserver on wrong ana could not
seep her head above water. Miss
Watson asked some one to help. but
hey all refused. She held the girls
lead above water for almost two
hours The girl was unconscious most
n the time. When officer Hawse ap-
lroached In boat and asked Miss
Watson to give him her hand 50 that
ie could help her in. she refused as
distance until they lifted her uncon-
cious companion on board. When
he two girls were taken on board the
Ran Pedro the doctors said that Miss
Natson's companion was beyond re-
overy, but when they learned Of the ,
leroic effort Of Miss Watson to save i
ler they worked hard. and the young
ady revived and Is now al right. ,
Hiss Watson Is only sixteen years OF I
ge.
Graphic Tale of survivor. Z,
Professor william Hardin Lucas. OF
'eattle. gave the following account OF a
he wreck. IL
As nearly as ] can learn from
hose who did not lose their watches Z
he collision occurred at about fif-
cen minutes after midnight The y
hook was hardly noticeable. hut |
eard the crash and q scraping sound l
hat followed For a few seconds I
eard no other sound and decided TO
wait developments or Information.
oon I heard one ~ the crew shout r.
ng: AN hands on deck Still | sup Z
.osed only the crew was wanted. and q
ia not leave my berth until the cry
ras changed. Everybody on deck. q
he's struck From the scraping e
ound I inferred that he vessel was .
ground on a rock or q bar. and con- 2
luded that I would not join In any :