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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (July 23, 1907)
4 THE "MORNING OREGONIAN, TUESDAY, JULT 23, 1907. RIMED TO THE BOTTOM OF SEA (Continued from First Paice.) the crew. The exact number at Shelter Cove Is not yet determined. Just as the Columbia was sinking, her boilers exploded. This counteracted the suction and saved many lives. Husbands and .wives were separated and fathers and mothers and children became lost to each other In the excitement when the boats collided. The only dead person caught by the Elder was George T. Sparks, president of the bank at Fort Smith, Ark. He and his daughter were on their way home. Mr. Sparks, when pulled upon a lifeboat, was weakened from swallow ing salt water, and shortly after, when transferred to one of the boats, he died from cold and exposure. His daughter was saved. Puts Blame on Columbia. Two hours after the wreck the fog lifted and a cold wind commenced to blow. The people in the boats suffered much. O. Swanson, a sailor of the San Pedro, was at the wheel Saturday night when the fatal collision occurred. In his re port to the sailors' agent, John Brick son, the blame Is laid upon the shoul ders of the Columbia's officers. Other members of the crew of the San Pedro substantiate 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 port carried the San Pedro sea ward apparently out of the way of the approaching vessel, whose name at that time was not known. Short toots from the whistles-of both vessels warned the skippers. The Columbia was on the coast side, the San Pedro on the sea side. Apparently both vessels were pro ceeding at full speed. If all had gone well, the San Pedro would have cleared the Columbia, but it 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 or not the speed of either vessel was slackened is immaterial, for the crash of the vessels was terrific. The Columbia,' an iron ves sel, bore the brunt of the impact, and her iron plates cracked, and a gash seven feet across the forward hatch allowed the water free Ingress at great velocity. Poor Navigation by Somebody. H. Peterson, a sailor aboard the Co lumbia, was on watch on the forecastle. He could see the lights of the San Pedro some hundred yards -away. He gave notice of this fact in a shout to his su periors on the bridge. What they did he does not know, but at any rate the Columbia shot across the path of the San Pedro. He says that signals were exchanged between the vessels, but there was hardly time enough to slacken speed or make any preparation to meet the in evitable disaster. Passengers say that the collision oc curred at 12:30 or thereabouts; that It had been misty and foggy, but at the time of the disaster the weather had cleared up somewhat and after the collision the steamer San Pedro could be seen where she had drifted away for 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 conceded. It Is said that the San Pedro was under a slow bell and the Columbia, according to the testimony of passengers, was going at full speed. It is said that she was headed west when the collision occurred and one passenger stated that the Co lumbia crossed the bow or attempted to cross the bow of the San Pedro. R. Hawse, third officer on the Columbia, said he was in his room at the time of the wreck and he noted the shock and heard the alarm given. He makes the of ficial statement that the Columbia floated 11 minutes after the San Pedro struck her. Heroine of Disaster. Mr. Hawse tells of the heroic rescue of a lady passenger by Maybello Watson, who resides in Berkeley, Cal. Miss Wat son was in one of the small boats with about 20 of tht passengers and crew. The boat capsized when the ship went under and they all went down. Only about ten or 12 who had on life-preservers came up. Miss Watson had been in the water 30 minutes when a young woman appealed to her for help. The young lady had put her life preserver on wrong and could not keep her head above water. Miss Watson asked some men to help, but they all refused. She held the girl's head above water for almost two hours. The girl was unconscious most of the time. When Mr. Hawse appeared In a. boat and asked Miss Watson to give him her hand so that he could help her in, she refused as sistance until they lifted her unconscious .companion on board. When the two girls were taken on board the San Pedro, doctors said that Miss Watson's com panion was beyond recovery, but when they learned of the heroic effort of Miss Watson to save her they worked long and the lady revived and is now all right. Miss Watson is only 16 years of age. Survivor's Story of Wreck. Professor William Hardin Lucas, of Seattle, gave the following account of the wreck. "As nearly as I can .learn from those who did not lose their watches, the col lison occurred at about 15 minutes after midnight. The shock was hardly notice able, but I heard the crash and a scraping sound that followed. For a few sec onds I heard no other sound and decided to await developments or information. Soon I heard one of the crew shouting. " 'AH hands on deck.' "Still I supposed only the crew was wanted and did not leave my berth until the cry was changed to. " 'Everybody on deck; she's struck.' "From the scraping sound I Inferred that the vessel was aground on a rock or a bar, and concluded that I would not join In any panic or stampede for the boats, but would rather wait until all the women were put off and take my chances of getting one of the boats that might come back after going to shore, or NOTABLE OCEAN DISASTERS. Tears. Steamships. Lives Lost. 1800 Shanghai, burned S00 Utorsla, collision 563 Nanchow, foundered '. 509 Warship Victoria, collision. 300 Horn Head, sunk by iceberg- 62 ' Chicora, vanished in Lake Michigan 26 Warship Refna Reg-ina, col lision 400 Copernicus, sunk 152 Kapunda, foundered 300 La Bourgogne, collision. .. .540 General Slocum, burned. .. .958 Norge, wrecked on reef. ...750 Hilda, sunk '. . . 123 Sirlo, foundered 225 Brazilian cruiser Aq-uida- ban. sunk 212 Hongkong, strikes rock ..ISO 7 1801 I 1892 I 1803 1894 I 1805 I T 1895 18!6 18.17 1898 1904 1904 10O5 1906 1906 1007 1907 1007 Berlin, wrecked 125 Lakota, struck reef, .unknown trust to a life-preserver and what swim ming I could do. Without any waste of time, though not in a real hurry. I com pletely dressed, even to buttoning my vest, tying my cravat and lacing one of my shoes, but decided not to lace the other because I might need to remove them in case I had to swim. After ad Justing a life-preserver, I gathered up my two grips and two bundles and began to hurry for the stairway near the stern. The halls were apparently empty and I Inferred that all the passengers had gone to the upper deck. "As I climbed the stairs . the vessel lurched considerably to one side, and I I quickly felt the seriousness of the situa tion. Bin i carriea an my luggage all the way up and shoved it under a bench along the rail, so as not to have it cause any one to stumble. The vessel was tilting every second as I moved along the side. Several women were running about asking for life-preservers, and I told them all to look In their own berths. Sprang Into Ocean. "As I passed along, I noticed a boat filled with people and others were trying to clamber Into it. Those inside were pleading that no more should get in, be cause the boat would surely sink, so I left them and climbed over the ship's rail Just in time to keep from climbing across the steep, sloping deck down into the water on the lower side. Within a very short time the vessel sank until the water touched my ankles, when I sprang Into the ocean, hoping to swim far enough away to escape the whirlpool which I thought surely must follow the ship when it sank. I had taken about 25 strokes and began to be- in dismay, because I seemed to make so little head way when the side of the ship toppled down toward me. "As the water covered the boilers, a great hissing was followed by an ex plosion which heaved a large quantity of water and wreckage toward me. I was carried farther from where she was sinking, but the rushing mass of tangled timbers caused me fresh alarm, so I continued my efforts to swim away, until on turning my head I saw the pile had spread out nearly flat and some logs had almost overtaken me. A few strokes brought me to a raft, upon which I scrambled, and as I looked around no one appeared within 20. yards of me. All I could do was simply to await results, for I had no means of moving the raft about, nor a rope that could be thrown withinTreaeh of anyone. Screams Rise From Waves. "After the noise of the sinking ves sel subsided I heard a most heart rending wailing, mingled with piercing SOMEBODY BLUNDERED MARINER OF OLD SCHOOL CAPTAIX BORAX'S ACT OCCA SIONS NO SURPRISE. Portland Friends Knew Columbia's Master as Rigid Disciplinarian, of Unfaltering Courage. Though tragic, the manner In which Captain P. A. Doran, master of the Columbia, met death did not surprise many of his friends. He was known as a strict disciplinarian and after taking command of the Columbia In 1899, car ried out a policy of exacting strict obedience to his orders and the Instruc tions governing the operation of the various departments as laid down by the United States Inspectors of steam vessels. The fact that so many were saved de spite the short time the Columbia re mained afloat after being struck Is taken to Indicate the exceptional schooling of the officers and crew, who were probably at their places Immedi ately after the alarm was given, and because of that fact were able to assist the distracted passengers. The wreck NOVEL IDEA' MAKES A HIT EILERS PIANO HOUSE XNTK0 DUCES QUICK METHOD OP. : SELLING PIANOS . f. Takes a Dollar Off Price Every Ten Minutes Three Instruments Sold Yesterday, Three More to Be Sold Today, and Last Three Tomorrow. Pianos Now in Windows. screams of those in their last struggles, and some of theise were shrieking the names of friends from whom they had been separated. Words cannot convey an adequate idea of the scene nor ex press my feelings of pity and dismay. To be a witness of such distress is in deed a frightful experience, especially when one cannot, possibly render as sistance. "As the catastrophe was concluded within 10 minutes after the collision, I am sure there was plenty of time for all to have left the ship with life preservers, had they merely known where they were stored and how to put them on. That could easily have been learned by all who were willing to take the time for reading the con spicuous signs that were on the walls of all the staterooms." Elder Brings Survivors. The engine-room crew of those saved and the stewards' department left on the steamer Pomona this after noon for San Francisco. All those wanting to go to Portland left this evening at 6 o'clock on the steamer George W. Elder, the local relief com mittee making arrangements for passage. THOSE SAVED AT EUREKA 107 PASSENGERS BROUGHT TO THAT PORT. HAD PREMONITION OF WRECK Texas Girl Sailed, but Escaped. Friend Chose Rail Route. BERKELEY, Cal., July 22. Miss Nance McLennan, one of the passengers on the Ill-fated steamer Columbia, who is among the saved, had a premonition of the dis aster and wrote to relatives and friends in Waco, Tex., on the morning of her departure that she was going to sail on the Columbia, and for them not to be surprised if the boat was reported wrecked. Miss McLennan and Mrs. James N. Brooks, also of Texas, were to travel to gether. Mrs. Brooks decided at the last moment that she would go by rail and meet Miss McLennan in Seattle, as she feared a wreck.' PHOTO POST CARDS SCENERY. Klser Co. Lobby Imperial Hotel. Buy some extra quality negligee shirts today at Robinson & Co.'s great sale! 1 w t ' . it ..-w.):,,.?.:.:yv - I ' I A. S--.:::v.:::''::::x;,,:: x-::':x'::.;:':-:;':.: V:1 i liipiii i A i i itii THE COLUMBIA IX TUB ICE I. AST WINTER. ANI CAPIAT DORAN TO THE RIGHT. S7 of the Crew Also Taken Here. Others May Have Gone) Elsewhere. EUREKA, Cal., July 22. The following survivors of the steamer Columbia have been brought here. Passengers: H. SCHALLORN, Portland. MAD BORA SPARKS, Fort Smith Ark. J. BROTHERTON". Muskogee, I. T. A. C. WOODWARD. Oakland. MARY E. COX. Elwood. Ind. C. C. MAYHBW, Enid. Okla. CLYDE C. ROWLAND, Spokane. E. Q. TOWNSEND. North Yamhill. Or. B. C. AUSTIN. San Francisco. J. c. ORR, Schuyler, Neb. A. L. EIVERS. Portland. W. H. TRUESDALE. Litchfield. 111. MAYBELLE WATSON, Berkeley. ALMA OSTERBBRO, Cleveland, Ohio. MISS STELLA CANNON. San Francisco. LOUIS CANNON. San Francisco. EMMA GR1ESE, Cleveland. Ohio. W. H. SMITH. San Francisco. EMIL SILON. Aberdeen. Wash. . ALICE M. WATSON. Denver. FLORENCE THOMPSON, YounBStown. Ohio. LULU HANSON, Minneapolis. BERT LIPPMANN. San Francisco. DWIGHT CASNER. Lead. S. D. C. H. BEAHRAN, San Diego. WILLIAM KLODT. Seattle. J. V. KAVANAUGH, San Francisco. H. S. ALLAN, San Francisco. DR. E. J. PAINE AND WIFE. Colum bus, Neb. H. ROBINSON, Alameda, Cal. HENRY KUNST. Merced, Cal. A. L. BIGG EL, Portland, Or. W. L. SMITH. Vancouver, B. C. . SARAH A. ROBERTS, Spokane. HAZHL INGALS. Oakland. BOB CORNELL, San Diego. MRS. J. A., JOHNSON. San Francisco. ETHEL JOHNSON, San Francisco. C. R. JOHNSON, San Francisco. MRS. LIGGETT. Kansas. DR. B. C. BEST AND WIFE. San Fran cisco. NANNIE McLENNON, Waco, Texas. MRS. H. C. SHAW. Stockton. MRS. B. R. FITZGERALD, Los Angeles. , MISS MINNIE BUXTON. Portland. MISS SHOULDICE, San Francisco. EFFIE GORDON. Portland. C. H. MARTINDALB AND WIFE. Guth rie. Okla. B. ROCKWELL AND WIFE, Guthrie, Okla. W. N. FINNEY. Portland, Or. J. W. WADDY, Portland, Or. . , H. C. WAHLBERO. Portland, Or. MRS. C. A. EASTMAN. Portland. Or. MISS HELEN CHURCHLET, Portland. MRS. WILLIAM C. DODSON. Portland. PHIL ASHFORD, Livermore, CaL PEARL BEEBE, Portland. Or. L. E. HILL. Santa Ana. Cal. MRS. J. H. THOMPSON, Napa, CaL CARRIE MARTIN, Eugene, Or. MAY LEHAM, San Francisco. EVA BOOKER. Franklin. Ky. MRS. OTTILIE LIDELT. San Francisco. MABEL GEIGER. Peoria, 111. J. GRANT CLINB AND WIFB. Sanger. Cal. T. T. CLARK AND WIFB. Jacksonville, Tenn. J. W. BIGGS AND WIFE. Bloomlngton, 111. GEORGE L. HOODNEPIL, McMlnuville, Tenn. H. S. KEBVER, Enid, Okla. A. SCHOBER, Enid. Okla. T. A. MANEDIN. Enid. Okla. W. F. WILLIAMS. Enid, Okla. FRED ROGERS, Enid. Okla. J. P. ECCLAS. Portland. Or. JOSEPH SANS. JOSEPH RUMSEY. W. H. INGALS, Oakland. L. R. SMITH AND WIFE. Oakland. Cal. MRS. F. COPELAND. Oakland. MRS. F. S. DRAKE. Portland, Ot. FRED KNAPP. San Francisco: T. H. MEYER. San Francisco. OLAF PEARSON, San Francisco. PHIL. E. GOSLINSKY, Ean Francisco. R; K. EWART. Portervllle, Cal. L. C. MEYER, Porterville. Cal. - FRED SMITH. Porterville. Cal. . E. H. JANNEY, Portland. Or. P. M. JANNEY. Portland. Or. A. WINKLEJBLECK. Poplar Bluff. Mo. WILLIAM HARDING LUCAS. Seattle. FRANK HOLGER. Johnstown, Pa NBTTY GOEDJIN. Manitowoc, Wis. H. H. DREKER AND WIFE, Tesla, Cal. ANNA AKEESON, Litchfield. Minn. MARY WALTER. Minneapolis. JESS LEROY, Denver. A. W. CRADER. Portland. Or. Schooner San Pedro's crew of 18 and the .master's wife, total 10, saved from the San Pedro. Columbia crew saved: J. F. Jackson, chief engineer; R. J. Thomas, third assist ant engineer; W. Lewis, oiler; J. G- Por ter, oiler; Thomas Russell, water tender; John Ross, . fireman : Charles Eastwood, fire- man; John Swift, fireman; R. Agerup. sec ond officer; R. M. Hawes, third officer: Quartermasters W. Curran, John Lind strom and J. Ellis; H. Norrls, boatswain; G. McEny, carpenter; R. Gustafson, A. L. Larson, A. Simons and S. Peterson, sea men; J. E. Byrnes, purser; F. Funk, stew ard; A. Mack, second steward; Mrs. E. Harris. stewardess; A. St. Clair, porter; Charles von Bosler, chief cook: Charles Nolan, pantryman ; G. W- Lawrence, stew ard ; J. C- Shawley, C. F. Murphy, Louis Cole, Robert Engman, A. Carrera, J. White, and Charles Holland, waiters; William Tedtman. seaman; J. J. Fogarty, saloon watchman; Henry Otto, third cook. Columbia crew saved, 87; crew lost. 22; total. 59. Passengers saved, 107; passengers lout or unaccounted for at Eureka, S3; total. 100. There is a discrepancy of one between this list of 59 and the -number of the crew given by the purser as 60. MANY TEACHERS ARE LOST Bought Tickets for Columbia, but Names Are Not on List. LOS ANGELES, Cal., July 22. It is said at the local steamship office that several Eastern school teachers who were In attendance upon the recent National Educational Association Con vention" had reserved accomodations on the Columbia for last Saturday. It Is confidently believed that several of them, together with a number of local people who were expected to sail at that time, were on board the steamer. Among the persons who purchased transportation in this city for . Satur day's sailing of the Columbia, are: Mrs. W. L. Barbee and mother, Mrs. B. Fitzgerald, Miss Emma Griese, a school teacher, of Cleveland, Ohio. These names appear in the official pas senger list. Mrs. Kate Kelley, 2205 Hobart Boulevard; her daughter. Miss Irene Kelley; her sister, Mrs. J. Mackle; her friend, Miss Bertha Jones of Long Beach, and H. Scholthorn are known to have purchased transportation here on the Columbia for Saturday, although their names do not appear on the sail ing list. Oregon Short Line Official Hurt. SALT LAKE CITY, July 22. A spe clal to the Tribune says that William Ashton, chief engineer of the Oregon Short Line, suffered a fractured skull in a runaway accident in Idaho today. This catastrophe occurred at the end of the Yellowstone branch of the Short Line, which is now under construction. The Injured man was taken to St. Anthony and placed on a special train, which will reach Salt Lake in the morning. His condition is very grave. MARINE DISASTERS ON PACIFIC COAST NORTH OF 8 AN FRANCISCO. Tear. Steamer. Lives lost. 1W7 Columbia 75 1908 Dlx 40 lftOH Valencia 139 1904 Clallam 64 1H03 South Portland 22 1902 Condor .. 80 1902 Walla Walla 47 1!H1 Mattewan SI 1901 Islander 60 1901 Rio Janeiro 193 189S Clara Nevada 70 1894 Monteerratt S0 1894 Keeweenah 3t 1KS9 Beda It 1889 Alaskan 30 18X8 Chester 13 1883 Grappler 89 .1024. 039 Total - Other steamship disasters 1852-1875 - Sailing vessel disasters 1848-1907 .... 889 1895 Collma .. 171 1907 Larchmont 185 Total ..232S No survivors. of the Columbia Is the first of the ma rine disasters on the Pacific Coast In which such a large number of women were saved. Captain Doran was E2 years old and had sailed on the Pacific Coast for a number of years. Previous to entering the service of the O. B & N. Co. he was employed by the Faclfio Coast Steamship Company and commanded several of the vessels of that fleet. When Edward H. Harriman and a party of financiers made a trip to Alaska nearly 10 years ago Captain Doran was In charge of the George W. Elder, which carried the travelers, and soon after he was made master of the Co lumbla. He was a man who never slept while the steamer was In a fog, storm or sea that promised danger, and if ho rested while conditions were not to his liking, it was merely to doze In a chair or lie down fully dressed. It was freely remarked yesterday when It was known that some of the passengers and crew had been lost, that Captain Doran was among them, for It was generally accepted he was one of the type of masters who perlsb with their vessels. At the time of the loss of the steam er St. Paul, about a year ago, Captain Doran made the statement to friends that should disaster ever befall the Co lumbia ho would go down with her and he carried out the declaration. "He leaves a wife and family at San Fran cisco, where he made his home. In most business transactions' the seller sets the price, but for once, .this order of things has been changed, and at the special plnno sale now in prog ress at Ellers Flano House the buyer names his own figure. Beginning yester day morning. Portland's busiest Piano House inaugurated a novel idea, designed to dispose quickly of a number of used Instruments, which have been taken In exchange recently on Weber and dick ering Urands, Pianola Pianos and other popular makes In the Line of Highest Quality. At S o'clock thn first thrM fnqtriiTnAntH to be sold were placed in their large cor ner window, and a starting price set upon each. Every ten minutes a dollar was deducted from the price of each In strument, amounting to f! the first hour, and a like amount each succeeding hour. One of the three pianos was sold about noon, the second shortly after 4 o'clock and the last Just before closing time., These Pianos Go Today This morning at 8 o'clock the second three Instruments will be placed In the window and a like plan adopted. For today's sale the following pianos are to be offered: A Ludwig, sold by other dealers at J350, to be started at $245. An other make, Sherwood & Son, the $350 style, will be started at $235. A Lester Grand, a beautiful piano of exquisite tone and splendid quality, concludes the Tuesday trio, this Instrument being one that was used a limited time by one of Portland's leading musicians, who has left the city, and instead of the regular price .of $750, this magnificent piano will be started at $410. Each Instrument may be critically ex amined in the window, and interested music-lovers may either enter a bd at the price they will give, taking their chances on securing their choice if the price drops to their figure, or they may watch the price go down and close a sale of the piano before some rival bidder slips In ahead. The last three Instruments will be of fered tomorrow, on the same plan, and if you are In the market for a piano, it will certainly be to your interest to watch, this sale. Easy payments will be ac cepted on each piano, and a small pay ment down will place any one of the In struments In your home at once. Watch the window, watch the clock, watch the price and buy at your own figure. This is by all means the great est chance ever offered to piano seekers in this city. It's a novel Idea, fair to every one, and you pay Just what you think the pianos are worth. Don't miss it. Remember, it's at Ellers Piano House, the House of Highest Quality, the wide awake House, 253 Washington street, corner of Park. at the educational convention at Los Angeles and had started on their re turn home via Portland. ITALIANS GO TO PRISON Prominent San Joseans Lost. SAN JOSE. Cal., July 22. Among the passengers on the steamer Colum bia were H. L. Partridge and wife, of this city, who were On their way to Portland for a Northern trip. Mr. Partridge Is a prominent local lawyer and Mrs. Partridge is a sister of James Rea, capitalist and politician. Other passengers from here were Misse3 Ruby and Lena Cooper, of Fayette, Howard County, Missouri, who were in this city last Thursday on a visit to their cousin. Miss Vivian, head of the art department of the State Normal School. They had been In attendance Feeling Running High Against Slay ers of Walter Lamana. HAHNVILLE, La., July 22. Guarded by 250 soldiers the four Italians convicted of Walter Lamana's murder and the two Gebblas, who are yet to be tried for it. were placed on a special train bound for the state penitentiary at Baton Rouge to night. Extreme precautions were taken by the military owing to the reports that a wholesale lynching might be attempted during the trip. The Gebblas, brother and sister, were taken to the penitentiary for safe keeping after the court had de cided today that public sentiment at pres ent makes a fair trial impossible. One More' Wreck Victim Dies. DETROIT, Mich., July 22. D. Huggins, aged 29, of Ionia. Mich., one of the In jured in the Pere Marquette wreck, at Salem, Mich., Saturday, died late Sunday night at St. Mary's Hospital, bringing the total number of dead up to 32. Among the 100 or more Injured In this city and Ionia, eight are reported to be In a seri ous condition. There are 61 injured peo ple at their homes in Ionia, and 42 were brought to the hospitals in this city for treatment. Of the long list of suffering persons, at Ionia, but one. Mrs. M. Dur ling, whose husband and son were killed. Is reported tonight to be in danger. Seven of the injured in the local hospital are not yet out of danger. z Buy some extra quality negligee shirts today at Robinson & Co.'s. great sale! ' P 1;2. . '.y " .17,' -.-i V. y- -' ' i -. . 1 . i - 1 ; j r ; 4 ' l v- it II llll--" ,4" V 7 THE STEAMER OEOBOE W. ELDER, WHICH CARRIED THE SATED VA8 SENGEI18 AND TOWED THE SAX PEDRO. TO EUREKA.