Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-05-01
W>E!;.ll-.Ea PRESS
THE WRECK OF TIE OREGON.

O'clock, A. NJ, ran upon that dangerous ledge
Of rocks, called the "Grldiron" in He'll. Gate
She had the British steamers mails on board,
and, but for this accident, we should have re-.
ceved the first news by her,-thr "Worcescr'
which brough, Adams Express, not coming up
until she had been in her dangerous position Tor
half an hour or more. Meantime the Astoria
ferry boat, astoria" and the "Traveler, from
New Haven, had come 10 the assistance OF the
stranded boat the former transferring the pas.
sengers luggage, and mails 10 the latter, which
reached The city at abou, 6 o'clock.
The passengers (of whom there were goo !.
" numbcr,) were almost all in their berths,
sleeping sound'y. when the "Oregon" struck,
larboard side on, somewhat abat the Wheel
Her starboard paddles were almost clear Of the
water, while every moment she was settling
down on the other side. When the passengers
at about five O'Clock, were taken into the ferry
boat, there was three or four feet of water in the
cabins.
The first conclusion was tremendous, and yet
so spacious was the boat, and SO much room was
afforded all for moving about--and the day hav
ing broke, too--therc was much less confusion
than usually attends such accidents. Although
\ large portion Of the passengers were ladies',
we saw nothing like fain,ing. and heard no hys-
terlcs. Everything was done calmly aad with
out the manifestation u! anything like foolish
alarm. And yet things looked crtica for awhile
The Traveller p" did no, dare To venture along
side, lest she should fall into the same peril
with those she was DESTROYS promptly 10 rescue
and, until the ferry boat came IN, and acted IN
conjunction with her, her well. meant efforts
could avail but little. Maanw hle, the Nor-
cestcr" came up, passed around us, and appear
ed ready 10 give us any aid IN her power, but
seeing us well care for, came direct To the city.
During all tins, the larboard guard OF the "Ore-
gon" was sensibly sinking more and more, and
the tide was very strong. the "gatc," with its
whirlpool, lonknL anything bat attractive. Yet
as we sad before. there was nothing like I'M
necessary confusion ur alarm. Capt. ST. john
behaved with great GOODNESS and discretion, and
the baggage master of the Oregon" alike dis.
tinguished himself in the difficult position in
which he was placed.
Under some circumstances, { for instance
those of the Swaow,'( much alarm, ii not,
indeed, loss Of life, must have ensued from the
tact that many OF the state room doors, on the
starbpard side OF the "Oregon," we're found to
be so sprung by the conclusion, AS to render all
attempts to unlock them altogether impractical.
bic. The writer of this was one OF several who
had to make their egrcss through the broken
panels OF their doors. Some other curious
scenes were presented. We observed one
man standing before another, in front of their
clothes, which the other had been hurriedy
putting on, and Offering to the uninien,onal
depredatOr his own. The mistake lost none OF
it's righteousness by the exchange being be-
tween very stout and very thin man. Olh-
ers lost their boots altogether, and came up 10
town in their slippers; while one of the ediio
rial corps of our city wore home one of his own
and one of his neighhor's boots, leaving the lat.
ter to console himself under the same unucky
arrangement
We Imagine that the I'M jury to the Oregon"
from this accident must prove very considerable
She will probably float with the full tide but
she has an ugly hole in her bottom. 1t was re-
marked by some of those who are cool enough
TO be facet'ous, on such occasions, that the ad
ventures in the sore lon" were relieved by the
Astoria" and came into safe harbor, under
the guidance of homcward "Iraveler." The
transit Of the ferry boa, "Pluto," right across
He'll Gate. during the midst ofonr troubles, gave
occasion for classical allusion, which, OF course
ralse1 laugh
On reaching the deck of he "Traveller."
meeting OF the passengers was called, and res.
olutions OF thanks we're passed to the captains
Of that boat tn, "Worcesler," and the Jerry
boat.
LATER FROM THE STEAMER OEEGoN,-Thc
steamer Hercules went up on Sunday at high
water at 8 i. NJ, expecting with the aid of the
steamer Samson, to get the Oregon oft. The
steam pump, however, had been in operation all
the morning, bu, was unable TO gain on the leak.
She is considerably hogged, and great fears are
entertained that she will not be got off without
sustaining great damage.
SATURDAY, o'clock. p. NJ. - Our reporter
has just returned from the Oregon. She lies
on bed Of small rocks and loose stones, which
extend from her s,arboard wheel to within few
feet Of her stern.
The noble fabric stands the immense strain
remarkably well 1T is hoped that she will not
be weakened in her frame by this accident
This, however, remains to be seen hereafter.
There are several holes in the bottom of the
hull the largest being about thee feet in diam.
e,er. Besides this there are also several smal.
Ter holes.
The workmen are busily engaged in prepa.
ratons to stop the leaks. They are at prescn,
taking measures to spring back the plauks into
their placess when the tide rises.
1t is thought that by so doing they can stop
the holes through which the water pours in al
present. and with the aid of canvass, and mat
trasses compressed upon the planks she will
probably be rendered sufficiently tight TO come
up by the next high water, or tomorrow morn.
ing.
Her frame work on the upper deck, is sprung
and cramped all out OF shape. Tle furniture
however, is all safe.
The Saloon presents deplorable sight indeed
the beautiful and eNquisIiely ornamenled wood
work which partitions Off the sla'e-ronms from
the saloon and from each other, is wrenched ou'
of shape, aud quite number of the doors are
muliated, the panels having been knocked out
by the servants, for the passengers, who had no
other means of getting out Of the state rooms.
Mr.. Pendleton, the second Plot, was at the
wheel when the boat struck He states that