The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-07-28
Particulars OF the Loss Of U. $ 8 homer Shark

SAN FRANcIsco, Feb l, le47-
You have doubtless heard of the loss of the schooner
SHARK, and the safety of her officers and Grew can
not pretend to give you detailed account Of the acct
deut and Its cause leaving that to ADLER hands but will
merely give you slight sketch Of the principal events
they occurred
We got under way from Bakers Bay at O'Clock on
the 10th Of September for the purpose Of leaving the
river The ebb tide in full force and the wind rs
favorable for the purpose usually at that season
We steered souhward far as was necessaryto bring
Two leading landmarks IN proper position when sudden
iy the vessel struck and Immediately perceived we
had been acting upon false information in our sailing
directions She had no grounded than all con-
troll over her lost for though she worked herself
the first obstruction the strong ebb tide carried
her far beyond the emanuel, and in few moments wa
were at the mercy OF the breakers which roared
US AZ eager for their prey At this crisis the
OF mind and GOODNESS of gallant commander Lieut.
howison excited our admiration. We struck about
oclock,P. NJ, and at he summoned the crew upon
deck and in brief and eloquent address the
pers by which they were surrounded and the extreme
Importance OF silence camness and the absolute
obedience to orders 1t had a most happy effect and
every man went to his station with perfect in
our o ave and collected commander shortly after the
poats were piped Down, and one lowered with some
dfculty In which the sick men, with officers and crew
were ordered but after repeated efforts it found
possible TO get OH from the vessel strong the
tide and during the effort the vessel gave heavy roll
and stove the beat-the crew all saved not how.
| ever without some narrow escapes. This accident
taught US the necessity Of waiting till the tide ade
which 1t did at II O'Clock, when we made another effort
through tremendous surf and succeeded In landing
about three miles from the vessel At nine O'Clock
next morning not vestige remained of the old
schooner Shark We lost evory thing of course
Father Neptune kindly rolled my desk upon tn,
beach day or two afterwards, but | had un
fortunately entrusted my most important papers witt
the purser to be placed with his valuabes they
all lost together At Astoria remained two months
Our commander chartered the II. b. Co.'s brig Catbo.
rough to convey us to our destination The cabin
just III feet by In that extensive apartment ten Off
GERS messed and slept, without fres and the cold
piercing, for seventy five days There lay. wesred
and freezing In Bakers Bay waiting for fair wind
carry us to San Francisco suffering with rheunatism
frost bites, and chilbains. At length wished for
breeze arose, and ten days from the 18th of January
blessed with quarters tho SQUAD
ron The officers will leave for Monterey in the Ss-
vannah
This wreck will trust. convince the government Of
the impractcability OF her men Of entering the
Columbia river, without competent pilot IL Is in
fact a desperate undertaking Our commander, Lieut.
Howison, possesses, in an eminent degree judgment
coolnoss and an accurate knowledge Of his
but to navigate the Columbia requires the plotting of
one who has been familiar with 1t for years