The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-02-13
E DOUBLE SHEET.
ANOTHER TERRIBLE MARINE DISASTER
fHk WRlCK Of the STEAMER RHODE ISLAND
BOUND FROM
3Gew York to San Francisco, Cali
H fornia.
SUPPOSED LOSS OF THIRTY-TWe LIVES,

The steamboat Rhode Island, Capt. Colby, hence
for California, was completely destroyed, ON the
18th ult., IN the Gulf Stream. The Rhode Island
was bsik IN this city about twelve years ago, for
the New York and Providence line, at which time
she was considered splendid and substantial
boat She run between this city and Sto-
ningon, and held her position a first class
vessel, until within the last few years, when
boats Of greater speed and superior passenger ac-
commodations, compelled her owners to withdraw
her from the line.
She was then purchased, with a view to send
ther to California to trade upon the Sacramento
nver, and was put in thorough repair for the voyage
saround to the Pacific.
She sailed from New York on Friday, the 23d of
January, for California. She stopped t~o days at
Quarantine, and went to sea on the 18th, laden
with coal and provisions; forty-four persons on
board In all. She was loaded down almost to her
guards. was predicted by all who saw her
leave the wharf, that she could not get out safely
Our informant says:-
We got along very well during the first two
days, gong eight or nine miles an hour, with
smooth sea. The wind began to blow fresh on
Sunday. About noon there was some sea on, and
she labored heavily We commenced throwing
coal overheard, and got rid of all the loose coal on
deck, and all that was in bags-about $50 tons.
Sunday night and Monday was again calm, and
she went along very well. On Monday afternoon
Il got TO be cloudy and threatening, and several of
the hands went to the captain and asked to be put
on board ship that in sight estern, or else to
run down ard lay by during the night. He re-
fused, and said there was no danger Soon after
This the wind commenced blowing heavily until
nisdpigbt, when it blew a gale. The wheel ropes
got foul several times. About A. M. oa Tues
day, 29ih, the wheel ropes broke. The man at the
wheel was knocked down, and seriously injured by
one Of the spokes The steamer then broached to;
a heavy sea struck her, and she broke in two,
falling both at the stern and bows, and filled ra-
pidly. The engine was put to work to pump her
out, which kept her somewhat clear, until it
stopped, from the'machinery getting displaced.
The steam was Thea blown of, and the boats
got ready for launching. One of them had been
kept ready for several hours, and was prousioned.
The sailors generally slept in her when off duty
they apprehended some accident. At about IL
O'Clock, the cooks and some of the passengers,
without the knowledge of the captain, launched one
of the Jolly boats, which swung round immediately
under the guards, and swamped. Nc person
wasn't. When nearly 2o'clock, the captain called
all hands, and sppoinied thirty to go the long
boat, and the rest in the second jolly boat. Two
men were sent in the long boat to keep her clear,
and she was launched safely She was then hauled
round 10 the bows, and ten more taken in--nins
men and female passenger before others
could be got down, she struck by the stern OF
The steamer and badly stove those in the boat
he n cut her adrift, and pulled to the windward.
After bailing her out, they tried to get to the
steamer AGAIN 20 take more; but the so
high they could not reach her.
The boat was much encountered with clothing
and other things, which the second mate, BenJa-
min Boyd, who had taken command OF her, or
.5ered to be thrown overheard. She was thus re-
iieved of everything excerpt nalf a dozen hams one
cheese three gallons OF water, two quadrants and
a compass. All tins about two o'clock the
morning of the 18th. The boat was kept running
before the sea, and they bslrd necessarily during
the night. At daylight a schooner was seen
about three miles distant, laying to; they imme-
distely pulled for her, but not until al
most alongside. All hands, together with the boat,
were taken on board the schooner, which proved
to be the Mary Ann, Capt Crockett, from New
York, bound for Porto Rico. After beng on
board the schooner two days, they fell in with
and spoke the whale ship Richmond, Captain
Swift, Of Providence, hom-wsrd bound Although
scarce Of water, Captain Swift took all the COM
pany from the schooner, and after treating them in
the kindest manner, landed them safely at Provi-
dencc on Monday morning, where they received
every attention from the officers and Of the
Richmond, who sent then TO Fall River. from
which place they came to the city yesterday
morning
The lss, seen Of the steamer, by those who have
returned, was abost "a o'clock on the morning Of
the 29ih, when she was rapidly sinking. and soon
after when. she all probability went down.
Our ipfornsnt does not know the oames Of his fel-
ow Survivors; but there were among them, Mr..
Boyd, the second mate; William Smyth aud two
Others, 6rcmen; three sailors, two cooks, and
three pss-rngers-one OF them, French lady, left
IN AT Providence When the accident happened,
ne steamer was near Longitude III s. Latitude 81 30.
II H. possible that some others msy yet survive. as
all on beard the STEAMBOAT we're cutting away
yards and spare, and preparing every available
means for escape.
Annexed 70 q list Of the officers and crew Of the
Rhode leland when she left this por'-
cRrw or THx RHoDE ISLAND.