The southern press., 1850-10-08

AcouirrAL ov WiTHERs.-The trial of Reuben
WIthers, for the murder Of Arthur G. Reynolds,
was brought to close in San Jose, on Thursday,
the jury rendering verdict of not guilty. With
ers returned TO this city last evenng.--San Fran
cisco Herald.
F,cm the NJ Y. En-. Mirror, Obf. 5.
FURTHER Particulars OF THE Loss OF THE
BARK ISAAC MEADE AND TWENTY FouR LIVES.
The steamer Southerner from Charles ton. ar
rived here yesterday afternoon. About 2
o'clock Yesterday morning, being in lat, 3S.39,
and In % fathoms water, bark was discrird on
the larboard bow, and in close proximity to the
steamer. The helm was put hard port the
engine stopped and backed hard but she cou d
not be sufficiently checked to prevent acoision,
and she struck the bowsprit of the bsrk, turn
ing her partly round, and as it afterwards proved
prying open her bows for in five minutes she
went down, carrying with her fifteen passengers
and eight Of the crew. Before she sunk the
Southerncr had backed clear of her, and the boats
being instantly lowered, two of tho passengers
were saved and seven OF the crew. She proved
to be the bark Isaac Meade, hence for Savan-
nah, with 80 persons on board, aud a valuable
cargo.
The passengers saved are r. A. Bradley and
W. IL. Stanton CD crew saved-Capt. K. Il.
Brown; J. ID. liildreth, LIST mate c. Smith,
I'd mate J. franklin, steward; A. McAlnn
seaman; II. Battey, ditto ;J Brown, ditto-(7)
The passengers lost-Mrs Catharine Bradley
Of Conn; Miss Harriet Grannis; Mrs. Amer, and
Mrs. Barnes, of Macon, Geo; Miss Barnard, Of
Wilmington Island, Geo; Miss c. Barnard ditto;
Master John Barston, ditto Dr. Maginnis, lady
and child, Of Savannah; II. Gran is Conn; Mr..
Cornis, Conn; two Messrs. Adams, of London;
and j. Ii. Brown, the captains son--l5.
: Crew lost John Smith, Mass; Francis But
Ter, Savannah; George James Draper, Ireland
Robert Moore, England; Richard --, Eng
land; cook, name unknown; James McGlower,
I'd ditto, New York Mrs. Bradley, stcwardess
|-8.
1t appears that the people on board the bark
thought the steamer was a vessel standing in
shore, and SO put their helm starboard in order
to cross her. She was steering 8 5 w, and the
Southerner s e, the wind blowing strong
from the North, with sharp sea.
The hull of the bark was not touched by the
steamer; but the bowsprit acted like Il lever, and
forced the bark open at the stem, and her head
way caused her ut once to run under. So slight
indeed, was the collision, that it was scarcely
felt on board the Southerner. So sudden did
the vessel 60 down, that the second mate, who
was forward when the vessels came in contact,
and ran aft, was literally overwhelmed by the
water before he reached the tatfrail.
Not one person would have been saved but
for Francs's life boats, with which the Sonther-
ner was provided, rs no common boat could have
been lowered safely.
The matter Of course will be fully investigated
by the proper authorities.
The damage to the Southesner by the COLI
sion was but slight. Her cnt-water, bob stay
and flying lib boom were carried away, together
hur,l Sho L,I -. ,1d
scratches on the bow. She will, however, leave
at her regular hour to-day.
Persons who were sleeping in the State-rooms
on deck, did not hear the noise, and only knew
of the catastrophe when they were informed of
it by others. But to the bark the conclusion
was tremendous Indeed, the accident was SO
| sudden, that her second mate, who was forward
at the time, on the look out, rail aft the moment
the vessel struck, but was overtaken by the
water before he reached tho tatfra Mr. Stan
ton one of the passengers, who was on deck
when the contact took place. Immediately as
cended one of the masts, but was washed loose
before he could reach the top. Another person.
Mrs. Bradley, who occupied cabin on deck
was seized by her husband, who happened to be
awake, and hurried out back entrance of the
cabin, but before they could gain the deck, they
were washed away by the ser. Mr.. Bradley
wasafterwards saved
As the steamer was making shallow water
Capt. Berry had been fortunately called, and was
on deck Mt the time of the accident. He describes
| the scene us one of the most frightfu that he
ever witnessed. The cres of the poor drow ming
men and women, utterly beyond the hope OF
rescue, rose above the noise of the waters and
the winds with terrific effect. The bark, he
thinks, disappeared in less than three minutes
after the bowsprit was driven in. She had all
the sails set that she could bear, and was under
strong Roadway.
Capt. Berry gives great credit to Capt. J. c.
Berry, Capt Leubech. Thomas VAIL and Lis
crew generally, for their efforts to save life
The Capt. Berry last named above, had himself
recently escaped the pers of the deep, having
been the commander Of the brig Oregon, OF
Somerset, Mass, which foundered at sea in lat
32l5, long 79.7, on the 18th of last month.
Tue GEoRGIA CoNvENrIoN-PosIrIoN OF THE
SoUTH.--The eyes of the whole South are fixed
upon Georgia Nine out Of the fifteen savehold-
ing States have soIemnly resolved to resist the
further encroachments Of the Free-soilers, but
none others, save Georgia, have taken any steps
looking to resistance. Her Legislature very prop
erly considered the fraudulent admission of Cali
forna which has been perpetrated, If not IN name,
| in effect precisely the same us the Wmot Provis
L
to dispute that ii is so, let him answer the reason
ing Of Senator Berren in another coumn) With
this view the governor directed to issue writs
of election on the occurrence Of that event. for mem
bers oe II State Convention to debate and deter
mine what course the State should adopt.
Our own Legislature most emphatcally de-
clared, by resolutions adopted by an overwhelm-
in majority, that this State would make common
cause with the South in resisting any Of the fol-
lowing measures:
/. The passage of any law by Congress pro-
hibting slavery in any of the territories
2. The passage Of any law abolishing slavery
in the District Of Columbia.
3. The passage of any law prohibiting the
slave trade between the slave States, befreen The
District aud any Of the STATES.
And large sum Of money was placed at the
disposal Of the Governor TO ''protect the constitu
tional rights Of the State" in any of the contem
plated contingencies.
This was the deliberate sentiment--the sover
eign voice-of Mississippi These contingencies
have arisen. Congress has enacted the /" Wilmot