Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-10-25
Awful Collision at Sen---Twcn-
ty-twO Lives Lost.

ty.tWO lives Lost.
The steamship sSoutherner, which ar
rived here Friday night, from Charles
ton, ran into the bark Isaac Mead, from
this port bound to Savannah, on Friday
morning at 2 o'clock The latter sunk
Immediately, and twenty-five souls were
lost. We give the account of this terri
BILE disaster from the log-book of the
Southerner:
On Friday, at 2 A. M, lat. 3S deg. 80
min. sounded in % fathoms water; relie-
we'd the wheel. In 10 minutes after we
made sail on the larboard bow; put the
helm hard aport; stopped the engine and
backed strong, when we came in con-
tact; we backed clear and stopped the
engine when the vessel went down I'M
der our bow, which was in less than fiji
teen minutes from the time of the coils
sion. Hearing the cries of distress in
the sea, through the exertions OF the
crew and passengers, we were enabled to
| man three of Francis life-boats and sa-
we'd seven of the crew and two passcn-
gers out thirty three in all. She proved
to be the bark Isaac Mead from New
York to Savannah, with valuable cargo.
She was steering SSW we NNE; the
wind 10 the North blowing strong with a
sharp sea; they unfortunately put their
helm TO starboard TO cross US as they saw
us first, and took US for vessel standing
| in shore. We remained until every
vestige of her disappeared and nothing
was heard but the moaning of the sea.
Too much cannot be said in favor OF
Francis life-boats; had IT not been for
them we could not have saved one soul
of all on board; wooden boat would
have been stove to pieces in lowering or
coming alongside, the sea was SO bad.
To show with what facility they were
got ready, in As minutes from the time
the first boat was lowered, manned by
the second officer and two of the crew,
she returned with seven; the second man
ned by the first officer and two of the
crew, Capt. Lubbock and Capt. j. 6.
Berry, who nobly volunteered their SER
vices, the third manned by Thomas Vail
and the balance of the crew.
When we gave up all hopes of find
ing any more, we turned our attention to
our own damage, found that we had car
ried away our cutwaier, bobstay and fly
ing lib boom, with the head rails and
some scratches on the bow.
We learn that this i'll fated bark was
insured for $l9, 500, in about equal pro-
portions by the General Mutual, Union
Mutual, Aston Mutual and Nashville
Companies; this insurance was made on
on the both inst. The cargo was rated
at about s / 80, 900, and is stated TO have
been fully insured. DemiI q Go. have
have policies for $4,000 in the Atlantic
Co. Two other persons are reported TO
have been lost by the collision; John
Crosson, German, and man named
Williams, supposed 10 be tinman. Mr..
Bradley. one of the passengers saved,
went on deck and as soon as the vessels
struck rushed again to the cabin and "a
walked his wife, when they both left the
cabin, (which was on deck, by the aft
egress, but they were both carrid off their
feet by the wafer, and Mrs. Bradley
was lost. Mr.. Stanton was OH deck
when the collision took place, and elm
bed the rigging; but the vessel sunk SO
quickly, that the water overlook him,
and compelled him TO lose his hold and
swim for his life. He was saved.-N.
Y. Tribune.