The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-08-23
From the .Nsw York Herald
Details Of the Less Of the steamer Union.
STEAMER NonrurRNFR July I6 1851

unaccountabe and objectionable accident that
has ever occurred beneath the notice OF Amer-
can navigators and, at the earnest request OF
he undersigned pc 'senge-s, we will attempt to
give the facts relative to the wreck AZ nearly as
we can, and leave the reader draw his own con-
clusoD. The Union left San Francisco on the
] st inst, bound TO Panama, VITA about $50 pas
sengers, commanded by Captain James Marks
She also had on board 36 boxes OF gold dust,
shipped principally by Gregory q Co.'S Express
The night OF the st spent IN getting clear
OF the port OF San Francisco, and morning found
us fully on the bosom of the great deep, where
we were cordially received by delightful breeze
At 8 o'cloc!. we spoke the steamer Pacific bound
to the Golden Gate. There was but little sea-
sickness among the passengers, and every visible
prospect promised a pleasant voyage. On the
morning of the Sd a rumor was afloat among the
passengers that the Union came well nigh run
ming into schooner during the night, and that
no lights were up, or watch on deck; thisrumor,
however, passed off without creating any excite
ment or alarm On the morning OF the Attn we
were not in sight of land and the day seemed to
move off rather dull, when at longth Captain
Marks hoisted the flag of our country and fired
one gun, in memory Of the anniversary OF Ame-
rican independence; the boatmen entered too
deeply into the celebration and became intoxi-
Gated, and remained so during the day.
The passengers generally retired early, as n
slight sea sickness was the result of a tolerable
rough sea during the day. About o'clock, on
the morning of the 9Th, a passenger by the name
of John b. Holman wert on deck to enjoy the
fresh mir, as the night had been quite warm He
informs us that roaring MOI % attracted his at
tention in the direction of land; and on close
observation. he saw the breakers rolling along
the beach quite plain; and he saw, from the d.
rection the vessel was running, she must GER
tanly strike in few moments; he could find
no watch on deck, and the hemsman too drunk
to manage the wheel; he attempted to give the
alarm, but before any one came to his call, the
vessel struck reef Of rocks, and Jared her to
the centre, and before she had fully recovered
n a this shoci., she struck ain; at this time,
ne first mate made his appearance on deck and
sang out hard port--but too late. She was
already within 200 yards Of the shore. Four Of
her lengths in the direction she was heading.
would have placed her on bluff at least fifty
feet above the water Immediately back of this
bluff. a mourtain was quite distinct three hum
bred feet a ye the first ledge Of bluffs. How
a vessel properly commanded could have gone
ashore upon such bold bluffs as are here de-
scribed, we leave for seamen to discuss. For
the sake of brevty, we will not stop to notice
the excit nent and cor ternation OF the passen-
gers Some, however, were hunting their friends,
some their pantaoons, and some more thought
ful were fervently praying for the preservation
of their souls. BY this time she was an abso-
lutte wreck. The great waves moved, lifting her
up and dasbing her down again, as if the mighty
occ N were satiating her vengeance upon the
helpless vessel whose colors were already struck.
The breakers came bounding to the shore, roar
ing like thunder, and tire tening destruction to
every opposing object We were as often lying
down as standing up, so tremendous were the
shocks she received.
The chandeliers and side lamps were burst
into thousand pieces; tables and chairs sought
their equilibrium in every possible shape. The
dreadful music of the engine bell fell upon our
| / ing like the summons OF death. In this
awful suspense we were compelled to remain
until daylight, for which there was no lack Of
prayer Finally, however, the welcome ray of
morning greeted rs from the desolate mountain
top. We sent n small boat ashore with a line,
which was made fast, and the boatmen returned
and reported us lying opposite the termination
ravine which would afford us safe landing.
Now commences scene which hope my worst
enemies may never witness or experience, and
one which the imagination can make awful
enough without the assistance of my feeble de-
scription You might have seen, however, $50
human beings standing upon hopeless wreck,
each watching his turn in the small boats, to
which he is lowered by means of ropes, then
drawn into the rolling breakers by the hardy
seamen, and conveyed TO where you can reach
bottom, and then you must make the best of
your way out. The utmost confusion prevailed
for about five hours, during which time the pas
sengers and provisions were all safely landed,
and all the gold dust save one box containing
about $4,000 We will pass by the uneasiness
manifested by the passengers that we were
wrecked on the island of Gaudaloup, which
struck US with more horror than even the wreck
Captain Marks was the last man to leave the
vessel and when he landed upon the beach
crowd gathered round him for his dvice and
knowledge as to what we were to do, both of
which he refused Several robberies from pas
sengers had been committed before daylight
amounting in the aggregate perhaps to $500,
and the box of dust was by this time generally
known TO be gone.
We are informed by gentleman, whose
name we can give, If necessary, that he assisted
in removing the dust from Captain Marks room.
where it had been under the immediate charge
of female known only to us as Maria and
there were but thirty-fve boxes. The stolen
box was picked up during the day. in the after
part of the boat, ri1ed of its contents. The
most intense excitement prevailed, until about
sunset when we were visited by small party
of Mexicans at the sight of whom the elements
were made vocal with shouts of enthusiastic JOY.
They informed us, we were only six miles from
the old fortress of FL Rosario at which place
we would be enabled to get such assistance as
would place US beyond the reach of starvation,
and that San Diego was about 800 miles up the
coast. This glorious news checked the excite
ment for time, but at length it grew more in
tense than ever.
| Captain Marks selected fifty men from among
the passengers, as q guard, to protect the gold
dust, and indirectly requested the balance TO
leave This guard had the promise of free
passage to Pauam1, on the steamer, for which
an express had already been despatched to San
Diego-the realfnder Of US determined TO re-
move up TO 81. Quintin's Bay, the point to
which the steamer was directed TO come. This
bay, if it deserves the name Of n bay, is about
| forty mileq ahova Rosario There il but one