Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1851-09-11

,...... r.r..er.sr, 5uIy %, 1854.

steamer rsrsheraer, JHIy %, 1851.
= The loss of this vessel IS perhaps
the most unsccountable and unPar-
dona5le accident thai has ever Occur.
red beneath the notice Of American
and at the earnest re-
quest Of the undersigned passengers,
we will attempt TO give the facts rel
atiRe to the wreck as nearly as we
can, and leave the reader 10 draw his
own conclusion. - -.
3 The Union left San Francisco on
the lst inst, bound TO Panama, with
about 200 passengers, commanded By
Capt. Jonas Marks. She also had on
board 36 boxes Of gold dust, shipped
principally by Gregory & Co.'S Ex-
press. Il aie
About 8 o'clock on the morning oi
the 5th, passenger by The name OF
John B. Holman went on deck. He
informs us that a roaring noise at
tracted his attention in the direction
| of land, and on close observation ne
saw the breakers rolling along the
beach quite plain; and he saw, rom
The direction the vessel was running
1she must certainly strike in a few mo-
FHents.ys He could find no watch on
the deck, and the helmsman was
loo drunk to. manage the wheel. He
1saftemptedsto give the alarm. but be-
.tlore auy one came to bis call, the YES
isel struck reef ofrocks which Jared
her TO the centre. and before she fully
recovered from this shock she struck
tagain. A mountain was quite dis
ltinct three hundred ieet above the
/ first ledge OF bluffs. s- b. 49, rs
! We were as often laying down as
standing up, so tremendous were the
shocks She received. The chande-
IIiers and side lamps were bursted in
to thousand pieces; chairs and ia
lbles sought their equilibrium in every
possible shape. The doieful music
4 cf the engine bell fell upon our hear
ling ike the summons Of death.
: In this awful suspense we were
4 compelled to eremain until daylight
for which there was no Lack Of pray
err. We sent a small boat ashore
with a line, which was made fastl
land the boaunan returned and repor-
ted US lying opposite the termination
OF a ravine, which would afford US a
safe landing. Now commences
scene which hope my worst enemy
NAV never experience or witness
and one which the Imagination can
make awful enough without my lee
bic description.
You might have seen, however
$50 human beings upon a hopeless
wreck, each watching bis turn in the
small boats, to which he is lowered
by the means OF ropes, then. drawn
into the rolling breakers by the har-
DIV seamen, and conveyed to where
you can reach bottom, and then you
must make the bestof your way ou:
The utmost confusion prevailed fol
about five hours, during which time
the passengers and provisions were
all safely landed, and all the gold dus'
save one box containing about S6,'
900. y Y z. ~ IA p ? >
4 Several robberies from passengers
had been committed before daylight
amounting in the aggregate perhaps
10 S., 900. "a The stolen box was pick
ed up during the day., in the aftel
part of the boat, rified of its con
tents.
The most intense excitement pre-.
. vailed, unth about sunset, when we
were visited by a small partyof Mex
leans, at the sight of whom the ele
dments were made vocal with shouts
of enthusiastic Joy. They informed
us we were only six miles from th'
fold Fortress of Ell Rosario, at which
: place we would be enabled to ge
!. . such assistance as would place us be
vond the reach Of starvation and tina
: San Diego was about 300 miles Vi
the coast. ,.ea f-eI -Isl
Capt. Marks selected fifty mel
Jrom among the passengers as
guard to protectthe gold dust; ant
: 'djndiFectly reqnested the cbalanre t
! leave. This guard had fhe promis'
of free passage 10 Panama on tn,
Is;eamer,for which an express had al
reaGy been dispatched to San Diegc
the remainder of US determined Il
! remove up to 81. Quintin's Bay, th'
point at which the steamer was di
rected to come. This bay is abou
forty miles above Rosario. Efh
: There is but one rancho here
= though a large herd Of cattle grace
upon it. Al this place we stayet
, Is days, and our chief subsistanc
was beef alone. .aebiDi }o sa-sT q.
: On the l9thI the fagof the steam
! er Northerner made its appearance
. on the bright waters. ar9ioK
b. The salute was 6redfrom the boat
(which was answered, first by long
! fIoud shouts Of grateful hearts. Capt