The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-24


through her bottom just aft the foremost, and IN
twenty minutes time there were a few floating
spars, and few miserable creatures clingino 10
them, and this was all that remained of the
Birkenhead. OF 63S persons who had left
Simon's bay in the gallant ship, but few hours
before, only 1874 remain to tell the tale. No
less than 454 Englishmen have come to so
lamentable an end.
There is no mystery about the calamity. We
are not left, as in the case of the Amazon, TO
conjecture the origin of the disaster Just what
happened to the Orion, off the Scottish coast.
or to the Great Liverpool off Finisterre. has
happened now. Capt. Salmond, the officer in
command, anxious to shorten the run to Alooa
Bay as much as was possible, and more than
was prudent, Rugged the shore too closely
-Four hundred and fifty-fou persons have lar
their lives in consequence of his temeritv AZ
soon as the vessel struck upon the rocks. tho
rush OF water was so great that the men on tba
lower-troop deck were drowned in their han
mocks. Theirs was the happier fate; at least
they were spared the terrible agony of the neyt
twenty minutes. AT least the manner of death
was less Palnfnl lnan with Others, who were
first crushed beneath the falling spars and fun
mel, and then swept away to be devoured bv tha
sharks, who were prowing round ne wreck
From the moment the ship struck. all .annears
to have been done that human COURAGE ar coal
ness could effect. The soldiers were mnsterad
on the after deck The instinct of diseinlina
was stronger even than the instinct of life. The
men fell into place as coolly as on the parada
ground. They were told off into reliefs: and
sent, some to the chain pumps, some 10 tba
paddle box boats Captain Wright of the elst
Regiment, who survives to relate the dreadfnl
scene tells us;
Every man did as he was directed. and there
was not a cry or murmur among them until
the vessel made her final plunge. | could NOT
name any individual officer, who did more than
another. All received their orders, and had
them carried out as if the men were embarkino
instead of going to the bottom there was onlv
this difference-that never saw any EMBARK.
ton conducted with so little noise or confusion
II IS gratifying also, to find that The women and
children were all saved. They had been ouiet.
ly collected under the poop-awning, and were
as quietly got over the ships side, and passed
INTO the cutter. The boat stood off about I5O
yards from the ill-starred Birkenhead, and all
were saved. There is not the name of n single
woman or child upon the list of persons who
perished The other boats, rs is usual in such
cases, were not forthcoming in the hour of
need. One gig and two cutters were all that
could he rendered available. In one account
etind that when the men were ordered To oet
the paddle-box boats ont, the pin of the dayits
was rusted IN, and could not be got out. Can't
Wright, OH the other hand, tell us that when
the funnel went over the side il carried AWAY
the starboard paddle-box and boat and that the
other paddle box boat capsiZed as it was beinu
lowered OF the l84 persons who were saved.
ll6 made their escape in the three boats which
succeeded in getting clear of the wreck.
LOUIS NAPoLEoN's STATEMENT OF HIS OWN
CAsE.-We find in our late papers from the
city of Mexico, the following letter, addressed by
the Prince. President of France to President
Arista:
The Prince Louis Napoleon, President of The
French Republic, TO The President of The Mer.
lean Republic, greeting.
GREAT AND Coon FRIEHD-The unjust and
constantly increasing hostility of the legislative
assembly, its repeated attempts at usurpation
against my authority and the intrigues of the
ancient parties, menaced France with an anarchy
which might perhaps soon have extended over
the whole of Europe. | have already brought
to your know edge the resolution which
thought it proper to adopt of causing Justice
and the public safety to prevail against an i'm
puissant legality. The nation, when consulted,
responded spontaneously. The vote cast, with
almost entire unanimty, ratified the appeal
which made to the people on the I'd of De
cember, and, while empowering me to form
new constitution, conferred upon me the Presi-
dency for ten years. Such is the event which,
in establishing political unity, give to power the
strength necessary TO preserve social order and
secure stability. The exceptional measures de.
manded by circumstance will not prevent the
country from receiving as speedily as possible
institutions conformable to its political habits
and its new necessities. The government, more
over, will consider it point of order to preserve
peace, and to make still more intimate the rela-
tons which it now enjoys with Mexico. take
pleasure in hoping that you will partake of the
sentiments which animate me, and | willingly
seize this opportunity for renew ing to you the
expression of my wishes for the prosperity of
Mexico pray God, my great and good friend,
to preserve you in his holy guardianship.
Written at the Palace Of the Tuileries, the
18th of January, in the year Of Grace, 1852.
Your sincere friend.
TURGoT. LOUIS NAPOLEON.