New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-04-13
STATEMENT OF CAPTAIN BLETHEN IN RELA
TON TO TIE Loss OF THE STEAMSHIP

We set sail from San Juan del Sud on Monday evening
Feb % 1852 and proceeded prosperously on our voy.
age, generally with good weather. Feb. give had
light breezes and ne weather running along the Mex
coast, about two miles from the beach At z. NJ
the weather was clea with calm and tine
light the beach plain in sight about three miles distant
Also the mountains at about thirty miles distance From to
p M. was upon the starboard wheelhouse; the whole
time shore by my compasses upon half
Be the fact by them on the beach at e Week
With the objection re ton srepdng up the beach which
passes least 80 miles both east and of the wreck
have before seered the course, w. by NJ and have
invariably been set of shore at mile per hour and
the ship and the shore At NJ left the deck in charge Of
when running in the vicinity of land, to call me # the
keep off if necessary order preserve distance of i've
miles between the ship and the beach, at which dis
tncty visible while the weather continued clear and moon
light.
NJ the officer Ct the deck called according my orders
Immediately repaired the upper deck starboard side aft
in conpany with the first oficer-the weather Apparently
clear and about hour high the highlands distinct
" visible in the northwest at distance of from 20 to 80
miles the beach and land intervening though moderately
elevated in sight inquired of the If he had kept
Off He said that he had and had steered west north
half hour and aierward west SOUTH and that in order to
miles from the shore and that he had the beach
the last half or threequarters of an hour.
Previously remarked TO him that he must be
siderable distance from the shore and that by run if
had experienced no current should be within 25 80
vicinity oft bearing n W. then in sight; that would haul
her and make the beach before the set, the
time changing the course to w " W., and proceed
ing the starboar wheelhouse which reached by the
time the ship had come up her After moment
that the Highland sight that in the immediate vcini
y OF Acapulco and the only Highland Whereabouts that ex
! changed the course to N w The ship had scarce
ly come up her course, when discovered slight rip
,0v 81 hs ss sn e sSa &
gave the order sarboard hard 70 stsrboad at the same
time rns the slow bell both of which orders promptly
obeyed ane the ship came about west when she struck
aft which had the effect her pay off three
points ppon which instantly stopped and reversed the en-
hard and the sea breaking heavily against her broadsde
The engine was stopped
To let the anchors knew would be useless and might
endanger our lives. All the boats ageeably my orders
instantly lowered sounded and found FIVE feet of
the inshore or starboard side the beach was not
then visible and not indistnctly seenfn
thirty minutes had elapsed from the time she t struck
and It was no, unt had dispatched boat to the shore with
messenger Col Avery to Acapulco or assistance that
was enabled to determine my distance abou 30 yars from
the s, shore
the then rsng surf would be in vain The work debarke
ton CON menced by hauling the boats dashed and fast from
This operation attended with much difficulty and dan
ger IN consequence OF strong eaerly but finally
with their baggage, some provisions and portion OF the
freight IN the course OF the day OF the 18th Early the
morning OF the 18th discovered that the ship leaking
eoderby and that from ~ to 10 feet of her false keel had
shore.
employed IN securing
uite &c The lower hold by this time was iI of water
About hry feet of her false and several plank had come
ON shore during the night Of 2Sth.
At 5 p. NJ ON the lsi Of March, Francis w Rice u 8
Consul at Acapulco arrived and the morning bv rdues
ordered survey 10 be held the ship cargo freight and
furniture, composed of Capt Cram Can't StoI SHIN Ma,
ter aud MrSaskns merchant of Sacramento On the LIST
Of March the water about feet deep in her arboard
man saloon sorerooms She having hist TO port Of about
I'VE OF SIX streaks The ship was az this hard and fast
bottom apparently broken anidships without the eess
chance Of getting her of.
JAMES Fl. BLETHEN, Late Com. of
Steamship North America