The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-12-31

INTERESTING IsoIDssTs In THE LAST TRIP OF
THE PAolEic.-Rsse Of Aipprected Crew.-We
indebted to friend in this city for the follow
ing interesting extracts from private letter from
a lady who wen out as passenger In the last trip
of the steamship Paci6c.--Neso York Times.
STEAMSHIP PAoIrlc-Is THE CAAsssL.
| Friday, December 10, 1852.
From Sunday until Thursday December p we
had very pleasant weather and smooth sea.
On rh1ssday morning we found the weather had
| ing gale, and the ship rolling fearfuly.
The gale increased all through Thursday, and
on Friday morning it was terrific. IN
Then occurred a scene which l shall never for
get. In the first place my husband came into the
state-room, on his return from breakfast, and in
| formed me thata poor sailor had fallen from the
rigging in the night and broken his leg. He was
and that the head steward that morning had q mar
row escape from being washed overheard.
Shortly after he came in again, and said there
was a wreck in sight and thatit was the most aw-
full scene he ever witnessed. The vessel was en-
tirely dismasted the sea washing completely over
| it; while the crew-he could count nine-were on
| the deck waving to them, and crying TO those on
| board the steamer for assistance. The barque was
| 30 near part Of her name could be read; but the
sea was running mountains high. and the captain
and officers feared it would be impossible to rem
der any assistance They, however, as soon as
possible sent out rockets with ropes attached, but
| they did not reach the ship. ,
The poor sailors then cried out, "Send US your
life boat" which from the fret thought to be
| impractcable tsa
The third officer in comma nd then offered TO 90
in life boat, and three of the sailors volunteered
to go with him. OF course there was great dan ger
| in approaching too near the wreck, and although
the wind was blowing such tremendous gale,
! they kept backing the steamer against a heavy
! sea to keep her in a line with the wreck.
Then the life boat was got ready, and these
brave men went in her to the rescue, If possible,
of these unfortunate creatures. Husband went on
the upper deck, and stood there cnging to the
| ropes, watching the whole of the scene. Some oil
the time the whole of the wreck was entirely hid
from view by the high waves, and the little boat
was lost to sight almost all the time. They had
great difficulty in getting alongside of the wreck,
fearing the life boat would be stove to pieces.
Then when they did and the waves took the boat
up to the side Of the wreck the poor creatures let
boat. Two fell into the water, and one was drawn
out by his hair. There we're sixteen souls in all,
| but no passengers The barque was the Jennie
Datoson, of Irving. Scotland, bound from Quebec
had been in the situation in which they were
found two days and nights, with the sea washing
| over them all the time. Two or three of them
were becoming quite insensible, and had to be
pushed over into the boat.
never shall forget the sensations of joy felt
when gentleman came down into the ladies' ga
loon, and from my berth heard him say, "Th"y
| are all saved"
That was after they had all been got on board
the steamer. The officer said the life boat had two
or three severe blows while alongside of the wreck,
and he thought that, if they had received another
they would all have persisted. The life-boat hall
filled with water returning to the steamer, and as
ali board the life boat was stove all
| to pieces. The officers description of the scene,
when he was in the life-boat, between the steamer
and the wreck, both of them at times entirely hid
den from his view, and then again, as he saw them
madly plunging in the waves, appearing as though
they would crush the frail life boat very thrill
ling. ....
lean give you but a faint idea of the excitement
| on board the steamer produced by this shipwreck.
| The passengers called a meeting on Monday to
testify their sense of the noble daring and courage
Of the officer and sailors who have saved these
men, by some suitable acknowledgement.
They have raised the handsome sum of five hun.
bred dollars, $500 which, considering the small
| nun Der OF passengers, was quite handsome. This
| is to be put in the Savings Bank in New York,
subject to their order for either principal or inter
| est On Monday evening we had the rescued cap
tain in the saloon. He is young man of about
twenty five years of age, and he gaveu an &C.
was, this was the third time he had been ship
wrecked He certainly was not born to be drown
| ed. The steamer was detained four hours by this
occurrence. The gale, which commenced on
| Thursday morning, continued with little or NO
abatement until Tuesday morning.
LAW OF DEscENr.-A bill has been introduced
into the Legislature of Ohio which is thus noticed
by the Columbus (Ohio) State Journal: ~ p.
Mr.. Fisher, of Madison, has introduced a bill in.
to the House changing the law of descents for real
and personal property. 1t provides that where
s a asqssss
First. To the children Of such intestate or their
legal representatives.
Second. If no children or legal representatives
living, to the brothers and sisters of the blood of the
ancestor from whom the property came, whethe,
such be of whole or half blood of intestate.
Third. If no brothers or sisters, or representa-.
ives, then the property to return to the ancestor
| iflving.
Fourth. If ancestor be dead, then property to
| vest in husband or wife, relict or intestate.
Fifth. II no husband or wife relict, then to de-.
scend to the children Of the ancestor from whence
| the property came, &c. ......
If the property did not come by descent, then, on
death OF intestate, to descend as follows:
First. To children and legal representatives.
Second. II no children, then the husband or
| Third. If no husband or wife, then to descend ia
the brothers and sisters.
Fourth. If no brothers and sisters of whole blood
| then to brothers and sisters of half blood
Fifth If no brothers or sisters of whole or hall
blood then to the father; and if he be dead, then
to the mother. If the mother be dead, then to the
| next of kin.
| There are other new features, but these com
| prise the main ones. We are not prepared to say
that the changes advisable. They may be i'm.
provements. but it is worthy of remembrance that
unless the reform 10 OF importance, the confusion
| Of a change, where. rule has been long under.
| stood and adopted. ID sometimes productive OF
more evil than the reform is Of good We do not
| say that such will be the effect in this case We
hope it will be dispassionately discussed; and il
| the changes found to conform more perfectly
to our ideas of justice and right. they will be
adopted We call the attention Of lawyers and
heads of families to the propositions as one of the
| questions that are under discussion, and worthy
| their examination.
| CALIFORNIA; ITKMs.-The Uncle Sam touched
at Kingston the 22d, and left there at noon the
same day, making the trip from that port to New
| York in six days.
The prospects for winter digging at the mines
| have never been more favorable for large yield
The Indians in the south are reported as becom-
| ing FESTIVE, and Lieutenant Beale, the Superin.
tendent of Indian Affairs, was to leave the 3Ott
instant for their haunts.
Captain Gorham, of the ship Albany, has been
charged with numbering steward, one of his
crew, and was undergoing an investigation.
Snow had fallen to the depth Of four feet in many
| places.
The burned district in Sacramento had been
nearly rebuilt, including a large number OF fine
brick buildings
On the evening of the 4th instant Acapulco was
| visited by terrible earthquake, Twenty build.