New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-04-25
LIST OF THE DEAD AND SURVIVORS



The island upon which the ill-fated steamer
was wrecked is situated on the coast of Lower
California, 167 miles north of the point known
as the 90 Cape" St. Lucas. The coast in this
region, bold and rock bound, is in many places
inaccessible for vessels or boats, and presents
an iron barrier to the luckless ship coasIirg its
rocky projections. The spot where the steamer
struck was on point of sand beach, extending
seaward from the coast of the island, but COW
cred at high water
The steamer was going under fine head of
steam on the 10Th of February, when at day
break, though before the light was perfectly
clear, she suddenly struck and stopped. The
land could be seen towards the coast, but very
indistinctly. AT the moment the vessel struck
an indiscribable scene of confusion occurred on
board rush was made by the passengers to
| the various hatchways, and the upper deck was
| soon entirely crowded with human beings
| Capt. Sampson was on the wheel house, and
| at once ordered the engineer to back her, which
| was done, the steamer backing off with apparent
| ease. The land at this time appeared on the
| larboard bow, and made out in narrow point
OF cape the sea was smooth, and the steamer
| drawing seven feet Of water; no breakers were
| visible from any quarter. The conclusion was
not violent, but of such force as to arouse the
whole ship, and in few moment every soul on
board was on the upper deck. As soon as the
vessel was backed into deep water, Capt. Samp-
| SOu gave seCTtb DTutiS tlIdb tut pumps
be sounded, when it was discovered that there
were eight feet of water in the hold 1t was OF
Importance that this alarming fact should be
| kept from the passengers to prevent confusion,
| while instant measures were adopted to beach
| the ship at the nearest available spot. The
news however quickly flew from mouth to mouth,
and then ensued scene of which no idea can
be given save by those who have been similarly
situated.
Here was the population of a small town, with
many women and children, and death staring
them in the face, and no visible means of succor
at hand. A rush was at once made for the most
valuable articles of private property. Many
were thus trampled and bruised. But it was
soon found that the ship could be kept ahoat,
and her head was pointed up the coast with the
intention of beaching her in some convenient
, and safe place To facilitate this an immense
amount of dry wood was heaped into the fur
naces, and heavy head of steam kept up. Our
informant thinks that they must have run uI
J., the coast nearly five miles before suitable
.. place was found. During this time quiet had
been somewhat restored on board, and the
h greatest anxiety was manifested in the progress
= of the vessel Daylight had now dawned, and
they found themselves running along rock
bound coast surmounted by stupendous noun
tains, entirely destitute of verdure, and appar-
emily uninhabited. At length large gulley OF
ravine was discovered, which appeared to make
out into a sand beach, and into this nook the
bows of the steamer were turned. The crowd
was now so great around the stern to avoid the
;. anticipated danger Of the conclusion, that the
!, helmsman could with difficulty steer the ship.
She was, however, beached handsomely and
with considerable force. Had this been the only
danger, there is no doubt that every soul OF
!. board would have been saved but in the exer
d tions to get up steam to hurry the vessels pro
gress, a tremendous heat had been made in tn,
C furnaces; the water, now fast increasing in thu
: vessels hold, stopped the flues and obstructeC
y the draught into the chimneys; the furnace
~ doors were of conrse burst open, and vivi,
e volume of fame twenty feet in length shot int
T. the fireroom, driving every body before it witt
d the intense heat, and instantly setting the
ID work into blaze. All efforts to control tn
sss flames were utterly Intellectual, and from thi
81 moment the fire ran rapidly over the vessel
o But in describing the origin of the fire We hav
+ T gone beyond the story Of our informant.
When the steamer was beached with he
"' bows on, and before the flames had broke out,
I'm rush was made for the bows, but the sea, thong
: smooth off the shore, ran in heavy surf on til
beach, and there was distance of some thre
2 hundred yards between the vessel and the lant
y Capt. Samson now gave the order to lower ava
s a boat, and the chief mate with one other III
ny dertook to carry line to the shore The prt
= gress Of the boat was watched with eager ey,
IA by the assembled multitude on board the shiI
but, as some Of the sailors on board hs
q. predicted, she was swamped by the sur