The Nevada journal., 1853-04-08
Per adams s Go.
Loss Of the independence.
AWFUL OBSTRUCTION OF LIFE

Names of the Saved and Lost.
The nccoun. Of the terrible shipwreck
and burning of the Independence was
brought to San Francisco on the 3lst
nit. by the ship Meteor. The Captain.
Sampson, published statement in each
VI the daily papers below, by which j.
appears that, on her passage from San
Juan she struck on reef on the south
point Of the Island of Margarita, about
mile from the shore. Tho Captain
states he vas deceived in the distance
by q iszc on the land and intended to
give TIE point berth of three miles -
Ee eeys
"The sen was vayy smooth at the time.
Aot breakinI on the reef alta |. Backed
,he engine md she came of examined
tho hold AMI found she was filling rapid
ly; knew that should have to beach
her TO keep her from sinking got a sail
over the boy tundcr herl to stop the leak,
aud set u gang Of men at work q. each
hatchway b.siimg, and ran along the
west side OF the island, close in, TO find
good place to pat her ashore. Told
.hs engineer TO let me know Ave min
ntes before the water would be up high
,aongh to put out tho fires. When we
Lad run ABOUT feur miles, the engineer
came up and reported the water nearly
ny to the tircS, and that they would be
axtingaished in II few minutes Put the
helm bard q port, and ran her ashore
INTO = susall covc on the southwest side
of the island, heal on Lowered boat,
and sen: tho mate and two men 10 her
~ ras e line 20 tie beach, which was
about a hundred Yards distant but the
boat broaohed to and wac swarped in
he surf. Lowered another boat, and
ernt three men in her with another line.
~hiih they succeeded in getting ashore
! noT ascert"ined that the ship was on
FIRE. .od the engineer 10 take as men
and pot ous The firc if possible Order.
ID the other two boats to 90 lowered.
and 20 CONS .o ward, and the wo men
'.ad children u come to the forward
sengway loaded hata Los.-4 uiih wo-
Htn and children and sen, them ashore
The snip had now swung round broad
.iae on. The mate and two men came
nE with The boat that took the line
nenore, and she Was Immediately lolded
with women and children. and went
ashore with them. The fire originated
from tnc furnaces. 1t was necessary.
after tEo steamer struck on the reef, to
hse wood and boards for fuel in order to
Keep ap steam until she struck on tho
beach, when the water was SO high as
so stop the draft from the lower floor.
which forced open the furnace doors, and
rho flames rushed cut and caught the
wood work in the fre-room, and also
Aronnd the smoke-stack, thence spread
ing very rapidly. Every effort was made
TO get the hre under, but Of no avail. -
The flames were now coming up from
the hatohways, tre-roorn, engine-room
yentilators, and around the smoke stack;
everything was Consideration and dis
,nsyi the people seemed completely be-
wildered, and were jumping overheard
by dozens.
The scene was perfectly horrible and
Observation-Disclosures, women and chill
drcn screeching, crying and drowning
ordered the spars, matches, tables and
everything that would float, to be thrown
overheard, which was done. and they
were Immediately covered with people
About an hour after the ship struck the
beach she was in perfect sheet Of fame,
and there was no one on board of her
except one Of the coal passers, named
Beaumont, and myself.
The smoke.stack had fallen, and the
promenade deck forward had tumbled
in !; the flames were coming out of the
side lights and it was i'm possible to stay
on board any longer. A boat came off
frem the shore with two Of the deck
hands in her Beaumont, who was near
the fore rigging, jumped into her, and !
jumped overheard, swan to her, and
comm eneed picking up those who were
aAoat. After picking up three boat
loads, Thomas Herren, the steward, sue,
eesded in launching another boat and
saving some of the people. When oil
that were alive had been picked up and
some Of the baggage, ! landed, and had
the spars which had drifted ashore
hauled up in,oa ravine, and with one old
sail that had washed ashore, made tent
large enough 70 shelter the women ana
children