The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1853-05-10
From the San Francisco Herald.
STATEMENT OF CAPT. SAMPSON.

lately under my command, on her passage
from San Juan del Sud to this port and a.
bout one hundred and twenty five lives con
sitting Of the crew. Sho was lost on the is
land of Margarita, off the coast of lower Cal
ifornia. After leaving Acapulco, we expert
enced strong breezes from north west to north.
Passed Cape ST. Lucas on the morning Of the
10Th of February. At IL Ion ll0 AZ W..
steering north west by w l-2 w per compass
intending to go TO the westward of Margarita
island. On the morning Of the l5tn. at one
O'Clock A. NJ. made the main land tn the east
ward OF the island, having been sent ashore
by the current. Altered the course to S. w.
At A. M made the island of Margarita, the
south point bearing west by south per compass;
then altered the course to w. s. w.
intended TO give the point n berth of three
miles, but owing to haze over the land, l
was deceived in the distance. After fl fteen
minutes past five, just as the day was begin
ming TO break she struck on sunken reef ex-
tending off the south point of the island, a.
bout mile fOm the shore. The sea was very
smooth at tho time, and breaking on the reef
at all. Backed the engine, and she came of;
examined the hold and found that she was
| filling rapidly; knew that / would have to
beach her in order to keep her from sinking;
got sail over the bow (under her) to try 10
| stop the leak. and set gang of men at work
west side of the island close in. to find good
place to put her ashore. Told the engineer
to let mo know five minutes before the wa
ter would be up to put out the fires. When
we had run about four miles the engineer came
up and reported the water nearly up to tho
fires, md they would be extinguished in
few minutes. Put the helm hard aport, and
ran her ashore in small cove on tho south
west side of the island, head on. Lowered
boat, and sent the mate and two men in her to
run line ashore 10 tho beach, which was a.
bout one hundred yards distant, but the boat
broached to and was swamped in tho surf
Lowered another boat and sent three men in
her with another limo which they succeeded in
getting ashore. / now ascertained that the
ship was on fro. Told the engineer to take
his men. and put out the fire if possible
Ordered the other two boats 10 be lowered and
10 come forward, and the women and children
to como forward to tho gangway: loaded both
boats with women and children and sent them
ashore. The ship had now swung round
broaGside on. The mate and two men came off
with The boat that took the line ashore, and
she was Immediately filled with women and
children, fnd went ashore with them. The
fire originated from the furnace. It was ne
cessary after tho steamer struck OH the reef. 10
rse wood and boards for fuel, in order to keep
up steam until she struck upon the beach.
when the water was so high to stop tho
DRIFT from the lower fues which forced open
tho furnace doors end The flames rushed out
and caught the wood work in the furnace room
and also around the smoke stack. thence
spreading very rapidly. Every effort was
made to get the fire under, but of no avail |
The flames were now coming mp from the |
hatchways, fire. rooms, engine room vcntla-
tor, and around the smoke stack; every thing
was CONSERVATION and dismay: the people |
seemed completely bewdered, and were
jumping over board by dozens.
The scene was perfectly horrible and indis-
crbable-men women and children screeching
crying and drowning. / ordered the spars
matches, tables. and every thing that would
float, to be thrown overheard, and they were
Immediately covered by people. About an
hour after he ship struck the beach, she wss
in perfect sheet Of flame, and thcre was no
one on board "f her except one Of the coal pas
sers named Bumont and myself The smoke
stack had fallen aud the promenade deck for
ward had tumbed in: the flames we're coming
out of the side lights. and il was imp nssiblc TO
stay on board any longer A boat came from
the shore With two of the deck hands in her.
Beaumont who was near the fore rigging Jump
cd into her, and commenced picking up those
who were afioat. After picking up three boat
in launching another boat, and saving some of
he people.
When all that werc alive had been picked
up. md some of tho baggage, / landed and
had some of the spars which had drifted ashore
hauled up into the ravne, and with ono old {
ail that had drifled ashore made a tent largo
enough 10 shelter the women and Children |
The ship was still in flames, so that it was i'm
'ossible for any one TO board her. gave the |
nate and engineer orders to have the dead ta- {
ten up above high water mark and buried, I
md to bcard the wreck as soon as possible, s
nd save all the provisions and water they
ould. then took a boat and four men and
rared to pull around the north end of the is
md TO Magdalcn Bay. in search of assistance !
Expecting to find some ships there. We pulled !.
ntlll ten o'clock that night. when not being
bic to see any vessels. and knot knowing in :
That direction to pull, landed on the north ,
hore of the entrance to Magdalcn Bay, haul ' '
d mp the boat and waited unil daylight, when !,
started again to pull across the bay. After
ulling an hour and half discovered ves- c
'l close to tho main land. pulled for and :
cached her at III o'clock, found her to bo the
). Emory, Captain Gordon. The Captain
nd most of the crew were ashore looking for :
atcr; set signal and they came on board
Captain Gordon said he had been in the bay ,
We days, and that there were no other vessels h
J tho BAY. After stating the circumstances of y
10 wreck to him, he consented to get under t
ny (although ho had but sixty gallons of wa n
~ at the tImc) and take the survivors to San Ie
ose or Cape st. Lucas, where they could a,
ct the necessaries of life, until other assist. :,
leo could be rendered them-and he immed- y
ely got under way and commenced beating ~ =,
1t. At daylight Of the 18th, il being calm. -
Id the schooner being long distance from ~
% wreck, l took twenty gallons Of water and q,
sack of bread in the boat, and started for
e camp, expecting to find the people suffer-
g for water, as there was none on the leland tr
to drink. Arrived abreast of the wreck at su
Z. M. having been gone from thero fifty one as
'urs. The surf was breaking very heavy,
aking il dangerous to land. The mate came Sc
tho beach and said that thto passengers ar
Vi gone across the island, and that / had bet o
..x.u IL -.