The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-04-28

whemed by The SURF and this accident inundated others
that il impossible TO muster the requisite force TO
launch second Meanwhile the ship had become
living OF ire the heat was intense. even on The
shore. and every moment the beach received new se-
cessions 10 the list OF dead and dying The scene Wac
truly narrowing, and when al last the steamer was
chaned and smoking hulk, her stern lilted, aud she
swung heavily round and went up broadsde on me
beach.
Some few provisions were saved from the wreck such
salt beef pork moasses vinegar, lew TN cans OF
preserved meats, and some cheese but no water, nor
there drop OF water on the island, which we have
before observed was utterly barren and uninhabit-
ed. The usual amount OF suffering particularly among
the women and children was experienced During
the first day, attempts made by the Survivors, afef
buTyng the dead 10 procure water by eondensng sean
but the experiment failed There were now some two
hundred and seventy souls congregated on TIE beach
and they all went without tasting water for fifty SIX
hours the salt provisions oay aggravated theii sune
ngs Shortly after the scene we have described above,
PARTY started for the neghborDg mountains, and on
reaching their summit they were enabled 10 descIy
Magdalena bay the main land opposite, from which
the island of MaIgariia IS removed some heen miles
here they esped four ships at anchor they proved TO
be wbaers, busy engaged IN trying out OIL, while be-
yond in the panorama they discovered several small
boats in full chase after whale for Magdalena bay re-
sorted TO by whales in the winter season. Observing
this the party descended TO the wreck and the chief mate
the engineers, and few OF the others slung one of the
cannons of the Independence dragged and logged with
great toll the top OF the hill, and with what little pow
der they had fired twice, to attract the attention OF the
whalers the boats in their pursuit OF the whale had in
ensiby neared the eastern shore OF the island and were
attracted by the discharge, and the smoke against the
clear sky The sound was also heard BY those on board
the ships and signals were observed to go up 10 each
masthead recalling the boats.
While this system OF teegraphng was going on be-
tween the shpwrecked and the whaling fleet another
party lad taken an iron boat belonging to the steamer
and carried il bodily the lee side of the island,
and there launched it, to pull for the feet on their way
they fell in with the returning whaling boats, who were
obeying the signal TO return The OF the wreck of
aroused all the natural instincts OF sailor hospitality
the Of the ship. Every boat was at called
into requision they were loaded down with provisions,
despatched TO the of the wrecks the assistance
did not arrive moment too soon the women and chill
dren completely exhausted by abstinence, and their
saierings by the deprivation OF water were most acute
Puser Freedom went board the ship Omega, Captain
Fisher where every attention was shown him and his
companions Captain Fisher also sent directions that
the Sufferers should cross 10 the eeslde OF the
island where boats would be IN readiness TO convey them
on board the ships
Among the incidents OF the day after the wreck, child
born the beach, and is now healthy and thriving
The mother carried the mountains ham
mock, and walked part of the way TO the boats.
Many of the passengers especially among the females,
suffered much from want OF clothing. The dead
buried the wreck. Holes dug in the sand with
boards and each corpse received separate grave The
nun Der known TO have persisted is one hundred and
forty and as the graves number sixty, there OF
course eighty who were drowned burned, and whose
bodies not recovered We have not yet completed
our list OF those who buried the island but
ice among the those of Mrs Mary Ann Carnes,
OF England Oils Hale, OF Massachusetts; Rufus Mo-
Michigan Mic s~ john Baum Newark NsW Jersey eau MRS
Rowland and three children, OF Michigan, Mrs II. was
on her way to Join her husband Mr. Lehman. OF Mis-
souri,; Morris Kemp; MaTii Wilson, slewardess Mr.
Darlington and wife, Qwo children. both saved y Asa
Kttredge, Wakegan, illinois; William Abram, Corn
wall, England; a lame man, name unknown. had wife
and child Elizabeth, illinois; Rober, Taylor Bos
ton Charles A, Ward, No. 365 Broome street, New
York. All OF the above had money their persons,
which is in the keeping OF Mr. Brigham, at the office of
the Vanderbilt line The bodies OF Mr. Tarr, of Sacra-
meno Mr. Knox, OF Rhode Island and of Senior LARGO,
of Valparaiso were not recovered The last named
Chilian gentleman of wealth and standing in vslpa
raso Finding himself driven into the waves by the
flames he turned TO a few who were about him, and
offered $50 600 10 any person who would assist him to
his life; but in such moment could think Of
the offer. Seeing tina, his end near, Senior LARGO
said, |" Farewell Ii is only oncet" and plunged into
the water. He was quickly drowned.
The body OF Martin 0Mera, Irishman, was also
lost; he had many friends in New Orleans. Dr. Shaw,
who among the passengers, went back 10 Mexico
by the way OF La Paz and Mazatlan he was carried out
by the under tow OF the surf beyond the steamer, but
eventually reached the shore by incredible exertions
When he bad landed he threw himself upon the beach
and wep, Ikea child. After the Independence swung
round broadsde 10 the beach her coal took fire. and the
sight will long be remembered by those who it, The
mass of coal became thoroughly igniied, and
through the backened ribs OF the ship gave her the
appearance OF gigantic CRATE OF coal FIRE We shall
hold our columns open Tor communications from the
passengers who may wish TO make any statements
corning the affair We sincerely us, that this dreadful
occurrence will be thoroughly investigated by the public
authorities as IN the case OF the Lexington in 1898, and
IN that OF the Reindeer and Henry Clay in later years
NUMBER OF nave been suddenly
of from existence by the terrible agency OF FIRE and ship
wreck OF the cause OF this amenable disaster we are
no, yet prepared 10 speak. We hope. however that in
the alton about to be made nothing be elected
10 the confidence OF the public in the proby of the
Vanderbilt line the capabity Of Captain Sampson and
his officers. The sacred hus Of hundreds OF lives i'm.
posed upon shpmaser requires his part skill and
ability IL is useless for 10 disguise the fact that these
questioned by the surviving passengers OF this
Let condemn uphold the character OF Captain Sapp-
son as the evidence shall dictate In our opinion, want
OF honesty and the blacklist corruptIons more
worthy Of reprobation than lack OF those qualities that
constitute the careful and experienced captain The
destruction OF the Independence Is probably OF thoae
unioward accidents which liable TO befa the care
fullest seaman.
| LIST OF PASSENGERS SAVED.
b. T: Harvey, William Emery,J 5. EIlwell, J. Cald
well, William Pierce and wife, j. w. Colett, M Barber
F. Baxter and wife, H. w. Pell, VIM Bacon, A. HEMP.
bill ID. Murphy. j. Murphy, William r Elwe, = r.
Somers, T. Yentress, T., Elwell, Charles Fish, H. B.
Sutton, T.. X. Drake. ID. F. Bishop, j. S. Taylor wife
| g. Stokes, K, Light and wife, Laurence Nolan, G. w
Howe, B. +. Cameron, c. w Cook and wife, A. +
Rogers, Mrs. j. Far, Horace FAIR, (boy,) Mrs Sey.
mour, Misc A. j. Weddell, s. ID. Gilmore f. G. Cook
4. Flemming, J. Davis, A. Richardson, Y. Scheley p
Murphy, M. FuIey, A. Eular, +. X. Manning, ]. X.
Wloughby. O. T. Davis, I. c. Rankin, S. A. Troben,
X. Collins, J. Scmdt, William Scott, j. b. Arndt A p
Lancaster n H Douglas, J. H. Leadley, H. C. Babcock,
John Croo,s, + M Grorell, John Rowland, A. Lincoln,
Louis Day, H. Gorrop, Il. Anau Harper Mott, w. p.
Lincoln James Cross, M Mcdonald, +. p. Tinser and
wife, H. Taylor, NJ. Davidson, George Postum, Frss
Muftn and child, l.. G. Sutton, John Fleming, G. w.
| Spots, G. ID. Bellows, Morris Denban, l. p. Dexter,
M. Van Lam. II. 5 Greenfield, c. p Patterson, Gug-
non, David Hazeion, X Cuttings, G. kenssl, Odd
4 chi pahc