Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1853-1853, 1853-05-04


stern to pieces and spIInlerine all that portion
Of the ship; the two guns surrounded by the
flames, also sent their solemn booming over the
scene. Those who were fortunate enough ia
get within reach Of their friends on shore were
dragged half dead out Of the reach Of the surf
while others were swept around the stern Of the
steamer or out to sea, there being strong cur
rent making seaward from the ship. At one
moment not less than thirty corpses and bodies
Of the dying were in the edge Of the surf, some
Of them Invested Of clothing. Out Of party Of
eighteen Jews who were on board sixteen per.
ishsd from the weight Of coin, it is sup posed
which they attempted to bring with them
through the waves. The outward current above
mentioned carried of numbers Of persons who
were good swimmers, or hoated, who would
otherwise have been saved; several women thus
floating were swept away, the baggage such al
would float, also went out with the ebb; none
Of it was saved by drifting to the shSre.
We have spoken above Of the manly conduc
Of the sailors, firemen and coal-passeTs. Some
Of these noble fellows, diSregarding their owl
danger, seized little children In their arms, OF
lashed them TO themselves and attempted to gaiI
the shore; several are known thus to have sac
rifced themselves. We have no space or hear
to insert the numerous affecting instances Of
courage and self-sacrifoe Of which we havt
received accounts. Among the most conspicu
Gus is that Of Mr.. TAFT, Of Sacramento, who los
his life attempting to save son Of Mr.. Watson
They came ashore together, both drowned
One Of the fremen brought beautiful boy
ashore to his mother who had Just been WASHED
to the beach; her husband and two children
onA ah al al h.,
shared the same fate the meeting may be i'm
agined. .|
The Purser Of the ship, Mr.. Jas. Freedom
remained upon the deck until driven off by thu
fire, when Springing overheard he chung 10
floating spar, and was washed ashore insensible
he was reSuscitated, but barely escaped witt
his life, being attacked with violent fever
There is one fireman, known as Tom Sawyer,
wild, reckless scamp, but whose faults, be they
what they may, should henceforth be forgotten
the brave fellow, entirely stripped, went to ant
frsm the wreck four times. He is only nine
teen years Of age. After the third time, ant
when nearly exhausted with his exertions, h,
learned that the chief engineer Mr.. Collins, wa
unable to swim and likelyto drown; he imme
diately started of again through the surf with
life-preserver, fastened it around the helpless
man and accompanied him to the beach; he wal
also instrumental in preserving the lives Of sew
ernl others.
Most of those ashore were too exhausted Il
render assistance to those beating about in the
surf. People ran about the beach perfectly
frantic; one party attempted to launch boat t
reach the steamer, but was overwhelmed by the
surf, and this accident intimidated Others so tha
it was imposibleto muster the requisite fore,
to launch second. Meantime, the ship had be.
come q living mass Of FIRE; the heat was intense
even on the shore, and every moment the beach
received new accessions to the list Of dead anc
dying. The scene was truly narrowing, ant
when, at last, the steamer was a charred anC
smoking hulk, her stern lifted, and she swung
heavily round and went up broadside on the
beach.
Some few provisions were saved from tn,
wreck, such az salt beef, pork, molasses, vine.
gar, few tin cans Of preserved meats and som,
cheese, but no water, nor was there drop Of
water on the island, which we have before CD
served, was utterly barren and uninhabited.-
The usual amount Of suffering, particularly
among The women and children, was experience
ed. During the first day, attempts were mad,
by the survivors, after burying the dead, t.
procure water BY cOndensing steam, but the ex
pertinent failed.
There were now some two hundred and sey
enty souls cengregated on the beach, and they
all went without tasting water for fifty.sii
hours; the salt provisions only aggravated theil
1ufsriags. Shortly after the scene we hav,
described above, party started for the neigh
boring mountains, and on reaching their sum
NIT they were enabled to doscry Magdalent
Bay on the mainland opposite, from which the
Island OF Margarita is renewed some ffteer