The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1853-05-03


We have received by our California dates,
full account of this heart-rending disaster,
as given by Capt. Samson, and fully corrobo-
rated by statements of the surviving passen-
gers. An account given by DR.. Torbett, de-
pictsthe most narrowing scene ever record
ed in the history of shipwreck. AS we sit
in safety at our quiet homes, and read the
mournful intelligence of SO horrible disaster,
we may experience the most soul-ch:lling
emotions possible to be derived from an ina
ginary picture of the melancholy scene, yet
how feeble must be our conceptions of the
sad realities, Witnessed by the unfortunate
frantic spectator of "ship ON fire." How ter
rible! The ships bottom stove in; the flames
leaping wildly across the deck, sending bu-
man beings in droves into the sea to struggle
for brief moment with the merciess
waves, only to be swallowed up in death be-
meath their lashing surface; the wild screams
and dreadful agonizing shrieks proceeding
from the ship and the dying masses that were
struggling in the surf, with immediate and
certain death staring them in the face, must
have been a picture of terror that would beg
gar description. aaa ft
This sad catastrophe was attsnded with
many certain circumstances of DEATH
the high and lashing surf rolling at the
time rendered it almost impossibls for the
most expert swimmer to keep on the surface
of the water; or for those who we e FORUM
ate enough to reach the shore, to render any
euccor whatsoever, to those in the water Or
on board the burning ship. They could only
gaze helpIessly on the scene before them, as
the ayes came freighted to the beach with
corpses or half drowned men, woman AMI
children. The tide was ebbing at the time
which carried large numbers out to sea, who
soon sunk from exhaustion into lis bosom,
and found their unexpected graves beneath
its deep blue waves. f- =,
The FIRE communicated to the powder ma
gazine, which exploded with terrific violence
contributing its aid to the work of destruc-
ton that had already become terrible beyond
comparison.
This melancholy calamity involving the
loss of SO many precious lives, occurred early
on the morning of the 10th of March, when
about one hundred and fifty human beings
were aroused from their hammocks, perhaps
sweet slumbers and pleasant dreams of a
hopeful future in the land of their destina-
tion-only to be mercilessIy wrapped in the
cold embrace of death, and fall to that sleep
which knows no Weakening. How suddenly
ly changed the scene! How affecting and
heart rending its consequences! Our space
forbids an extended abstract of this awful
occurrence. The Independence, however,
was never favorite ship with those who had
to do with her. In the present instance it is
stated that most Of the passengers went on
board at San Juan with a species of anxiety,
resulting from the appearance of the steam
er, and apparent incaPacity in point of size,
to accommodate SO macy human beings with
out prospect of some casualty. The inform
ants of the San Francisco Herald observed,
that it was the opinion of nine-tenths Of the
passengers, that the chances were against
their reaching San Francisco. Aside from
the incapacity Of the vessel we believe, as
usual in such cases, no blame attaches to any
body. fHdi fjd
Burtis and Cody, from this city, their
friends will no doubt learn with great salts
faction, were among the saved.