Spirit of the age., 1853-05-04
Nrmg uf tb& D0q.

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TERRIBLE DIsAsTER.-The long suspense
in regard to the steamer Independence, which
our California acconnts some time since infor-
med us was missing, with some five hundred !
persons on board has at length terminated in |
the news ola terrible calamity WHICH has beFaI- I
len her, involving the entire destruction by fire
Of the vessel, and the sacrifice of some $50 to
200 human lives.
The telegraphc dispatch from New Orleans,
gives us the dreadful particulars by which it
appears the steamer was burnt on the 10Th of
February, after being run ashore off Margaretta
Island, the passengers to large extent falling
victims to both the flames and the water.
New ORLEANS. April 23.-The steamer
United States arrived here to-day, with Cali
fornia dates of April 1st The steamer Cali
forna left San Francisco for Panama on the
1st, with 50 $50, COON gold on freight
The steamer Independence was lost on the
10th Of February, having been run ashore on
the shoals off NJ MIrgaretta Island. There were
500 passengers on board at the time, all of
! whom leaped into the sea, and of whom $50
to 200 were lost in their efforts to swim ashore
-Margaretta Island is upon the coast of Lower
! California.
| After striking, the independence backed off
| but finding 8 feet water in the hold, Captain
Samson ordered the Pilot to run her on the
beach, three hundred yards from the main land.
! There the ship took Ere from the intense heat
of the furnace, and the flames spreading ra-
pidly, created the most frightful constern alton
among the passengers. Aheavy sea was run
ming at the time, and all the boats were swamp
ed in trying to get ashore. To add to the
horrors of the scene, the fire reached the pow
der magazine, which exploded with terrific
force, SCATTERING the stern of the steamer into
fragments, and blew many passengers into the
air. Others jumped into the sea and were car
{ ried on by the strong current sweeping from
the shore.
Many who had previously reached the shore
were unable to render sufferers any assistance
and were obliged to remain passive spectators
while hundreds of men. women and children
: were perishing by the fire and sea- The shiI
} finally swung around, with her broadside t.
/ the shore, where her coal took fire, and sh
was entirely destroyed. The passengers ga
we'd found themselves OF a barren and uninha
t bited island. without food or water, where the
: remained Sc hours, in a state Of intense suffer
ing. Finally, by firing cannon. they were abl
? to attract the attention of whaling vessels l1y
e ing in Msrdalene B ly. few miles off, wh
came to their assistance with provisions, an
:; in the end took them off.
New ORLEANS, April 23-The number {
persons lost by the burning of the Tndeper
dence is estimated at about 80, including pas
senpers and crew. The remainder Of the 7as
sengers were rescued and taken to San Fral
;, cisco.
# Full particulars are ohand of this sad ca
o astrophe There were l29 lives lost, and tt
t, accounts given of the suferings Of the pa
sengers is truly heart-rending.
The passengers of the Independence Gel
: sure the captain for the manner in which tt
steamer was permitted to strike upon IL
'r reef. They say that the morning was pc
Is fectlv clear, and that the captain was warne
ot of the danger of the ship, to which he r
lie piled $50 to -; mind your own bus
s ness" Afterwards, however, he behave
with great courage and humanity. All IL
r statements prove this.
Id 1t was the opinion of many of those say,
. that the loss of life exceeds l5O, exclusive
C children.
a A ROUND SALARAY.-The New York NJ
n ror states that c. K Garrison, Esq, has be
/" appointed agent ofthe Nicaragua Transit col
i pany, at salary of $4,000 Il wear: in adj
~ ton to which four Insurances Companies. ha
IA agreed to pay him $4,000 each year-ma
ing $40 600. Tot,l amount of salary per ;
,r- mum, One Hundred Thousand Dollars r
,et gentleman takes out letters of credit to dr.
ar for one million month on account of Gc
il dust, and has oaefourth interest in the prof