New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-05-09


SnI overheard and By swimming hoped 30 gain the shore
he breakers running high with sheavy the act seemed
neshsble DEATH as proved to many an unfortunate soul
agtnent were filed with than women, and sue
s<sded IN reaching the shore In vain did Capt Sampson
and Pusr Freedom cry for these boats TO retsrn 70 The
induce the crew 10 return With them Amer leaving hs
frt time only got of by the ndefatgabe exerons
Mr Heron, the steward returned In ths meaonme' on
Mr. Collins the Engineer, and Capt Sampson as well ~
many Of the PASSENGER Men Of wealth were offering large
spreading screamed frantcaly the former shifting their
brsass be latter tearing their disbeveed hair The scenes
b<gg2red description. Wealth and poverty were on an
equality and sank together 10 rise Females coma
be clsmbng down the aides Of the ship cIngng With
deatklke tenacty 70 the ropes rigging and arooaro ~
Some were hanging by their skirts which unioI.a d
Esfsly IN their Efforts 10 jump overheard hAa ass
as swung crying piteO1sly and horribly until me n.ns
relieved them from awful position By dissngsgus s -
clothes, using them 10 drop and sink 10 t9e yrny
heibes going to meet Their FOND s zee them de-
by the fury of the flames. and trusted 20
chance to take Their bodies 70 s and
Relatives As affections and friendship ues were ABOUT 70
be sundered are beyond human Description Many an eye
spoke the gentle goodby though the lips moved not An
NJ terys were the lamentations Of the dying as they
were coutending between hope and watery grave As
passed through the snr how horribly sounded the Pteous
drowning bodies OF the passengers and crew OF the steamer
Independence God what situation TO be in Planks,
and covered with human beings sffg
ling eDergecay for life waited to the shore others
ont 10 sea- some sinking others beng niraeuously pre-
served -'e saw females and children providsntially
~. yhe.e lost Here was kind husband. who had
s@I 'esee God 10 protect her whom bis soul loved
q. xxinQ for her safety there father bearing his
ssconaie son p safety 20 the shore looking around but
80 20 wife Of his love dIshed from the position IN
which he had left her by the mad and minimizing men
umping upon Der and driving her TO the boomess deep
On The shore what scene At time when money had
value could be seen the sacregious psgng and plum
- n a.. uondv
bodies Of clothing securing the contents OF Their pockets
and actually qUaIreiDg yea fighting over corpse ior the
plgDder But this is too horrible SuinGe 20 Dc saa tn
$50 Of the 400 souls the Independence had found
wstry grave The balance driven ashore on lone
barren e destitute Of every essential Of life My God!
Over two hundred souls away upon desered and for
bidding isle, many oppressed and heart broken with gue
others completely exhausted with their severe exerons IN
the water and furnishing for the want OF water with
which tlske their thirst and this too with no present
hope Of relief furnishes anything but an inviting picture
could have done much better had there been any water
Of drBkabe character 10 be found Here and there were
men the assures in the rocks catching water in spoons
which would take minute two 10 fill This being brack
isb only thirst Fortunately Mr. Freedom thought
Of condenspg water and Mr. Collins quickly set about
arranging bis boilers for the work by this plan we were
enabled 10 obtain about pint of water in seven minutes
which was considerable relief but not sufficient 10 satisfy
thirst After living in this manner for three days we spoke
Me ships Meteor Capt Jees, Omega Capt Fisher james
Baury Capt WhedOn, and the bark Clement Capt Lane
who than they were advised OF our SITUATION
dropped their work in the Bay of Magdaena rendered US
Me Inequalities Of their ships sent us food and water and
rendered all the assistance which generous noble and
gallant men could. In the meantime, Capt Sampson was
sui hard work for relief and succeeded in bringing
schooner, which being quite small and inconvenel the
ship Meteor with her whole soued Captain was hired to
bring San Francisco whittier have arrived after
passage Of some four weeks from the Isle Of wrecDg
Here we are asked the for this destruction Of
human life this waste Of property this sunderng OF the
which God had put together and we answer by stating
he facts we have them from persons knowing them,
md whose statements are now In our possession.
II was not hazy" morning, but clear ever broke
spon the earth For ten to fifteen minutes previous to the
cleaners striking the rocks could be The breakers
or long time before plainly visible as well as the
and At halfpast in the morning the boat was heading
rsght for the island and there was no change in her
,ourse till she was STAYED in her mad by striking
'pon the rocks There reef extending into in
Ouherly direction from the island The rocks against
which the Independence struck laid down upon the
harts The currents by which is said she was drawn IN
the shore are spoken of in the nautical a'nanacs
Boats long previous to this have been drawn in there and
wrecked and man lives that is fit to command ship
For the ruhulness of all these statements have the
Ieraciy of twenty-five men, who saw what we have
,snated.
the books 10 keep away from the entrances into hagda
ena Bay on account Of the strong currents there with
mt this knowledge previous TO coming near the Island
rben the break could be for long time and the
ocks themse for considerable spaceand sutcienta AT
east 10 have avered the iden good men will swear
does not ressby to the mind Of every one that
he Captain who would stand upon the wheel house of his
hip and permit her to be stove in upon rocks plainly to be
een is either insane one Of the earths most hearess
creatures 7
That be was insane no one will say, would to God he
,ould That the act deliberate and Intentional can
Ind we believe will, be successfully established
T. DROwN.
In addition to the above the following article signed by
$50 passengers and Of the Of the late lndPend
tnces
ave the undersigned surviving passengers and OF
me steamship Independence authorize Ezra Drown, Esq
10 subscribe names to article for the public press TO
prepared by him. which he may charge the loss OF the
steamship Independence, on the 10th of February m to
ne careleSsness, uismanagement or wialness Of Capt
SAMPSON" Sigsed by X. HA1CH, and some ID others
An affidavit has been filed by the |. District Attorney
before Henry b. James Esq L. s Commissioner charging
Capt Sampson, Of the steamer independence with man
Slaughter Capt s. appeared before the Commissioner
waived an examination and entered into bonds for his sp
pearance in the against him. We also are informed
hat Grand jury will at once be applied for and that
thorough and searching examination will take place into all
causes of the loss of the steamer and that nothing
whatever will be spared the part of those charged with
he responsibility OF this investigation, to see that every
fact and circumstance connected with shall be elected
In the meantime is but an act OF justice 10 the defendant
that public opinion shall be suspended until the evidence
Is furnished which just and fair conclusion can be
based.
A number Of citizens have undertaken the humane task
Of collecting subscriptions for the relief OF the destitute pas
sengers wrecked the i'll ated Independence The sutor
ngs Of these uniorunaes described As really affecting
Women and children e without protection frendless
and in need Of the necesSares OF life, food and
clothing The members of the dramatic corps Of the San
Francisco Thester including Mr. George LOder and the eX
ceen orchestra under his direction have volunteered their
services for the purpose OF giving dement, 10 soch OF the
surviving passengers OF the III ted Independence may
require assistance.
The steamer Sea Bird sent puisuit Of the lndepend
enee has returned san Francisco Gaining intelligence
Ut the loss OF the Independence she visited tae wreck
which was burnt down 70 the water edge Nothing living
was 20 be seen in the neghborheod Her officers report
that the place where the independence was run ashore
~.