Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-08-11
The following, from our young friend and
patron in California, is quite welcome. Ed.
For the Freeman.
Wreck of the independence.

the Nicaragua Steamship Independence, upon
her last trip up TO San Francisco, and having
been one Of her passengers at the time, and
knowing all The circumstances connected there
with, have thought that perhaps few facts and
incidents might not be uninteresting to you.
We started from San Juan, February 5th, all
in good spirits, with fair prospect of safe and
speedy passage to the land of golden dreams.
The ship bore every appearance of comfort and
ease, and we congratulated each other upon the
character Of our officers and crew.
We had pleasant trip up the Coast to Accu
pulco, at which place we stopped to obtain coal
and water. These necessary arrangements be-
ing made, we fred our parting salute, and put
out to sea again, amid the prolonged cheers Of
the passengers. The Bay of Acapulco is one
Of the safest and most conmodious of any upon
the coast, and presents to the wondering gaze of
the stranger the most beautiful landscape scene
ry ever witnessed. In fact, the entire coast is
not wanting in variety and interest.
As soon as we gained the open sea, we were
struck with strong head winds, and as we con.
tinued our course the wind increased in violence
When three days ont from Acapulco we passed
Cape ST. Lucas-the wind still raging with I'M
abated fury, and blowing almost hurricane
But yet we feared nothing, having the utmost
confidence in our officers, and in the strength
| a nd On ilinr nno litio, &c orr vae,ol
That night we all retired to lest, thinking and
dreaming of naught but wealth, friends and hap.
piness. But alas how soon were those fond
re'nembrances and glowing aspirations 10 be
come replaced with the awful realities of a ship
wreck at sea! At halt past five the following
morning, we were aroused from our slumbers by
the striking Of the ship upon sunken reef
The shock was so sudden, and struck with such
force, as to nearly throw US from our hunks. All
rushed simultaneously upon deck, TO ascertain
the cause and character of this sudden and un
expected encounter. We found the captain and
mate standing together on the wheel house, ga
zing intently at a high promontory of rock,
which laid about stones throw from the ship
This bluff of rocks was about two thousand feet
high, and almost perpendicular The chip lay
upon one side, and the surf washed upon her
decks at every swell.
During this time much excitement prevailed
upon deck, Some were running this way, and
Others that way scarcely knowing for what pur-
pose. Others were crowding round the captain
and officers to learn from their lips the probable
fate Of the ship and passengers, while many
were seeking fiends and acquuintances to die
in each others embrace. Loud above the cries
and exclamations Of the excited throng was
heard the order from the captain to have the
ships bottom examined Immediately. Then all
was again silent, save the echo of the distant
surfs as they beat against those huge monuments
of time. All seemed to fully understand that
the time had come when their fate would seem
decided. Soon the examining officer returned
and reported break at about mldship, and eight
feet of water in the hold The captain ordered
the engineer to back her of the rock. This
done, she iighted. Many then commenced
pumping and bailing, but all to no purpose-'he
water continued to rise very rapidly in spite Of
all our exertions.
After has,y consultation, the captain con
cluded that she could not live long at sea, and
therefore must be beached Immediately. FoI
this purpose, he ordered the engineer to put on
all the steam he could, so as to be able to run
her up the coast, TO q more convenient and safe
place. Every combustible matter which could
be obtained was thrown into the furnace, even
the gded moulding and carved Partitions Of the
Ladies Cabin were torn out and thrust into thai
rolling sea O. fame.
The water had now risen SO high as to nearly
stop the hue of The furnace, and the engine mus
soon stop her motion. How valuable even those
few moments to US. The engineer reported the
state Of affairs under his control, and the helms
man was ordered to head her direct to the shore
In a few moments we struck, within sbout five
hundred yards OF the beach. Immediately the
engine stopped. Providence had smiled upor
our last exerlions, for we struck rather off low
sandy beach, more accessible than any spot uE
the coast for miles although even there the
surf rolled extremely high.
As soon as she struck, every exerton was pu
forth by her officers and crew to secure a line
from the ship to the shore, by the aid Of the
small boats. But all in vain. livery boat tina
madc the attempt was Immediately swsmped il
the rolling swells. At last one of the sailori
seized the line, made it fast 10 his body, swan
ashore, and secured it to projecting rock. Thf
remaining boat was then lowered, an old Sc,
captain, who was one Of the passengers, jumped
into it, and called loudly for the women ant
children to jump iuto the sea, and he would hau
them into the boat and save them. Soon tn,
boat was filed, and he brought them safely Il
the shore, through the aid of the line.
At this moment, the pent flames had burs! thei
prison doors, and caught Immediately in severa
places in the ship Soon the main portion o
her deck was shrouded in the burning flames.-
The only chance then left was to jump into th'
sea and endeavor to reach the shore, All wert
throwing themselves upon this their last hope.
cast my eyes for moment around the scene.-
Hundreds we're struggling in the water. Man!
| could see locked in each others arms, in th
last agonies of death-others grasping witt
their hands to find something with which TO saw
their lves-others cheering the dropping spirit
of some friend or acquaintance, and endeayor
ing to gel them safely to the shore.
But the scorchlng heat soon called me to re
alize my own situation. had no doubt bu
what could reach tho shore, if could avo
the masses of struggling and drowning victims
la view Of these facts, threw myself into tn