Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-04-30
The loss of the Indepenaenoe

New York papers contain the details Of the terri
BILE disaster befel the steamer Independence
and her passengers, while on her way to San Fran
cisco. We copy the following particulars from
detailed narrative furnished to the the San Fran
cisco Wing Gy DR.. j. B. forfeit, Surgeon of the
Independence, and one ofthe survivors: c
The is'"nd upon which the Inflated steamer was
wrecked IS situated on the coast of Lower Califor-
ma, loI miles north of the point known as the
Cape st. Lucas. The coast in this region, bold
and rock bound, is in many places inaccessible for
vessels or boats, and presents iron barrier the
luckless ship coasting its rocky projections. The
spot where the steamer struck was point of
sand beach, extending Seaward from the coast of
the island, but covered at high water.
The steamer was going under fine head Of
steam on the 18th of February, when at daybreak,
though before the light perfectly clear, she
suddenly struck and stopped. The land could be
seen towards the coast but very indStinctly. At
the moment the yes ell struck. an indeScrible
scene of confusion occurred board. A rush
was made by The the passengers 10 the various
hatchways. and the upper deck was soon entirely
crowded with human beings. Captain Sampson
was on the wheel-houSe, and at once ordered the
engineer to back her, which was done, the stea-
mer backing oil with apparent ease.
As soon as the vessel was backed into deep wat
er, Capt. Sampson gave secret orders that the
pumps should he sounded, when it was discovered
that there was eight feet of water in her hold But
it was soon found that the ship could not be kent
atloat, and her head pointed up the coast with
the intention OF bleaching her in eSafe and con-
venlent place. To facilitate this, an immense
amount of dry wood was heaped into her furnaces,
and heavy head of steam kept up I,uring this
time quiet had been somewhat restored on board
and the greatest anxiety was manifested in the
progress of the vessel. Daylight had now dawned,
and they found themselves running along rock
bound coast, surmounted by stupendous noun
talns, entirely destitute of verlure aud apparently
uninhabed.
AT length large gulley OF ravine was discover
ed, which appeared to make out into sand Leach,
and into this nook the bows of the steamer were
turned She was beached handsomely and with
considerable force. Had this been the only dan
ger, there is no doubt that every soul on board
would have been saved; but in the exerions to
get up steam to hurry the vessels progress, q tre-
mendouS heat bad been made in the furnaces; the
water, now fast increasing in the vessels hold
stopped the fues and INSTRUCTED the draught into
the chimneys; the furnace doors were OF course
burst open, and vivid volume of flame, twenty
ieet IN length, shot INTO the fire room, driving
everybody before it with the intense heat, and in
Stantly setting the wood work into blaze. All
efforts to control the flames utterly :nefIectu-
al, and from this moment the fire ran rapidly over
the vessel.
During this tine the ship remained immovable,
the surf sinking her in the stern and perhaps tend
ing to set her irmer into the sand. The third boat
having been lowered it was found that she was
half full of water, and of service unless bail
ed OUT and DR.. Corbett sprang INTO her for that
purpose; this effected, six ladies' passed down
lnto the boat, among whom were Mrs. Conway,
Mrs. Haley, Mrs. Seymour and Mrs. Coots; there
were two other ladies' whose names we have not
learned; the boat rode the first breaker but was
filled and swamped by the second and those al
ready on shore rushed Ill to the of the ladies'
and dragged them ON to the beach. Doctor Cor
bett was in this boat and gaining the shore turned
towards the ship at the cries of terror proceeding
from her, and beheld the quarter deck enveloped
III flames.
And now enSued one of the most narrowing
scenes, ever recorded in the history of shipwreck;
the flame leaped rapidly the aft part OF the
ship, driving the masses before it, and dozens
Sprang into the water and were seen struggling in
the surf All the boats were now gone, and it
was impossible to regain the ship from the shore
TO render any Succor whatever; dreadful cries and
screams proceeded from the Ship which, mingled
with the roaring of the sea, the cracking of the
flames and shouting of those on Shore W no could
only gaze helplesSly on the sight, must have been
of terror in the lives of those who behed II
from the beach. As the flames advanced forwa rd,
the unhappy victims were forced into the sea, and
every surf came freghted with corpses or exhaust
ed halt-d1owned men, women and children. Such
scene has never before been witnessed on The
Pacific coast. To add 10 the excitement, the
flames had now communicated TO the powder
magazine, which exploded; tearing the run and
stern to pieces and splntering 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 IL get within
reach OF their friends on shore, 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 current making Seaward
from the ship. At one moment not less than thirty
corEs-s and bodies of the dying in the edge of
the surf, some tf them Invested of clothing. Out
oil party OF eighteen Jews who were on board,
sixteen persisted from the weight OF con it sup
pofed, which they attempted to bring with them
through the waves. The outward current aboy.
mentioned carried off numbers of persons who were
good swimmers, or foated, who would otherwise
hnN hRHn A1.
were swept away; ;he baggage such as would float,
also Went out with the ebb. None of it was saved
by drifting TO the shore.
We have spoken above Of the manly conduct of
the sailors, french and coal passeIs. Some of
these noble fellows, designating their own danger,
seized little children IN their arms, or dashed them
10 themselves, and attempted 10 gain the Shore
Several are known to have thus sacrificed them
selves. we have no space or heart to insert the
numerous affecting instances of courage and self
sacrifice of which we have received accounts
Among the most conspicuous is that of Mr.. TAR,
of Sacramento, who lost his life in attempting to
save a son OF Mr.. Watson. They came ashore To-
gether-both drowned. One of the firemen, whose
name we did not learn, brought on shore two chill
dren, whose parents were both drowned. Another
fireman brought beautiful boy ashore 10 his nlolh
en- who had Just been washed to the beach. Her
husband aud two children were drowned, and she
supposed this child had shared the same fate
The meeting may be imagined.
The purSer of the ship, Mr. James Freedom, re-
a''teu upon the oecK until driven oil by the fire,
when sprnging overheard, he chung to q floating
spar, and was washed ashore insensble; he was
resuscitated but barely escaped with his life being
attacked with violent fever. There is one fire.
man, known as Tom Sawyer, wild, reckless
scamp, but whose faults, be they what they may,
should hencefJrth be forgotten; this brave fellow
entirely stripped, went to and from the wreck four
times; he IS only nineteen years of age. After the
third time, and when nearly exhausted with his
exeItons, he learned that the Chief Engineer, Mr.
Collins, was unable to swim and likely To drown
he Immediately started off again through the surf
with lte-preServer, fastened it around the help
less man and accompanied him to The beeuh; he
was also instrumental in preserving the lives of
several others. =
Some few provisions were saved from the wreck,
such salt beef. pork. rnnlasses. xinenar n Ge.r