Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1853-1853, 1853-05-04
While this sys-

Bhipwrerked and The whaling neetI announcer PSr"
ty had taken an iron boat belonging to the steam
er and carried it bodily across to the leo side Of
the island, and there launched il, to pull for the
feet; on their way they fell in with the re-
turning whaling boats, who were Obeying the
signal to return.
The news Of the wreck Of the steamer and
the dreadful sufsrings Of the passengers aroused
all the natural instincts Of sailor hospitality inl
the crews Of the ships. Every boat was at once
called into reaulsition-they were loaded down
with provisions and dispatched to the scene OF
wreck the assistance did not arrive moment
too soon; the women and children were COM
pletely exhausted by abstinence. and their sui
feringS by the deprivation OF water were most
acute. Purser Freeborn went on beard the
ship Omega, Captain Fisher, where every at
tention was shown him and his companions.
Captain Fisher also sent directions that the SUI
ferers should cross over To the lee side Of the
island, where boats would be in readiness to-
convey them on board the ships.
Among the incidents Of the day arter the
wreck child was born on the beach, and is
now healthy and thriving; the mother was car
riel across the mountains in a hammock and
even walked part Of the way to the boats.
Many Of the passengers, especially among the
The dead were buried near the wreck. HOles
were dug in the sand with boards, and each
corpse received separate grave. The number
known to have periShed is one hundred and for
ty, and as the graves number sixty, there were
Of course, eighty who were drowned or burned
and whose bodies were not recovered,
We have not yet completed our list Of those
who were buried on the island, but notice among
the names those Of Mr.. Lehman, Of Missouri;
Asa Kittridge, Waukegan, ILL.,, a lame man,
name unknown, had wife and child near Eli
zabeth, Ill. They had money on their persons,
which is in the keeping Of Mr.. Brigham, at the
Office OF the Vanderbilt Line. The body Of
SenSr LARGO, Of Valparaiso, was not recovered
He was a Chilian gentleman Of wealth and
standing in Valparaiso; finding himself driven
into the flames, he turned to few who were
about him and offered $4,000 to any person
who would assist him 20 save his life; but in
such moment none could think Of the offer.-
Seeing that his end was near, Sener LARGO said:
"Fare well 1t is only once" and plunged into
the water; he was quickly drowned.
The body of Martin O'Meara, an Irish
man, was also lost; he had many friends in
New Orleans. DR.. Shaw, who was among
the passengers, went back to Mexico by
the way of La Paz and Mazatlan; he was
carried out by the under tow Of the surf
beyond the steamer, but eventually reached
the shore by incredible exerlions. When
he had landed he threw himself upon the
back and wspt like child. After the In.
dependence swung round broadside TO the
beach her coal took fire, and the sight will
long be remembered by those who saw it.
The mass Of coal became thoroughly igni-
ted, and seen through the blackened ribs
Of the the ship, il gave her the appearance
Of gigantic CRATE of coal-fire. We shall
furnish our readers with still furthur inter.
esting particulars respecting the loss of the
Independence in to-morrOw's paper. We
shall hold our columns open for commune
cations from the passengers who may wish
70 make any statements concerning the
affair.
We sincerely trust that this dreadful oc.
currence will be thoroughly investigated by
the public authorities, as in the case of the
Lexington, in 1888, and In that of the
Render and Henry Clay, in late years. A
large number Of fellow beings have been
suddenly cut off from existence by the ter
rible agency of fire and shipwreck. Of the
cause Of this lamentable disaster we are
not yet prepared TO speak, We hope,
however, that in the investigation about 10
be made, nothing may be ELECTED to mar
the confidence Of the public In the probity
Of the Vanderbilt line, or the capability oil
Capt. Sampson and his officers.
The sacred trust Of hundreds Of lives i'm.
posed upon n ahinnnaatar raniiiro m hi.