The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-04-29
THE DAILY DISPATCH
Friday Morning. April 30, 1883.
TIE BURNING OF THE INDEPEN-
DENCE.
SOME MORE OF THE INCIDENTS.

loss o the steamer lndependence-one OF the
most dreadful cases Of shipwreck on record
some further account of the incidents OF the
event:
The San Francisco Herald says: The In.
dependence, as all who had TO do with her
will remember, was never favorlte ship; in
the present instance, it is stated that most of
the passengers went on board at San Juan
with species of anxiety, resulting from the
appearance of tie steamer, and apparent inca |
paciiy, in point of size, 10 accommodate SO
many human beings without prsspect Of some
casualty. Our lntormants observed, that il
was the opinion OF nInelenlhs OF The pas5en-
gers that the chances were against their reach
ing San Francisco. The ship was crowded.
so much so, that many were without berths
and obliged TO sleep on deck. With the crew,
and fourteen who came on board at Acapulco,
we understand there were four hundred and
fourteen souls on board.
The passengers were orderly enough until
| the fire broke out; they saw the smoke coming
up from below, and some asked the Captain
| and crew if the ship was on fire; the answered
| no, and that there was no danger. They be-
| lieved themselves safe, even as TO the preser-
vat0n OF their baggage, and so great was this
feeling ofsecurity that some of the ladies re-
manned in bed. When the flames began to
burst forth, and the alarm of fire was sounded,
confusion and fright began to reign; men
| seemed deprived of reason by excess of terror,
| and leaped wildly into the sea, where they
bufieted the waves frantically for a time and
then went down like lead. The first boat that
| was sent To communicate by line with the
| shore was swamped, the sailors clung TO her
and were thrown in safety on the beach,
| Another boat was started under the guidance
| OF Captain Steene; this succeeded in reaching
| the shore with line.
| The following act of devotion and its unfor-
| tunate result is sad to relate Mr.. Taylor
swan to the shore with his child upon his back
| and placed the infant in safety upon the bank;
| then, through the masses of wreck, through
| floating spars and struggling swimmers, he
made his way back to where he had left his
wife clnging, in the water, to the rudder post
he bore her also TO the beach, but she had been
so much bruised by being repeatedly dashed
| ygainst the ships bottom BY the heavy waves,
| that she did not survive TO bless her husband
| tor his desotion; she died on board the Meteor.
| Mr.. Saunders, and four others, hoated three
miles out 10 sea upon hen coop; they were
picked up by Capt Sampson, who went to
their relief in boat. The water was chilling
cold, and they were completely exhausted and
benumbed with clinging beneath its surface
for several hours, to their frai raft, 1t is sup
posed that many hoated out to sea and were
lost, the tide was on the ebb; there was an
cIdy at the bow, and some were drowned by
being drawn under by the suction of the sail
that had been passed beneath.
There were four boats in all, three of which
were OF iron; they were capable of holding 10
persons each. a gentleman, whose name we
did not learn, attempted 10 swim ashore with
his child upon his back, and supporting his
vile by handkerchief to which she chung !;
she was torn away, but managed TO cling 10 a
rope, while he proceeded and saved the child.
He then returned to his wife, and they both
started again. Just then, person jumped
from the ship, and falling, struck the lady up
on the head she was stunned and immediate
ly sank, despite her husbands efforts the lat
ter iouted 10 sea upon a spar; he was an En-
glshman, and good swimmer, but was ex
| hausted with his efforts; he was about TO let
go in despair, when fellow passenger, hard
| by, cried out to him TO hold, boat was com.
ing. He did so, and was saved.
| AS the swimmers approached the shore,
planks were thrown out 10 them, and those that
mad regained a little strength waded out into
the surf TO lend helping hand TO their COM
rades many, as they came in, fell exhausted
upon the sand, where they lay motoness for
half an hour, completely prostrated with exces-
| sIYe extriIOn. The ladies displayed the Ut.
most kindness and consideration they tended
upon the sufferers, supplied them from the
scantv wardrObes they had saved with articles
OF clothing, (for many OF the poor "retches
came utterly naked to iand,l and made canvas
| shoes 10 protect their feet while traveTslng the
island in search Of succor.
They remained on the island three days and
two nights during which time they suffered
much from lack of water; several wafer casks
tlOated ashore, but the liquid they contained
was found so impregnated with salt as 10 be
useless. On Thursday they obtained barrel
OF molasses and another of vinegar; they mixed
the two, and it answered the purpose OF
quenchins their thirst. Afterward they man
aged 10 drill a hole into a rock with spikes
which furnished scant supply of brackish
water, which they sucked through quilis.-
Eight miles from inland some more water
was discovered, and several went thither in
search of it. The island is barren and dest
tute Of all vegetation, except a species oi
! priCkly pear; several coyotes were seen, bul
Nc other signs OF life.
About fifty of the passengers carried one OF
the ships boats, weighing about ton, across
the island on their shoulders, and launched bel
in Marguerite bay. They also carried across q
: small cannon, procured from the wrecF, and q
lille powder which by chaLce was brought
, | ashore; there was sufficient TO fire the piece
twice, whereby they attracted the attention o
those on board the whaleships, who were lying
some twelve miles of. The captains of thost
vessels Immediately dispatched boats ashore
win provisions dn0 water. he ShlpWrecReL
party were taken off in the boats and distrbu
ted among the different vessels, aboard which
! they remained fifteen days; the Meteor wai
J then chartered, and all went aboard excepting
E some twenty, including several ladies, whC
o preferred to proceed in another ship to thu
y Sandwich Islands.
= The Captain made great exertions to give re
l. lief 10 the survivors. With q boat and som
sailors he went 10 the North Of the island il
search ola vessel. lie found a schooner whici
had only some sixty gallons of water on board
e He obtained twenty of that and some pro
e visions aud returned, but arrived after the SUI
p viVorsa had gone across the island. He ha
: been out and greatly exposed for space OF 5
hours The suIf was breaking so heeyii
- that he could not land He went round IN
- North point of The island TO where the boats all
e survivors were
~ The merchants of Norfolk are movin
= on the subject of ferry from the Seaboard o
s, The Portsmouth side to Norfolk, on which sha
be transported produce in bulk and passer
a Il