The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-04-26


about hundred and twenty lives consisting of the
passengers and fifteen of the She was lost the
island Of Margarta off the coast Of Lower California
After leaving Acapulco, we experienced strong breezes
from NV. to N. Passed Cape St Lucas the morning
Of the 18th of February At 12 o'clock, Of the 18TH
we're in lat. % "a NJ lon 11O AZ w. steering NV by
WW per compass, intending to go to the westward Of
Margarita Island. On the m ,rnDg Of the 16th at l
O'Clock made the main land to the eastward Of the
Island having been set in shore by the current Altered
the course to SW. At AM, made the Island of Mar
garita the south point bearing w. by s. per compass.
then altered the course to WSW.
intended to give the point berth of three miles, but
owing to haze the land deceived in the dis
tance. At fifteen minutes past Ave. just as day was be-
ginning to break, she struck sunken reef extending
of the south point Of the island, about mile from the
Shore The sea very smooth at the time not break
ing on the reef at all Backed the engine and she came
off, examined the told and found that she was filling ra
pdy knew that would have to beach her to keep her from
sinking got al the bow under her to try to stop
the Leak and set gang Of to work at each hatchway
baLg and ran along the west side Of the island close
in to find good place to put her ashore Told the En-
gneer to lot know five minutes before the water would
run about four miles the Engineer cane up and eDorsd
the water nearly up to the fres and that they would
extngushei in few minutes Put the helm hard port,
and ran her ashore in small the southwe Il
side of the island, head Lowered o boat and
sent the mate and two men In her to run a line
ashore 10 the beach, which was about one hundred
yards distant, but the boat broached-to and was
swamped in the surf Lowered another boat and sent
three men in her with another line which they succeeded
fire. Told the engineer to take his men, and put ont
the fire If possible Ordered the other two boats to be
lowered and to come forward and the women and chill
dren to to the forward gangway loaded both boats
with women and children, and sent them ashore The
two men came on With the boat that took the line
and she was Immediately loaded with and chill
dren snd went ashore with them The FIRE originated
struck on s 70 wood and for se IN
order to keep up steam until she struck the beach
lower ues, which forced open the furnace DOORS and
the flames rushed out and caught the wood work in the
6re-I oom, and also around the smoke stack thence
the fire under, but Of avail. The flames we're now
coming up from the hatchways FIRE room, engine room
vcntators, and around the smoke stack everything
CONSERVATION and dsmay the people seemed completely
bewildeIed, and were Jumping overheard by dozens.
men, women. and children s,reeching, crying, and
drowning ordered the spars, matches, tables and
DONE and they immediately covered with pso.
ple About hour after the ship the beach, she
was in perfect sheet of flame, and there
beard except of the coal named Beau
mont and myself. The smoke stack had fallen and the
promenade deck forward had tumbed the flames were
coming cut of the side lights and it impossible to
with two of the deck hands in her. Beaumont who was
near the fore rigging jumped into her and jumped
those who aoat After picking up three boat loads
Thomas erren the steward succeeded in launching ano
ther boat and saving some of the people.
When all that alive had been picked up and some
of the baggage landed and had the spars which had
sail that had washed ashore made tent large enough to
shelter the women and children. The ship still In
flames that impossible for any to board her
gave the mate and engineer orders to have the dead
taken up above high water mark and buried to board
the wreck possible and all the provisions
ar water that they could then took boat and four
null the north of
to ngdalena Bay in search Of assistance expecting to
find some ships there We pulled until 10 O'Clock that
night when, not being able to see vessels and not
knowing in what direction to pull, landed the north
shore Of the entrance to Magdaena Bay hauled the
pull across the bay. After pulling an hour and half.
d covered vessel ctse in to the main lind pulled for
schooner A. Emery, Captain Gordon. The captain and
most Of the crew were ashore looking for water set
signal and they came on board
Captain Gordon sad that he had been ip the bay FIVE
days, and that there were other vessel in ths bay
After stating the circumstances Of the wreck to him he
gallons Of wafer on board at the time and take the sur
vivors to San Jose Cape ST. Lncas where they could
get the necessaries Of life, until other assistance could
be rendered them-and he immediately got under way
ard commenced beating out. At daylight Of the 18TH it
being calm and the schooner being long the
wreck took twenty gallons Of water and sack OF bread
in the boat and started for the camp, expecting to find
the people suffering for water there none the
island fit to drink Arrived abreast of the wreck at e
NJ, having been gone from there fifty one hours The
surf breaking very heavily making it dangeous to
land The mate came down on the beach and said that
the had the island and that had
better pull around the south end of the island to the
other side, which did and found the boats and
from the whale ships Omega James Maury, Meteor and
bark Clement busy engage at work taking the passen
gers board the ships which lay about twelve miles
distant from the point Of embarcaon in the lower bay
While was away in the boat the mate and engineer
had gone the island the ships and boats sig
paled them, and obtained relief then took boat and
and started of to meet the schooner and take her
back into the bay, where arrived the morning Of
the GOTH then went on board the ships and mustered
apaIty of men, and went the island to the wreck
to and bring all the provisions could find.
saw steamer bound down the coast about six miles dis
tant We ade signals for her, but she did not notice
them. Launched boat and took two men in, and at
tempted get off to speak her. but the surf which
breaking very heavily at the time swamped the boat and
broke Of the oars, and when reached the shore
again was much exhausted that ! could not make
another attempt
After getting all the provisions that had been saved
which occupied two days. chartered the ship Meteor
Captain Jeres take all to San Francisco to sail
as soon as the vessel could be made ready. While the
ship being fitted took boat and crew from the
ship Omega and lay Off and the island the look out
for steamer, hoping to speak one on her passage up
and get assistance from her. but none came IN sght
of us. -
On the Sd of March, everything being ready and the
passengers all on board Except few who chose TO 90
to the Sandwich Islands in the other shps VIC sailed for
this port.
struck, and had been deck the whole night If the
steamer had not taken fire. not soul would have beer
lost for they could ali have been landed safely if there
had been time
TIE reef which the steamer struck il about two
miles long, making of in south eastery direction,
Is not laid down in any Of the charts that have
duct and kind treatment received from Capt J. Fishe
and officers Of the ship Omega Capt Wheldon, Of th
ship JAS nsury Capt JeIes Of the ship Meteor Capt
soon a. they heard Of our situation and rendered
the assistance, and made us ss comfortable as posst
4 .x~v; ;n< <ha hav f,1lv