The Nevada journal., 1853-04-15
Per Wells, Fargo 4 90.
LOSS OF THE S. S. LEWIS.


The Vanderbilt steamer S. S. Lewis,
a most unscaworthy craft, went ashore
few miles north of Bolinas Bar, on Sa-
tur,lay, 9th inst The passengers were
all saved. We take the following from
the AHd
Tho spot where the s. s. Lewis was
wrecked is about eight miles nsrth of
the wreck Of the Tennessee. or eleven
miles above ':the Heads,n where q point
makes out and dangerous reef pre-
sents an appalling line of breakers at
high tide. The Lewis struck during a
dense fog, at iow tratcr, upon some of
the rocks off this point Of land. Had
she gone among them at high water, it
would have been impossible to have lam
ded her passengers with safety. She
struck at about o'clock A. NJ, and
Capt. Sparrow is said to have expressed
his conviction that the tide had set him
upon Mile Rock, and acting on this, he
attempted to back her off. Scarcely,
however, had her propellers made do
zen revolutions, when she thumped
astern, and the fog partially lifting,
Capt. S. was enabled to perceive the
beach cables length ahead. He now
reversed the engines, finding it imposs;-
bic to extricate the vessel from among
the breakers, and ran her for the beach.
She struck on a ledge of rocks and roll
ed heavily from side to side, sustaining
considerable injury from the first shock
of the rock and wave.
The passengers were but little alarm
ed, after the excitement of putting the
vessel ashore was over, and it was not
until two hours after she struck that the
boats were lowered. She was we'll pro-
vided with boats, and all the passen-
gers and their baggage with some ship
stores were laRaed without difficulty.
Tho last load left the ship about 10 A.
M. Atabout IL o'clock the female por-
ton of the passengers were escorted to
MIR. Plumbe's saw mills, about miles
from the wreck, where they were COM
fortably provided with food and quarters
for the night. The men took up their
lodgings on the beach, sheltered by
cove near the wreck.
On her way to the scene of the disas-
ter. the Active passed through field of
drift consisting of mattresses, bench
es, spars and loose timber, which had
floated down from the wreck; and what
was the surprise Of all on board to find
that of the wreck itself, barely the hull
remained The 8 S. Lewis, in one
night, had completely gone to pieces
At the point on which she struck was to
bo seen fragment of her hull-the low
er portion-and even this remnant was
being fast washed apart. Her timbers
are strewn along the beach A portion
Of her upper works had become olsen
gagged from the main wreck and drifting
a few hundred yards to the southwark,
had sought an easy death among a more
formidable line of breakers. Only these
two vestiges of the steamer remain up
on the rocks.
So perished the S. S. Lewis, and thus
has she sunk in the embrace of ocean in
single night. Looking upon her wreck
one would almost imagine it to be the
remains of vessel lost in the latter
part of the last century.
The steamers Goliah and the Active
were busily occupied during the whole
morning yesterday in transporting pas
sengers from the beach Cat the mouth
of Bolinas Bay) to their decks. The la
dies were all recalled from the saw
mill and safely with the exception of
slight wetting, put on board the steam
els. The u. 5. revenue cutter Frolic,
Capt Ottinger, was also actively engag-
cd in service at the wreck during yes
terday forenoon.
We understand from her agents that
the S. s. Lewis was insured for $150, 900
in New York.