The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1853-05-03
Terrible Catastrophe !

t~
Independence Great Destruction of
Lite One Hundred and 7wentv
Il. Lives Lost!
BY The editors of the San Francisco
Daily Wing give the following particu-
lars as related to them by DR.. Corbett,
surgeon of the i'll fated steamer:
aWhen the steamer was beachcd
with her bows on, and before the flames
had broken out, o rush was made for
the bows, but the sea, though smooth
off the shore, ran in heavy surf on the
beach, and there was distance Of some
three hundred yards between the YES
sol and the land. Capt. Samson now
gave the order to lower away boat,
aand the chief mate, with one other,
undertook, to carry line to the shore;
the progress Of the boat was watched
with eager eyes by the assembled mul-
titude on board the ship; but as some
of the sailors on board had predicted,
she was swamped by the surf, the line
j was lost: and the venturers, with thoir
boat, wero thrown upon the beach, the
two men barely escaping with their
lives. a second boat was now lowered
and manned by volunteers from among
the firemen, who we do not hesitate to
d say have shown themselves the most
noble hearted and heroic men by their
fortitude and courage through the ter
srible scenes which followed.
These brave fellows reached the
shore and succeeded in making small
three inch hauling line fast to project
ing rock, which was at once hauld
taught by those on board. The precise
object of this line we do not perceive,
as it seems that immediate use was
not made Of it, and third boat was
lowered by order Of the Captain; this
boat was put in charge of Capt. Steel,
an experienced shipmaster, who was a
passenger on board. During this time
the ship remained immovcable, the
surf striking her in the stern, and, per-
haps, tending to set her firmer into the
sand. The third boat having been
lowered, it was found that she was
half full of water and Of no service. un-
less bailed out, and DR.. Corbett spranc
into her for that purpose; this effected,
six ladies were passed down into the
boat, among whom were Miss 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 already on shore rushed into the
rescue of the ladies and dragged them
on to the beach. Doctor Corhett was
in this boat, and gaining the shore.
turned towards the ship at the cries of
terror proceeding from her, and behcld
tue quarter deck envelopcd in flames.
And now ensucd one Of the most
narrowing scenes ever recorded in the
history Of shipwreck; the flames leapcd
rapidly across the after 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 i'm
possible to regain the ship from the
shore, or to render any succor whatev
or; dreadful cries and screams proceed
ed from the ship, which, mingled with
the roaring Of the sea, the cracking of
the flames and shouting of those on
shore, who could only gaze hclplessly
on the sight, must have been an era of
terror in the lives of those who bchcld
it from the beach. AS the flames ad.
vanced, the unhappy victims were
forced into the sea, and every surfcama
freighted with corpses, or exhausted,
half-drowned men, women and chill
dren. Such scene has never before
been witnessed on the Pacific coast
10 add to the excitement, the flames
had now communicated to the powder
magazine, which exploded, tearing the
run and stern to pieces, and splinterng
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
to get within reach of their friends on
shore, were 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 a
strong current making scaward from
the ship. At one moment, not less
than thirty corps2s aud bodies Of the
dying we're in the edge Of the surf. some
of them divested OF clothing. Out of
q party of eighteen Jews who were on
board, sixteen perished from the weight
Of coin, it was supposed, which they
attempted to bring with them through
the waves. The outward current above
mentioned, carried off numbers of per-
sons who were good swimmers, or
foated, VINO would otherwise have been
saved; several women thus floating were
swept away; the 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 man
ly conduct of the sailors, fremen, and
coal -passers. Some of these noble
c.lIo,uS+ n. a, -. 1.,..,