, 1853-04-23
rERRIBLE CITlSTROpHE.
TOTAL LOSS or THE
Steamship Independence
One Hundred aud Seyeniy-TiVe Lives Lost!

0JeaInshlp 1nuepenuelCS
One Hundred and SeIeuty-Tiye Lives Lost!
([From tie Alta CslifJruis, March 5i.l
TRe~PaNfcutaTs Of this TERRIBLE shipwreck
was brought to the city last blight at a late
hour by Capt Sampson and Dr. Torbert,
who left the whaleship Netebr fifty miles
outside of the Heads. \
Statement of Capt. Sampson.
ME~sEs. EplroEs-I am unlerrbe pain
ful necessity of reporting the loss \of the
steamer " Independence" lately under my
command, on her passage from San Juan
del Sud to this port, and about one huhdred
and twenty-five lives, consisting Of thd pas
sengers and fifteen of the crew. She was
lost on the Island of MaTgarita, off the coast
Of Lower California. After leaving Aca-
pulco, we experienced strong Breezes from
/ NV. TO y. Passed Cape ST. kucas On the
morning Of the 10th FcbluarS-At u
o'clock NJ of the 10th, we were in latitude
% o. n. long. l10 ~ w. stcered NV.
/ by Wl-2W. per compass, intending to 60 10
the westward Of Margarila leland.
On the morning Of the 10th, at ! O'Clock
A. NJ, made the main land TO the eastward
of the island, having been set in-shore by
| the current. Altered the course to S. W.
At 2 A. N. made the Island of Margarila,
the south point bearing w. by S. per com
pass then altered the course 10 w. S. w.
] intended TO give the point berth of three
miles, but owing 10 haze over the land !
was deceived in the distance. AT fifteen
minutes past 5, just as day was breaking,
she struck on a sunken reef extending Of
| from the south point of the island about q
mile from the shore. The sea was very
smooth at the time, not breaking on the
reef al all. Backed the engine, and she
came off; examined the hold and found that
she was filling rapidly knew that ! should
have 10 beach her to keep her from sinking
got n sail over the bow (undcr herr to try
to stop the leak, and set gang Of men at
work at each hatchway bailing, and ran
along the west side of the island, close in, to
find good place TO put her ashore. Told
the engineer TO let me know FIVE minutes
before the water would be up high enough
to put out the fires. When we had run
about four miles, the engineer came up and
reported the water nearly up to the fires,
and that they would be extinguished in a
few minutes. Pot the helm hard a-port,
and ran her ashore into a small cove on the
southwest side Of the island, head on. Low
cred boat, and sent the mate and two men
in her to run a line 10 the beach, which wa,
about hundred yards distant, but the boat
preached to and was swamped in the surf
Lowered another boat, and sent three mer
in her with another line, which they sue
ceetled IN getting ashore. l now ascertain.
ed that the ship was on fire. Told the en-.
gineer to take his men and put out the fire
if possible Ordered the other two boats tC
be lowered, and to come forward, and the
women and children to come 10 the forward
gangway; loaded both boats with women
and children and sent them ashore.
The ship bad now swung round broad.
side on. The mate and two men came of
with the boat that took the line ashore, and
she was Immediately loaded with women
and children, and went ashore with them
The fire originated from the furnaces. Il
was necessary, after the steamer struck on
the reef to use wood and boards for fuel, in
order 10 keep up steam until she struck on
the beach, when the water was so high as
to stop the dra0 from the lower floor, which
forced open the furnace doors, and the
flames rushed out and caught the wood
work in the 6re-room, and also around the
smoke-stack, thence spreading very rapidly
Every effort was made to get the fire under,
but Of no avail The flames were now com.
ing up from the hatchways, fre-Toom, en-
CINE room, ventlators, and around the smoke
stack everything was CONSERVATION and
dismay the people seemed completely be.
wildered, and were jumping overheard by
dozens.
The scene was perfectly horrible and in
describable - men, women and children
screeching, crying and drowning. order
ed the spars, matches, tables, and everything
that would float, to be thrown overheard
which was done, and they were immediate
ly covered with people. About an hour af-
ter The ship struck the beach she was in a
perfect sheet of fame, and there was no one
on board of her except one Of the coal pass
ers, named Beaumont, a I'd myself
The smoke-siack bad fallen, and the
promenade deck forward had tumbled in
the flames were cosling out Of the side
lights, and it was impossible TO stay on
board longer. A boat came off from the
shore with two of the deck hands in her -
Beaumont, who was near the fore rigging,
jumped into her, and jumped overheard,
swan 10 her, aud commenced picking up
those who were aAoat After picking up
three boat loads, Thomas Herrsn, the Stew.
ard, succeeded in launching another boat
and saving some of the people. When all
that were alive had been picked up, and
some Of the baggage, | landed, and bad the
sPars which had dnfIed ashore hauled up
into rayine,. and with one old sail that had
washed ashore. made n tent LARGE enougb In