Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1853-1853, 1853-05-03
From Inc San Fnuei'cO Wing and Advertise. 49,,
nj suinlng Of the penaAncaSp 'A

@aSyrecked is situated on A. 1.-la'ea steamer
Cai~rnla, l67 miles north ~ ~ .Oa a =. Lower
as the Tape" St, Lucas. The coa.t - h knOwh
;noccss.; I SI ~ rock-bOund, is in MANY places
;"a ior vessels or boats, and nrsssn,s
On barrier TO the luckless shin coastino ;ts
aooay projections. The spot where the ,is,n ~,
tn ''iuoN was on point OF sand beach evterJ.
n5 seawarG from the coast of the Island hut
covered at high water. - ''0 i'ianu' Out
.,oa. n' steamer going under fine head of
steam on the 10th OF February. when a. doW.
oreaK, though before the light was nsrrs",i,,
I.eSr, sue suddenly struck and stopped. The
'anu could seen toward the coast. bnt very IL.
distinctly. AT the moment the vessel ,trncI ~
understandable scene Of confusion occurrsJ ~
beard A rush was made BY the pa,senoer, 70
sne 'uIio ?', na'chways, and the upper deck wa,
soon en'lrey crowded with human beinps.-
capt sampson was on the wheel house, and NJ
once ordered the engineer TO back her, which
was done, the steamer backing off with apparent
case Inc land at this time appeared on the
larooard bow, and made out in a narrow mint
or cape; The sea was smooth, and the steamer
drawing seven feet Of water; no breakers were
visible from any quarter, The conclusion was
not violent, but Of such force as 10 arouse The
whole ship, and in a few moments every soul
on board was on the upper deck. As soon as
me vessel was backed into deep water, Cant.
Sampson gave secret orders that the pumns
should be sounded, when il yas discovered that
there were eight feet Of water in the hold II
was oil Importance that this alarming fact should
be kept from the passengers to prevent confu-
sion, while instant measures were adopted TO
beach the ship, at the nearest available SPOT
The news, however, quickly flew from mouth
to mouth, and then ensued scene Of which no
idea canbe given save by those who have been
similarly situated.
Here was the population OF a small town,
with many women and children, and death star
ipg them IN the face, and no visible means for
snccor at hand. rush was al once made for
the most valuable articles Of private property
Many were thus trampled and bruised, But II
was soon found that the ship could be kept
'iioal' and her head was pointed up the coast
with the intention Of Bleaching her in some con
venient and safe place. To facilitate this ar
immense amount Of dry wood was heuped int
the urncer and heavy head Of steam kept up
Oar informant thinks that they must have rur
M the coast nearly five miles before suitable
place was found. During this time quiet hat
been somewhat restored on board, and the great
est anxiety was manifested in the progress O
the vessel Daylight had now dawned, ant
they found themselves running along a rock
bound coast surmounted by stupendOHs noun
tains, entirely destitute of verdure, and appa
renlly uninhabited. At length a large gully o
rayine was discovered, which appeared 70 max
out into a sand-beach, and into this nook I'll
bows of the steamer were turned. The crow
was now so great around the stern to avoid III
anticipated danger of the conclusion, that tn
helmsman could with difficulty steer the shir
She was however, beached handsomely an
with considerable force. Had this been III
only danger, there is no doubt that every SOL
on board would have been saved but in the eA
ertions 10 get up steam to hurry the the vessel
Drcgress tremendous heat had been made
The furnaces the water, now fast increasing
the vessels hold, stopped the ilues and obstructe
the draught in the chimneys; the furnace door
were of course bursted open, and vivid volum
of flame twenty feet in length shot into the fin
room, driving everybody before it with the
tense heat, and Instantly setting the wood wor
into blaze. All elerts TO control the flame
were utterly Intellectual, and from this mOmel
the fire ran rapidly over the vessel. But in d,
scribing the origin Of the fire we have gone b
yond the story of our informant.
When the steamer was beached with her bow
m and before the flames had broken out, rus
was made FOR the bows, but the sea, thouf
smooth of the shore, ran in heavy surf on Il
beach. and there was a distance of some thr,
hundred Yards between the vessel and the Ian
Can't Sampson now gave the order to low
away a boat, and the chief mate with one 9th
undertook 10 carry line 10 the shore.
Conclusion to. norrow.)