The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-14

GOLD PER sTAR OF THE. WEST.


y. 1850
We arc indebted to the purser, Mr. b s Hopkins aud
Wells Fargo Co.'s express for fulb files of the Atsst
papers.
The most important feature Of the news brought by
the Star of the West and that viii many
heart to weep in anguish to-day is
that twenty four PERSONS their way from Califosnia
TO the Atlantic states drowned by the upsetthg
Of boat in Virgin Hny, the I'd instant This meMn
choy catastrophe happened while the passengers ware
leaving the shore for the steamer me small bost ni
legged to have been greatly crowded which together
with wind and waves caused her TO upset The names Of
the parties lost and saved appended Al Ia the
case such occasions many noble feilsws rcnferpd
themselves conspicuous by their daring psrsexersnce
in their endeayors to save NE. Among tAen vssay
menticn Major Oliver T. Baird wAs ruse& inte
at tho per Of his swn Me and rescued two three Of
his struggling comPesioH. Aho, Ar. g. wyziams, to
whose coolness and courage ssvsal q tAs passGses
seknowIeaged Themselves u 1SesS%sd FOR Their lives.
Nr. NJ Moore, Central American, was drowned while
struggling 10 others.
This heartrendng disaster produced the utmost excite
ment among the passeDsern many Of whom loud in
their dcnuncations sgnst tho agent and employees Of
the Nicaragua Transit Company We have received
copies of tho resolutions passed an Indignation
ing held board the Star Of the West together with
various letters for which cannot possibly make
o-day
DETAILS OF THE CATASTROPHE.
We under obligations to Dr. j. H. Gihon for the fol-
| owing account of the calamity:--
STEAMSHIP STAR wRr
NEW York BAY, March 49, 1854. +
Tie steamship Brother Jonathan left San Francisco at
six O'Clock the morning Of Feb Ia, and aftor
ceedngy pleasant passage anchored in the harbor Of
San Juan del Sud early the morning Of the LIST inst
The unusually rough, gale Of wind having
been blowing for several days. The greater portion
of the day was consequently consumed in land
ing the passengers and freight There nearly
six hundred passengers board, about four hun
dred Of whom in the steersge composed principally
of the toughest portion Of the population of California
The process of landing, always necessarily slow
greatly retarded by the obstnacy and dos In the
ger'' disposition of these people. As the ship
reached her moorngs they took possession Of the gang
way leading to the boats from which the officers
unable TO them. Imagining that peculiar
advantage in the choice of mules especially to be
derived from being first Shore they had determined TO
avail themselves Of that advantage It is the custom Of
the Steamship Company TO land their passengers free Of
Charge in their boats but the inhabitants also bring
extra boats alongside to facilitate the landing In which
they charge passengers moderate price-thesc boats
the seeroge passengers would not employ neither would
they suffer others who thus disposed to do So but
rather nsulcd and abused them for making the attempt
Many Of the passengers therefore, in the cabin had not
landed from the ship when most Of those in the sccrage
reached Virgin Bay the transit the country
pying about two hours Here two seamers.he Contra
America and Ometepe-were waiting. 1t was Immediately
announced that the former would sail early In the even
ing and that the latter would be detained until the cabin
passengers with their baggage, the specie and
lee -
The scerge passengers became impressed with the
idea that they about to be imposed uponthat the
cabin passengers fare better than themsevesn
word, that something to be gained by waiting for the
Omeepe and hence neither threats or could in
dutc hcm to embark the Central America, theargest
and best boat Of the two The agents Of the company
ndeavored by all possible means TO induce them to go
hoard hut ali their efforts unayaing The steamer
sailed with two passengers leaving four hundred
consequence of ills foy and perversity viii be secn,
proved most lamentaby disastrous Soon after the sail
blewr fresh n day increased until It swept perfect
mrest the abc, and the Ometepe forced to
take refuge under the lee Of the mountain opposite the
Eeore noc next day she again made her appearance
anchored three four hundred yards from the
Iior IIc soa was exceedingly rough and the surf rolled
n urcr The bach with tremendous fury The steamer
had lost her boat and time elapsed before II
covered after which much difficulty was experienced in
cess Of embarl alton commenced This was effected by
means Of large archambered iron launch, capable OF
leads with great successfully landed on board
the steamer but landing the fourth time, the man
having the beat In charge exhibited great mpa
tence, srroyoked, doubt by the obsnacy he had en-
countered the previous night, and fearing he would
be made 10 finish his work while the daylight lastcd
be persisted in crowdng her than prudence and
sound udf could justify and she was pushed from
the Iier with than eighty persons on board As
che slowly proceeded II became apparent to all on shore
that III was in extreme peril and her progress
watched with painful anxiety. As wave after
struck her she to sink lower in the water
I'll al length when about hundred yards distant the
whole column heavy rolled her entire length
filing her 10 the gunwae. scene Of horror cnsued
which leegnrs all description Cries Of terror simulta
| reously erose from the launch and the hunareds
| of spectators upon the steamer and shore The
| sea instantly covered with floating objects,
| emong which was distinguished many human
! ferns that had been washed from the boat,
or Ind thrown themselves overheard in the rst moment
Of alarm scme were battling manfuly with the waves
others yielding themselves at TO despair sink
ing without apparent effort at safety; their hands
II IN surplcaon raised above their heads, while In the
midst Of all the launch stil half filled with human
lengs clnging in almost helpless agony TO each other
The crowd upon the steamer unable to render assistance
locked ON with horror The people shore were less
constrained. Here stood in clusters and cried
aloud and to and fro giving orders others
ma four knox fhoru