Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-03-31
The Disaster u, Virgin B.,,

"The steamship Brother Jonathan left
San Francisco at o'clock on the evening of
February 10 and after m exceedingly pleasant
passage anchored in the harbor of San Juan
del Sud early on the morning Of LIT inst
There were nearly six hundred passengers on
hoard, about four hundred of whom were in
the stceragc. The process Of landing, alwnys
necessarily slow, was greatly retarded bv the
obstinacy of these people. As soon ~ the
shin reached her moorings, they took pos
session of the gangway leading TO the boats,
from which the officers we're unable to re-
move them, Imagining that some peculiar
advantage, in tho choice Of mules especially,
was tn be derived from being first on shore,
they had determined to avail themselves of
that advantage.
Many OF tho passengers, therefore, In the
cabin. had not landed from the ship when
most IN the stecragc reached Virgin Bay, the
transit across the country occupying about
two hours. Here two steamers. the Central
America and Omotcpec, were waiting II
was immediately announced, that the former
would sail early in the evening, and that the
latter would be retained until the cabin pas
senScrs, with tho baggage, the specie. and
express matter, should arrive. Another diff
Guilty at once arose, The Storage passengers
became Impressed with the idea that thew
were about to be,imposcd upon that the cabin
passengers were to fare bcttor than them.
salves-in a word, that something was TO be
gained by waiting for the Ometepec and
hence neither threats nor entreaties could in
duce them to embark on the Central America,
the largest and best boat of the two. The
steamer sailed with 200 passengers, leaving
4N. with the specie, freight, and baggage
for the Ometepoc. Soon after the sailing of
the Central America, the wind, which had
been blowing fresh all day, increased until it
swept perfect tempest across the lake, and
the Ometeprc was forced to take refuge under
the lee of the mountain, opposite the village,
during the night.
Before nine the next morning she again
make her appearance, and anchored some
or 400 wards from the pier. The sea was ex-
ceedinElv rough, and the surf rolled in upon
the beach with tremendous fury. The
steamer had lost her boat, and some time
elapsed before it WAS recovered, after which
much difficulty was experienced in getting
limo to the shore. This accomplished, the
process of embarkaton commenced. This is
effected by means Of large air chambered
iron launch, capable Of containing comforta-
bly, 80 to so persons. Three loads with great
care were successfully landed on board tho
steamer. but on beading the fourth time. the
nan having the boat in charge exhibited
great lml dticncc, and persisted in crowding
her more than prudence and sound Judgment
could justify, and she was pushed from the
pier with moro than so persons ON board.
" As she slowly proceeded, it become ap-
parent to all on shore that she was in cytreme
peril, and her progress was watched with
painful anXiety-as wave after wave struck
her, she was seen to sink lower in the water
until, at length, when almost 100 yards dis
tant, the whole column of a bea w son rolled
bor ,,
vale. A scene Of horror ensued which beg
gars all description cries of terror simulta-
neJusly arose from the launch and the hun
dreds Of spectators upon the steamer and ON
shore. The sea was instantly covered with
floating Objects among which we're distin-
guished many human forms that had born
washed from the boat, or had thrown tbcm.
selves overheard in the first moment of alarm.
Some were battling mantuly with the Saves
others, yielding themselves at once to des
pair, were sinking without an apparent effort
at safety, their hands, as if in supplication
raised above their heads, while in the midst
of all WAS the launch, still half filed with
human beings clnging in almost belpless
agony to each other
" The crowd upon the steamer. unable to
render assistance, looked ON with horror.
Tie people on shore stood IN clusters and
crioi aloud, or ran to and fro, some giving
1ers others cursing and swearing, and few
knowing either what they did or said, Thov
however, rushed towards the mi,erablc ano,
logies for boats that Law along shore. and On.
deivorcd to got thom ad0at But the natives
were tho first to discover the full extent of
n danger and render efficient aid. With
rs wild .trick and an impulse that would
nave done credit to the best Of mankind, they
torc oft their ,crntv garments, and rushed ~
the relief a tho an h.,
the first in tho benevolent and dangerous
work They hcsitated not TO calculate the
danger, but dashed into the Curi1us surf
needless OF every thing but desire to save
thair ieltuw-Crcutures from death, and these
strangers of another race, between whom and
the m.elves there has boon no .vmpathv and
but little kindly feeling.
9 Brighter examples Of true hcroism could
no be imagined than we're exhibited BY these
rude and ignorant people. A dozen native
women rushcd 10 large bnnGo that laid high !
ths w,ior f"n I,o pv'en' ana Dragging 1t to
through the water toward ths ionmr 'p0eu
they approached thi. ,one oftbe women .nr,na
forward, tearing dead child from tho arms |
bard ,bn ,pT h motheI-held IT with one !
cious charpe "a tbe shnro G,i, w." Her Pre-,
in saving the mother. Other cases Of like
s raa racter occurred One native man lost his
=" us generous euorts to save others.
until she was drawn ..bnro' W ,t .ne iauncn
safely to the beach, while still others sonL
81 beneath the waves. 1t is impos,i.
I'm I..s , ~ uo.uih h now many prrisbed
occurred ,;Yt.er dsn az, "'''r tho disaster
beach, some dragged ashore by she n,tiyes
others washed in with the surf. Several
LIFTS b.pt WE'RE subsequently found, and about
Tho first body r.cn,crod ,,s. H., 80 90, o''
upon whose cl,,hn, ,rora f"nl on''''
Of gold. U,r hu-'snd ,v,.,I.,,Ir,'e 'u h