Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-11-17


siseo dates 10 Oct. 10th, we have the intel
lIKenes of The wreck Of the steamer Yan-
tss blade. which lef, San Francisco on the
soth Of September, with 600 passengers,
70 addition to the crew. The account by
the California papers is as follows:
aThc steamship Yankse Blade which
lsis San Francisco on the 30th Sept, for
Panama, was wrecked the following day.
Che had on board 800 passengers beside
the crew. She struck on reef Of rocks of
Point Arquelo Is niles above Point Cor
rup,ion. Fifteen lives and all the specie on
board, &153,o00, were lost. The ship vas
total wreck and in day or two went 10
pieces A fog hung upon the coast and
The Captain supposed the ship 10 be twen-
~ miles from land.
Some terrible scenes OF pil!age, and it Is
said Of murder, took place on board OF the
vessel after she struck, and before the pas
ssngers were rescued by the steamer Go.
Eah, between San Francisco and San Diego,
The following are all the names given in
the San Francisco papers: -Four children
Of Mrs. Logstowu, Mrs. Brennan and child.
Mrs. Sumner and child, Mrs. Smith and
child, wife Of MIR. Smith, of Smith, Bros. d.
Co., Mr.. Moore and child, and Frank Mitch
81. The steamship Brother Jonathan ar
rived at San Fracsco on the 18th ult, with
passengers from the wreck Of the Yankee
Blade"
Later and more definite accounts say
that there were at leas: HOO souls on board
the Yankee Blade, and that at the lowest
calculation $50 lives we're lost, and that in
the confusion OF that terrible scene human
beings sank by scores beneath the waves
never more to rise. The true number Dev-
er can be known, their fate can only be sur
missed by friends in this part of the coun'
try, who anxiously await their return or It'd
iDgs from them in that far-off land. The
su5joined letter published in the ~ Z
Tribune, from G. A. Hart, merchant of San
Francisco, formerly Of New York, to bis
wife in Brooklyn, who was one Of the pas.
sengsrs, will give a more definite descrip
tion of this scene. Although it is lengthy
we feel constrained to give it entire:
On Sunday about IL o'clock. we had
made about one lS0 miles of our long jour
Rey toward the friends felt so anxious
once more to meet At 8 O'Clock | went &c
she office to settle for the passage of mar
had engaged as servant, and there mel
Capt. Randall, who invited me to go to the
saloon and drink with him. He remarked
thOt We we're making fine headway-t
we were running thirteen revolutions min.
ute. and at that speed, while we were talk
Ing, our ship went upon the rucks, without
one moments warning to the crowd OF hu
man beings upon her deck, who rushed
out Of the cabins to the open deck in the
widest alarm; and with reason, too, for
there we were 6xed--fairly impaled upon
sharp rocks, in the midst of ioamiDg break
ers; no one knew where; and the fog SC
thick that we could not see the high. rocky
shore mile distant. In fact, SO dense was
the fog, that we could see nothing beyond
the deck but mist and water. 1t was time
for alarm, and scene ofterrtle confusion
found the ship was fast sinking, and
ran back to my state room for life pre-
server. 1t was already appropriated,
then hurried to the forward cabin, where
there should have been an ample supply
but all we're already gone; not one was to
be had. and perhaps not oae in ten OF the
passengers were provided.
AS soon as the ship struck, Capt Ran
Sall left, as he said, to ind land He found
il, and found it convenient to stay upon it
The FIRST and second mates also left with
other boats, and then we were left with nc
officer on board but the third mate, an old
Scotchman, who did all he could to quie,
the fears Of the passengers, who were drlv'
en- from the cabins aft. by the water anc
had to all huddle forward, to the number
of full eleven hundred. men. women and
children. as thick as they could stand. A
great many, wild with alarm, thinking they
were abandoned by the officers to merci
less fate, went overheard, in the vain hope
Of being able to swim ashore. OF course
all who attempted i. were lost The mum
ber that were aboard was unknown, and 0
course, the number that have persisted. o.
sheir names, can never be ascertalned.
The old Scotchman assured us that th'
ship could not sink any lower, as she la.
firm onthe rocks. only moving slightly witt
the savessand.grinding ;away her'botton
at avery motion, but in no immediate dan
ger of going to pieces. Satisfied with thi'
and in company with two friends. sat dow
by the wheeIhouse, patiently to await III
or death as fate might deci ee. 1t was n
use to try TO take one Of the remaining
boats, az we did not know the way ashore
While sitting here we Witnessed a most hear
rsnding scene A party loaded one of th
boats upon tbs dayits, with men and VIC
men. but in attempting 10 lower away, on
Of the blocks fouled. and the other end wen
down, pitching everybody into the waite
with % accompaniment Of terrific shriek
both from The ship and boat 1t was said thi
al we're saved, though one woman Wa
badly hurt. The boat was righ,ed and FL
ed again. and in going ashore. was swampe
and four persons drowned.
Passengers now began to give up o
hope, and were seeking out friends, an
bidding each other goodbye, and sendin
81 4 r. tlc.