The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-01-25
Loss Of the Steamer San Francisco.
FULL PARTICULARS OF THE TERRIBLE DIS
ASTER. 81

AsTER. IS
We give the following additional par
ticulars Of the loss of the steamer San
Francisco from the New York Herald:
After painful suspense Of several days,
we have received news of the fate Of the
steamship San Francisco, and those who
left this port in her for California. The
British ship Three Bells, Capt. Creighton.
arrived here on Friday night, with the sad
intelligence Of the total loss of the San
Francisco, with about two hundred lives.
and the joyful news Of the saving of over
five hundred-officers of the army. their
wives. passengers, soldiers. and officers
and crew of the steamer.
COPY OF THE LOG BOOK OF THE THREE BELLS.
On Saturday, 3ist Dec, A. NJ, saw
light bearing west southwest; $50 A. NJ,
discovered that they were firing guns sup
posing they were guns OF distress. we i'm
mediately steered for her, and at $50 pas.
sed her stern and found her to be the San
Francisco, from New York, and bound to
San Francisco, dismasted and disabled.
decks swept, and, hailing her, she>wished
us TO remain by her until the weather mod.
Grated; it then blowing strong from south
southwest, we again tackled, and in pass
ing by her we told them to keep their
hearts up, as wo would remain by her
until the weather moderated. Sunday and
Monday, the 1st and Cd Of January, beat.
ing about the wreck, the weather too stor-
my to render them any assistance until
A. NJ. of Tuesday the Sd; | then lowered
my quarter boat and sent her along side
of the wreck. the ship lying to leewarl.
when he returned with the second officer
iof the San Francisco. 1t then coming on
TO blow. we found that nothing more could
be done that day. so we hoisted the boa
up and laid by the wreck until the follow
ing day, 4th inst, when. at 2 o'clock A.
W., it becoming more moderate. we low
cred the quarter-boat down and made five
trips to the wreck, saving about thirty
lour persons. 1t then becoming dark we
hoisted up the boat and laid by her until
the following morning, 4th inst. when we
put out the longboat, and kept both boats
going all day. saving the people from the
wreck. About l A. NJ. we hois.ed the
boats in. having received all the crew and
passengers from the wreck. We then Sc,
sail and proceeded on our passage to New
York.
STATEMENT BY MR.. MELLUS, THE CHIEF OFF
GER OF THE SAN FRANCISCO.
At 8 A. NJ. Thursday morning. Dec
29, ship left anchorage OF quarantine, with
light breeze from southwest and clear
weather, and discharged pilot; hove log,
shi p making q knots per, hour During
the night, wind and weather much the
same.
Dec "a, (sca time Moderate breezes
from the west, and cloudy weather; en-
ployed in bending studding sails, for ma
ing all sail. At about P. NJ. wind died
away to light battling airs. The weather
looking very threatening, iurled all sail;
ship going 81 knots. AT 8 p. NJ. wind
came out suddenly and with tremendous
force from the northwest, causing heavy
seas. At 10 P. NJ. ship broached to; Sc,
fore spencer and fore staysail, when she
again fell off before it; set the forcsail, and
gave the engineer orders to give her all
the steam he thought prudeni; ship wen'
along 10 knots until IL p. NJ, when SHE
broached 10 in tremendous sea, and all
endeavors to get off were unavailing; blew
away forestaysail; hauled up the toresail
At about 19 NJ. blew away forespencer and
foresail from the lee yardarm; put lash.
ing on the head Of the spanker to haul ou1
the clew; ship labored heavily; ordered
the troops forward, excepting those who
could lay about the floor Of the upper
saloon. All this time the ship labored
very heavily, laying in trough of the sea
every sea striking her tremendous blows.
The engine stopped, the end Of the all
pump piston rod breaking off, and the all
pump buckets consequently adrift. A
this time the spanker blew away, leaving
the ship entirely at the mercy Of the wind
and waves. Ship now making considera
bic water Steam pumps were kept run
ning, and hand pumps manned; but the
water gaining, the troops were organized
in bailing gangs, TO pass up water through
the engine room.
ATT A. NJ. the foremast went over the
side, with all attached, breaking about six
feet above upper deck. AT 9 A. Nj. ship
ped heavy sea amidships, which stripped
starboard paddle box. carried away star
board after king post, both smoke stacks
all the upper saloon. staving half the quar-
ter deck through, and washing overheard
large number Of soldiers, Col. Wash
ington, Major Taylor and wife, Capt. Field
and two ladies, names unknown, all o
whom were in the saloon, the soldiers hav
ing been admitted to the saloon, owing te
the severity of the weather. A waiter
named Brooke, and the barber. also {
young man named Ducke. the carpenter.
brother, were killed by the crash. Up te
this time the water had been kept under
but this sea raised the water in the ship Sc
much that the soldiers almost gave up ii
despair, and it was only by the creates
exertion The ship was kept afloat. gang
of soldiers was set apart to hold blanket.
round the shaft TO prevent the flowing il
of water-made an attempt to cut away
the mizzen mast, but the ship labored Sc
heavily ii was not accomplished.
SUNDAY, Dec. 25, (sea time. )-Heavy
gale and sea continue from northwest, shiI
laboring heavily; allhands engaged pump
ing and bailing-night, more moderate
and we got the wafer down so that tn,
, engineers went to workwith the airpump-
still at work, heayinr overheard provision