Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-05-11

BAY OF SAN TRANCIScO-TEN DAYS LATER
FROM AUSTRALIA.
The following report arnished to the New York Her
aid BY the purser Of the Johr L. Stephens:
|, Ns BLOCKADE or rur roRr ACAPULCO
% the 22d at6P. NJ. arrived OF the hsrbor OF Aca.
puIco, saw two vessels showing what appeared b,
French color laying off the main entrance each Of which
bred as the Stephens approached through the north
channel and soon afterwards fred shot which fell shor
OF US The engine was Immediately stopped, and III,
helm put TO starboSfd The ship forcrcaching cae
foil view Of the fort which appeared to be crowded viii
men The steamer then losing her steersge away anS
drifting towards the rocks the north shore OF the bay
the engine was started ahead bring her round head
Wind aud tide when the ship aud schooner coming
der our leo In point blank range fired two shots close
us The engine again stopped boat lowered, ant
the FIRST officer sent to inquire the cause their firing in
to u.s. He was not allowed to board the ship. but
met by an officer in the ships boat who informed bin
that the port was bockaded and that must immediate
ly leave the harbor, he would sink US II he could.
Capt Pearson himself then boarded the ship, and
Informed by the commander that his orders
were imperative from Santa Anna to allow no vessels to
pass, and that We attempted il he would hre into
having sufficient coal to reach San JUAN the ship was put
on her course at r NJ and orders given to the chief
gineer to use all possible economy.
e6th-1he engineer reported sufficient coal 10 reach
Panama. and the ship accordingly put her course
| for that port.
During the detention of the Stephens at Acapulco,
shots frequently exchanged between the vessels
and the fort and, without effect either side. Santa
Anna with army variously estimated from 200 TO
5000 men, encamped in the neighborhood and il
expected that he would make attack tho du-
| ring the night
esth, at P. " arrived a, Panama with barely .ufa
Gent fuel to reach the anchorage
TERRIBLE STEAMBOAT EXPLOSION.
From extra issued from the Office of the San Francis.
CO Commercial Advertiser just previous to the sailing OF
the John l.. Stephens, dated April Is p NJ we have
intelligence Of terrible steamboat oosion In the bay OF
San Francisco The particulars follows:
This morning, about 10 O'clock the Secretary
and Nevada left from Pacific wharf, bound for Pealums
AT le o'clock precisely while crossing San Pablo bay
the Secretary burst her boiler carrying death and desruc
ton in part Of the boat the passengers Of whom
large number were on board. So great the force
Of the explosion that the boat literally blown to
pieces. The Nevada happened to be near, and imme-
dately rendered every possible assistance She imme-
dstey put about alter caring for the survivors and
tending to the dead. Many persons blown over
board and their bodies recovered The Nevada
arrived at San Francisco at o'clock with the survivors
and the bodies OF those recovered We learn from Capt
Traver Of the Secretary, that the board AFTER
the explosion swful-the groans Of the dying and
wounded, and the lamentations Of those whose friends
were lost, being heartrending.
The following is a list of the killed and missing
far as ascertaned:
D johnson, d Van Buren,, Lewis johnson, James
Mcclure, Edward Bruce Bracket Mrs Hardin, Richard
Lewis Lamberton. clerk, Geo Clark Jesse Potter Mrs
Hillmans aud child, Jas Wright Mr. Bessn engineer Mr.
Miller, deck hand John Ebbetts, W II Tripp Thomas
Cameron, Shorey Judge Ferrill. VIM Luuky wife
and child, George Robertson, G W Rogers captain E
James, Pudder, Theodore Bourse Emma Holmes G
Henry, fireman, Mrs Day and child, Farlthrop, Mr.
Lundy, Mrs Hilman, Cookingham, Chas Smith, G
Walker. Also, the cook and a deck hand (names
known) missing.
The Secretary owned by Gordon L Steeu, Of San
Francisco and valued at $4,000. We have estimate
of the value of the freight and baggage None Of
saved. The secretary sinking when the Nevada left.
We have only given the ascerained to be miss
ing. There are others whose names could
learn.
LIEUT.. STRAINS PARTY.
From the Panama Herald of Anril Iaarn he fol
lowing On Sunday Lieut. Strain and his COMPANIONS re-
turned from San Miguel in II. b. Ms ship Viraso and
the evening the whole Of the party except Lieut.,
Strain and Mr.. Maury, stated the Ishmus under
the command Of Lieut. TruIon to join the Cyaue at
pinwall We regret to be obliged to add that Mr. A r.
Boggs Of Ohio engineer attached to the expedition,
died on Sunday evening Of debility Lieut. Strain and
Mr.. Maury left for Aspinvall yesterday morning The
Cyane will sail Immediately for n. York. touching at Ha-
vana for provisions
LATER FROM AUSTRALIA.
Advices from Australia to February 4th The news
was not important Steamers New Orleans and City OF
Norfolk lying at Sydney unsold The latter would
probably be chartered for Caao Panama with passen
gers. Emigration still active between Australia and
Peru lire at Hobarown, Jan. 2ls destroyed proper
" valued at $500, 900.
Mining affairs prosperous. A monster nugget of
gold had been found Melbourne weighing over So
pounds. The metal was noary pure. Gold was worth
7Tsa77s cd.
The total Of gold brought into Sydney during
the week previous the Sd OF February seven thou
sand ounces The yield OF the various gold fields was
great formerly.
The establishment OF railways throughout the COLONY
was being discussed with comm eudable spirit
The Apercan brig Ida arrived tue Sd Of February
from Newcastle England
MARKETS.
SYDNEY, Feb 3.-The market has been rather 6rmer
this week. with decided tendency to Improvement This
it is the cheering to observe the result of
speculative transacons but OF legitimate demand for the
ordinary purposes OF trade There ia hut little doubt that
Tho ctoft IN
ket If holders will only continue their wise determina>
ton not to force their goods No complaints are now
heard with regard to price, most being delighted
to have the opportunity Of epenshing their stocks al the
present low rates.
TnE sHAD FISHERY in the North River this spring has
thus lar proved very unfortunate Storms freshets and
cold weather, have operated greatly its
During the last week for instance, there has been up
ward flow OF the tide consequence Of the vast quantity
OF fresh water coming down. and the fish have not
their usual facilities for ascending the rivers to spawn
the fishing is advanced about four weeks and
not far from three weeks remain The prices of shad
reached their minimum several days ago--N. Y Journ
Com.
WHrsKEY.-The Manufacturers of Whiskey in Ohio
with some from Kentucky and Indiana had meeting at
Cincinnati last week Twenty-three establishments were
represented which consume 1858 bushels corn aud OH
er grain daily, or over four millions year. The Cncin-
natl Gazette says:-"The whole number of dislleries
which send their whiskey this market for sale Is about
thirty. and tho whole consume at least FIVE millions buah.
els OF Large quantities oil hops also
used in the manufacture. These establishments also feed
constantly upwards OF 900 hogs One establishment
David Gilsons, at New Richmond twenty miles up the
river, consumes l44o bushels Of grain day. aud employs
upwards Of fifty coopers u making barrels The twenty
three establishments manufacture upwards Of twelve mil
lions Of whiskey Annually oil Of which ia sold in this CITY,
and from hence Is shipped to all parts OF the United
States"
TIE SUPPLY OF FoREos GooDs-A correspondent Of
The New York Courier, who signs his communication,
"No Importer but Jobber referring to the supply Of
foreign goods in that market, says:
There black Silks enough for years consumpor
unsod also, large stock Of fancy Silks which viii
not bring GO cents the dollar OF Of import
The stock Of French Merinoes, hand Is larger then
twelve months consumption and as for low priced
Freuch German Cloths there Is sale any price, the
open winter through the Northern and Western States
left large stocks Of goods hand with the retailers and
their general complaint is, that their goods remain on
their shelves uDsold.
NEw WoRDs.--A correspondent Of tho Brat,le-
borough Eagle tells the following story Of witness upon
liquor trial:
"How do you know Il was brandy?" asked the LAWYER
"WeIl" replied the ready witness II smelled Of II first
and then eleomed about glass oft" The
verb wholly upset tho gravity the court ury and mis-