Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-11-16
Prom the CaIifornia Chronicle.


Wholesale Robhery.---3lb3,o ,ooU IN Specie LOST.
The independent steamer Yankee Blade
was wrecked on Sunday, the 1st inst, about
81 P. NJ, by running upon rocks near Point
Conception in fog. The vessel had been
out 235 hours from this port when she was
wrecked About half an hour before the yes
sci struck, one of the passengers remarked
that he saw land, but Capt. Randall said it
was a mistake, and that they were at least
20 miles from shore. About half an hour
afterwards, the vessel ran gradually up for
more than half her length Il rock, with
slight shock. The land was some half mile
distant. and was soon after clearly visible.
AS soon as she struck the wheels were back
ed, put it was of no use; she was completely
fast. The water Immediately commenced to
rush in at the bow, and the sternsettled so
that the whole of the promenade deck, excep-
ting the guards, was under water
a scene of great confusion cnsued. There
was no order, and scarcely any attempt at the
preservation of order. Capt Randall was in
boat with six men, in about ten minutes af-
ter the steamer struck and went ashore to
find landing place. Soon after that, the
first mate left with another boat with some la
dies. and then the second mate to9k another
load of ladies' One of these boats WIS swamp
ed, and out of q persons, II was said that l 2,
most of whom were ladies, were drowned =
The land, distant about taree-quarters OF a
mile from where the steamer lay rose In bold
bluff, 200 feet high and the place where
landing was practicable was betweeu two large
boulders. About seven or eight boat loads
we're landed on Sunday. Here most of the
passengers were landed but the second mate
touk his boat down the coast about ten miles,
to beach> All the ladies were lafded before
night Most of the passengers saled nothing
save Che clothes they had on.
The sea was rather rough. though there
was little wind The surf was so heavy along
the shore that the boats were swanped four or
FIVE times, and the men who had dace reach
ed shore had little disposition TO goout again.
When night approached it wasof course
impossible to proceed with carryifg the pas
seneers IN the shore. The general alimpression
was that the steamer would go topieces du-
ring the night The boat rolled 'fry much.
The upper cabin did net Eli witt water for
about an hour after the vessel had struck,
and it is said that fiends Immediately began
to piIlage the property, Of which thtre was no
owner immediately present. The filing of
the cabin before dark prevented tie eontinu-
ance of the pillage. As night APPROACHED,
the stern settled down and the bok rose, SO
ty degrees The forward steeragdlwas thus
elevated above the water, and as night came
on it became the scene OF horrible bilage.-
There was a large number of steersge passen-
gers ON the Blade, many Of whom hti money
and valuablea in carpet-bags, slowed away in
their berths
There were twenty or twenty-five Eretches
on board, who were determined to lake adj
vantage of the confusion to commit a general
| robbery No sooner was the favorins mantle
of darkness spread over the sky han they
! hurried down into the steerage, and legan to
examine the clothes in the berths, and to.cut
open the carpet-bags. What was done down
| there no honest man knows. About7 o'clock
! the cry of murder was heard in thejsteerage,
and about the same time two pistol aiots were
heard. Who was the murderer, and who the
murdered, no one knew. \ Rnmbero OF per-
sons started to go down into the steerage, Du5
/ the steps were taken away by those below,
and threats were made that no nta should
| come down there alive. The condition of af-
fairs on the boat was such that there was not
much disposition to undertake to offend the
right of strangers There were about 500
persons on the steep deck of the boa sitting
down. standing up, and few lying down
shiyering in the cold, and waiting almost in
despair Of seeing the morning No bne slept
or thought of sleeping. During tic night
some further scenes of violence occurred. A
number Of persons were assaulted One per-
son was knocked down, and compelled, with
a pistol at his breast, to give up bis money.
Another was robbed, and an attempt vas made
to throw him overheard A number more OF
similar cases occurred
When daylight came persons went down
into the steerage and saw some InarasoF blood;
bat if murder had been committed the body
had been cast into the hold or otheraise dis
posed of. The floor of the steeraee Vas COW
cred with articles of clothing. carI5et hgs cut
TO pieces, and rich China shawls which the
miners were taking as presents 10 friends At
home In the morning tic boats began again
to take of persons from the wreck. Tie third
mate and the pnrsnr were the only otaeers
who stad on board The passeneel speak
in high terms of the third mate He ezpres-
-sed his discrimination to be the last man to
leave the wreck: and he was constantly busy
in encouraging the despondine and eukeavor-
| ing to preserve order and system Captain
| Randall came off to the steamer in the morn
ing, in boat in which he s5aid till it got back
10 shore He assured those on the wreck
that there was no danger-they would all get
/ off safe
I3v a fortunate accident, the Goiiah came
along within sight of the wreck aboutl9 o.
clock In the morning. Capt Haley tpok a
large load of the passengers on board and
landed them at San Diego. In the meaitime
a number of the men on shore had started for
Santa Barbara, which was about fifty miles to
the nerthward The Goliah, on her rdurn,
stopped there and found forty-fiye there and
then proceeded to the wreck, where she bund
on the shore the remainder, all of whom she