The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-11-14

wave which broke into spray far into tho rigging and
over the snip denching ana suocatng the passengers
while the poor creatures lled the air with the most
souh rrrowing and ptifu outcries for assistance On
se beach wes some two hundred persons gathered in
groups, apparently consulting as to how to act while
e'iers sat lesurey upon the eunwae Of the boats.
which the heavy surf rendered it certain destruction to
launch.
We saw several beats upon the shore apparently well
adapted for the purpose and crowd of persons dragging
long fe-boet toward the beach, where II was left and
no further attempt was made to launch IT, s.Sss~s
We saw no line from the ship to the shore and no
fecar. From tho fact that what appcared the shn,s
boat was lying the beach, we judged tho officers and
crew, or most Of them, must have landed or been
thrown ashore in her The tide was now about at its
tull--the wind had died away, and a slight breeze
prnng up from OF shore which greatly increa ed our
hopes that the swell would 60 down with the tide and
render II possible for the boats to be launched from
Shore. As 10 oursc'es found we could do nethnr
The steamer, which is employed expressly by the m
derr rers to render assistance to vessels ashore has
not The sign Of surftoat board-nothing but two
miserable yawls both Of which would scarcely aoat tho
vessels crew, were she sinking and one Of them could
not float herself put overheard Not spar line or
icpreserver-not piece of cork big enough to aoat
drowning dog. By ~ O'Clock the swell had so m uch
subsded that every passenger could have been rescued
had there been surf-boa board and there was not
man. from the fireman TO the pilot and captain who
would not have recced a the opportunity Of snatchnr
the poor sufferers from death had they the means of
doing it,
BY whose neglect is 1t that these steamboats, are not
provided with surfb boats for such dreadful
as thisg stll hoping for movement toward launching
the boats from Shore We continued painful spectators of
the scene, ringing our bell to ncourage then and beck
49, kka.,.~ t1.x.
wheels were put in motion to adjust the position Of
the steamer the passengers apparently fearing we were
about to leave them wou rend the air with implorng
cries, while others toed the ships bell the sounds of
which were borne t. above the waings of the surf
that swept over the ship.
We were near en- ugh to distinctly see women holding
their little ones with hand, white the other bleached
by the spray clung with death grip to the ratines on
which they stood. On two in the mzzen rigging
having on bat shirt On the forccastle there stood
few moments ago group of four clnging to the stay
but they are now gone-a heavy swell has probably
swept them away. Men have been to fall from the
iib boom into the surf
Thus VIC have looked on, unable approacisthe ship
Capt. Reynolds twice hauled them On the shore and
asked them to launch tho boats, as the surf, to US
seemed to be sufficient smooth TO do 80 ON the lee
side OF the ship Finding that could do nothing and
a. the sun went down. sceng the boats hauled back upon
he beach, we left to procure life boats making sig
mails to the wreck that would return immediately
Meantime the Leviatban also arrived opposite tho
wreck but Hike ourselves had boats to render any
assistance.
On our way up we soon met the Hector having in tow
wrecking schooner in charge Of Capt Rowne and with
aim we went back to the wreck On reaching H. Cant
owne Informed that although he had boats he had
bot two men who could pull Oar, and asking il any
n board would go with him In the boats / replied
Here Is onc and Mr.. Haskell volunteered to do the
ssme.
aant Rssnolds then informed Capt. Bovine that he
II tbs Achilles. We then maa- Ystp.a, ,s... 80 NJ,
Capt. BOVINE, but TO surprise he pulled away from
toward the ship leaving word for the Achilles TO
TO the city. Thus large and powerful boat with
plenty OF accommodations for the rescued passengers
sent to town, and the Hector comparatively slow
and unsuitable boat, Is retained.
At So O'Clock, when left the wreck the wind
flowing fresh from the westward, and 1t thought
would redace the swell, but with the darkness t.
contend with and short handed, it must be impossible
10 take off the passengersand many mustireyta
bly, perish from exposure during the dreary darkness
that has closed over thcm. ELIAS SMITH,
OF the News Yacht Of the Associated Press.