Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-01-25
AWFUL CATASTROPHE.

- We Know not N what terms to announce
the Overwhelming news which reached us
last. night, The fate of the steamer San
Francisco is at length known, and terrible
beyond expression it is. Universal anxiety
has become dreadful certainty. The ship
founded, and two hundred and forty of the
seven hundred human beings with which she
was frcighted have pershed in the sea. They
did not indeed go down with the ship, but
were swept overload from her decks some
days before shelfoundered., But a bene6cent
Providence tempers the severest Affections
with consultations, and so this dreadful
calamity might. but for his mercy, have
been infinitely more disastrous; for all of
the hundreds on board when the ship sank
were providentally rescued by vessals ac
eidentally at hand. OF those who perished
some were of the most distinguished and
Beloved of the land. The following are the
sad particulars and the names of some Of
the lost, as. they reached us last night by
telegraph:
New YORK, JAN. l3.
The ship Three Bells has arrived with
one hundred and sixty persons saved from
the steamer San Francisco, which founded
at sea on the 5th of January.
Those who have arrived include about
. one hundred officers and soldiers and most
of the the crew of the ill.fated steamer. A
number ofother passengers were taken of
the sinking ship by the bark Kilby, bound
for Boston, and many by the ship Antarctic,
bound for Liverpool:
Most of the cabin passengers, together
with as many soldiers as it was deemed
prudent for her to take, numbering in all
about one hundred persons, are on board the
bark kiby. She has probably gone to
Bermuda, having parted company with the
steamer during gale on the night of the
29th December, four days before the Three
Bells left. The ship Antartic has on board
tie residue of the troops, and Capt. Watkins,
of the steamer San Francisco, who has pro.
uceedcd to Liverpool with them to see that
they are properly provided for.
In the gale of the 23d December, the San
Francisco broached to twice, and was much
disabled. On the 24th all her spars and
sails were blown away. AT one o'clock in
the morning of the 25th the engine stopped
in consequence of the breaking of the piston
rod, and left the vessel totally unmanageable,
the sea at the same time striking her tremen-
dous blows under the guards, tearing up the
planking fore and aft on both sides, and
causing the ship to leak badly. The troops
were then organised into bailing parties.
At nine o'clock on the 25th, a heavy sea
struck the steamer amidships, carrying away
both smoke stacks, all the upper saloon,
staving the quarter deck, and washing over
board 4 large number of persons, besides
killing three of the ships crew. On the
2Sth, the bark kilby was spoken, and laid
by the steamer until three o'clock in the
afternoon of the 29th, when number of the
passengers were transferred to the bark,
which let go her hawser at ten o'clock at
night and nothing has since been heard ofher.
The gale continued throughout the 30th,
and 3lst, a number ofthe men being sick, and
some in dying condition. In the evening
of the lst January, the British ship Three
Bells was SPOKEN, and laid by the steamer
until the Sd, when her boat was got along
side. On the same day the ship Antarctic
discovered and bcr, down for the steamer,
aud on the 4th both ships commenced ta-
king off the passengers, together with the
necessary provisions and water, which was
accomplished by six o'clock in the evening
The next morning they took off the officers
and crew, Capt Watkins having been the
last man to leave the ship, which had been
with difficulty kept afloat for ten or twelve
days.
Those lost overheard are Col. John NJ
Washington, Major Geo. Taylor and wife,
Capt H. B Field, Lieut.. R. II. Smith, three
civilians and two ladies whose names are not
reported, and some two hundred and thirty
of the troops. Of the crew of the ship there
We're eleven deaths from the time she was
disabled till the Sh instant.
Major Wyse and Lieut.. w. A. Winder
are amongst the passengers who have arri.
we'd in New York COL Gates, Col Bourk,
Major Merchant, Capt Judd and wife, Lieut..
Fremont and family, Lieut.. Locscr, Lieut..
Vanvort, and the ladies and children are on
board the bark Kilby. Capt Watkins, Lieut..
Chandler, and Lieut. c. S. Winder are on
The ship Antarctic.
DoDy p,cEISc In tho West fhn only