Butte record., 1854-10-14


Loss OF THE STEAMSHIP YANKEE BLADE.
The Yankee Blade which left San Frapcico
on Saturday last for PapaEa, struck a rock
at point about IL miles above point concep-
ton, at half past three o'clock on Sunday
evening. Immediately her stern went down,
causing the loss of some fifteen persons. The
Southern Californian, extra. says the loss of
this steamer is but another instance Of the de-
struction of property, and valuable lives thro
the utter reeklessness of those having the
power to employ men able and willing to dis
charge their duties The utter incompetency
the careless vllainy Of the captain is to be
seen in the fact that he recklessly turned his
back to every advce--was told and told the
course he was pursuing would bring destruc-
tion to the ship and passengers But no mat
ter on he went uuheedingly and wilfully
causing the loss of lives and property--irre-
trieyably forcing into misery and ruin. There
is but one way for the community to protect
themselves against these horrible calanities-
that is 10 be the judges Of their own wrongs
and the cxecutiouers Of outraged Justice
Doubtless the Yankee Blade wns heavily in
sured, and steanlboating on the Pacific has not
been Of late so lucratiye'as in times past, and
with little future prospects Of its ever becom-
ing what it has beea it therefore suggests
itself TO US that this running of steamers on
rocks-far away from their due and proper
course, is ready means of turning ships into
money. regardless of the loss of human life.
Capt Bell, passenger by the Goliah, states
that from the best Information that he could
learn from reliable sources. was that 1900
passengers sailed on the Yankee Blade. Capt.
Haley stated to him that he had taken from
the wreck and on shore seven hundred plssen-
gers. and left $50 On the beach. If 1900 sail
ed $50 or thareabouts are lost
An account in the San Francisco Herald,
states that no sooner had the boat struck,
than q large band Of men. armed to the teeth
consisting OF notorious shoulder strikers and
ruEfians from San Francisco, and portion of
the fremen and crew of the ship, rushed be-
low and commenced piilaging the baggage
They burst into the state rooms, ripped open
carpet bags and trunks. plundered them of all
the money and valuables they found, and cast
the rest aside or overheard They displayed
knives and revolvers, and threatened the
lives of all who attempted to interfere with
Ia of, vt
their own baggage. After the rise of the
water drove them out of the cabin, they be-
took themselves to the upper steerage, OF
which they took complete possession and COM
menced a course Of wild riot. They got held
of the liquors-many Of them drank them
selves furiously drunk--ransacked all the lug
gage--obtained large amount of god-at
tackled, beat. cut and shot all who got in their
fends. They stationed a guard at the gang
way to prevent the better portion of the pas
sengers from comm; down. Some of the pas
sengers attempted to force their way in, when
they we've dreadfnlly cut with knives and
bottles, and even their persons robbed oftheir
watches and valuables.
The same paper in speaking of desperadoes,
says it is Of no use appealing to the authori
ties-upon the conduct of the villains vino
added rapine and murder to the perils and
horrors of shipwreck. What ought to be done
with such men They set at defiance all laws
human and divine; they mock our tribunals
some Of them were at the very time under
bonds to answer criminal charges. They are
really utlaws, and as such they should be
disposed Of. 1t is of no use preaching modcr-
alton dealing with such characters. The laws
cannot or will not reach them--what is the
remedy Fix clearly their guilt, aud then
rid the community of them as Of so many wild
beasts. They are moro dangerous, and less
entitled to elemency.
WHO OWNS THE SHOES AS rumor hath it