Burlington tri-weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1852-1855, 1854-11-25


suferings of her passengers, and the atroci-
ties of the scoundrels on board. It 10 from
the San Francisco Herald, and was furnished
that paper by passengers on board that ill
fated vessel:
The ship struck about four O'Clock in the
afternoon of the LIST inst, SUNDAY, in the
midst of dense fog, the land being distant
about three fourths Of mile. The sea be-
tween the ship and the shore was very rough,
breaking heavily in many places over the
reef. As soon a. she struck, the enaines
were reversed, and every effort made 70 back
Ter off; but SO strongly had she become fixed
upon the rocks, that she would not bulge
1t then became apparent that she must be
wrecked, and the only salvation Of those on
board depended upon their getting ashore
The boats' were Immediately lowered, and
were in an anstant crowded. Three Of them
started froal one side Of the vessel. The
fourth under the command Of Capt. Ran
dali, from the other side. In these boats
were a large number of women and children.
One of our informints, Mr.. j. Moore, with
his young son Adolphus, bound for Hancock
county, Illinois, got into one Of these boats,
under the command Of the first mate. She
was swamped in the surf. and out Of the 20
persons in her but FIVE escaped. OF the Is
lost, were four ladies and ven Children
The violence Of tho breakers hurled the boat
end over end, but as it was life-bo it
would not S nix, and few Of the drowning
wretches managed to cling on to it. 1t was
turned over again ard again, but by dint Of
the most desperate struggles, propelling
themselves by their hands only, contrived to
hold on until they were washed ashore. Mr..
Moro -,
sensible upon the beach. He was picked up
by woman on shore, carried up on the bluff,
and by her untiring excrtions brought back
on two life preservers, which prevented her
from sinking. She was knocked about by
the waves, how yer, until she became insen-
sible, in which condition she was washed
ashore and left for dead. She remained all
night upon the beach, md the next morning
gave signs Of life, and was finally restored.
Before the boat was swampcd, the first mate
expressed his determination to go back after
he had landed, to save more of the passen-
gers. He was himself SO badly crippled that
he could not afterwards move. One Of the
other boats that started first was also swamp
ed, and some Of those Or board perished.-
Only two boats were now left to rescue near
ly SD souls, and night fast closing, and the
wind raising. These two boats, however, re-
turned to the wreck, and took off as many
more passengers rs possible. BY this time
the fog had set in more densely than ever,
and the gloom of night began to overspread
the scene.
When it became known that the boats
were on the eve Of leaving the ship for the
last time that night, many Of the passengers
bee 'me frantic, and in theirsseagerness to get
on board the boats, long after they were full,
jumped from the deck into the sea, struggled
to get hold Of the gnnwale-gurgled and
went down. Some in desperation, jumped
overheard and tried to swim ashore, but a
duck could not live in such A sea, and they
soon sunk to rise no more. Our informants
estimate the number of lives lost, at one
hundred and fifty, some say two hundred =
lar more than reported by the purSer.
Alter the boats had stopped running, and
night with all its horrors had set in, the
scene upon the wreck was horrible beyond
expression. III the after part Of the ship
ana TIE lower Storage Were under water
Upon the forward deck and in the upp n
siearnge We're crowded nearly 500 souls, wet
by the surf that broke over them. and chilled
% the marrow by the cold. All that dismal
lSht they hu5dled together, expecting evefy
nom nj that the hulk, which was quivering
ma creakns at every dish OF the waves
would 20 to pieces and launch them into
tie niiy.
No soonor had the boat struck, than
arge pand or men, armed to TIL teeth, consist
NJ OF no oriaus shoulder strikers and ruff
ians, f.om this city, and portion of the fire.
men AID crew of the ship, rushed below and
commenced rillasing the baggage. They
'arst INTO the state rooms, ripped open car
Ut bars and trunks, plunisred hem of all I
n mony and valuabes they found, and
ast the rest aside or overheard. They dis
'iayed KNIVES aud revolver and threatened
n lives Of all who attempted to interf re
van them, or who even made an effort to get
Il Their own baggage. After the rise Of wa
er drove them cut Of the cabin, they took
themselves to the upper Storage, of which
hey took complete possession. and COM
ncnced course of wild riot. They got
Old OF the llqaors-many Of them drank
themselves furiously drunk, ransackcd all
ne luggage, obtained a large amount Of
oid-..tt tcked, beat, cut and shot all who
OF IN their way, and became, indeed, a band
infurlate tends, They stationed guard
I the Sangway to prevent the better portion
I the passengers from coming down. Some
the passengers attempted to force Il cir {
Tay IN when they were drealfully cut with
nives and bottles, and even their persons
Dbbed OF their watches and vlluables.
our informant saw one man agger out !
tn his head dreadfuliy cut and streaming |
lth blood. He saw the ruilians throw !
10Th over the head Of another, who appear |
i badly wounded, and force him into a dark
scess OF the Storage. He does not doubt :
icy dip itched him. L ey seized another, I
,bbed him, and placed him under guard !
half dozen drunken savages. They ex- .
ressed their determination to kill him, but {