Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-01-19
The Steamer San Francisco Foundered
FTls Th. at Sea
$40 LIVES LOST!

New YoRK, Jan. I3 The steamship San
Francisco was caught ina gale on the nignt OF
the 24th of December, and disabled ooon
after, heavy sea swept her decks, and washed
overheard TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY
passengers. including Col. S. Is. Washing
ton, Lieut.. Smith, Capt. H. b. Field, and
Mai TAYLOR and wife. The ship drltted about
until Jan. S, when she was fallen in with by
the ship Three Bells, from Glasgow barque
Kilby. of Boston and the ship Antarctic, for
LIVERPOOL. in lat. SO, Ion SO, which took off
the crew and the remaining passengers.
4 The troops were divided among the three
vessels. Major F. o. Wyse and Lieut.. A. A.
Winder are on board the Three Bells: Major
Marchant, Capt. Judd, Lieut. Fremont, Lieut.
Van Worst, and all the ladies', except Mrs
Taylor, are on the bark Kilby, bound to Bos-
ton; Lieut.. G. S. Winder and Lieut. T. c.
Chandler are on board the Antarctic.
The Three Bells arrived here this evening.
Her spars and sails were blown away on the
night of the oath. On the morning of the
S5th, the engines of the steamer stopped, the
piston rod breaking off, leaving the vessel to-
tally unmanageable. The sea striking her
tremendous blows under the guards, tearing up
the planking fore and aft on both sides. At
the same time she began making water, when
the troops were organized into water bailing
gangs.
Ate O'Clock on the 18th, heavy sea struck
her amidships, carrying away both smoke
stacks, all the upper saloon, staving the quar-
ter deck, and washing overheard large num-
Der or assengers-including Col. Washing
ton, Major Taylor and wife, Captain Field
Lieut.. Smith, two ladies, names unknown,
three civilians, also unknown, and $50 U. S.
troops. At the same time, three were killed,
namely: Brooks, waiter the barber of the
boat; and the carpenters BROTHER named
Duckett.
On the 28th, spoke bark Kilby, of Boston,
bound to New York, who lay by until 3 o'clock
on the afternoon of the Doth, getting passen-
gers on board. Upwards of one hundred got
on board, men, women and children, including
the officers before reported and their families !;
Capt. Judd and wife: Lieut.. Fremont and
family; G. w. Aspinwall, and ]. L. Graham
At night, wind increasing, with squally wealth
er, the Kilby let go our hawser, at ten o'clock
and nothing was seen of her afterwards
The gale continued throughout the Both and
3lst, and large number of men were sick and
dying.
3 On the morning of Jan. /, spoke British
ship Three Bells, which lay by us off and on
until Sd, when her boat came alOngsids
On the same day, the ship Antarctic, from
New York for Liverpool, came in sight, and
bore down for her.
On Wednesday, the 4th, both ships com
menced taking off her passengers, provisions
and water, and at sunset on the 9th had them
all on board. The next morning, took off the
crew and officers, Capt Watkins being the
last man to leave the San Francisco.
The Three Bells brings into this port 233
souls, including passengers, troops, officers and
seamen of the steamer. There were eleven
deaths among the crew of the steamer from the
time she was disabled up to Jan. 9Th, includ-
ing two washed overheard
The San Francisco left New York bound
for San Francisco, on the 2Ist of December.
intending to proceed to her destination via the
Straits of Magellan, touching at Rio Janeiro,
Valparaiso and Acapulco. She had on board
companies A. B. ID. G. HI. |. X. and L., of
the Third Regiment of U. S. Artillery. Com
panies &. and E, under Captains Bragg and
Sherman, were on duty in the West, and COM
panies F. and M. under Captains Benton and
Keyes, have been in Calf .rnia for several
years. The eight companies on board the
steamer, with their .non-commissioned officers
and the regimental band, constituted force
Of about five hundred men.-Bost0n Journal.
b
4 statement from which we extract the follow
ing description of the washing overheard of
over one hundred persons:
sH The foremost fell with tremendous crash, |
and in about two hours afterwards a heavy sea
swept the decks, carrying away more than one !
hundred souls. Staterooms were arranged
around the quarter deck, or on the main deck,
which were occupied by the officers and SOL
diers. Some of these occupants were in their
staterOoms, and others were on deck, when
this sea was taken amidships, and all were
carried overheard, including Col. Washington,
asleep in his stateroom, Major Taylor and wife,
Capt Field aud Lieut.. Smith, and the others.
The scene that now ensued is almost beyond
description. The sky was black with clouds
the rain poured in torrents; and in all direc-
tions the vision was limited by roaring pillows,
white with froth and foam. The wind blew
perfect hurricane, and each sea swept the YES
sci fore and aft The engine was broken, the
foremost was gone, planks were torn from the
hull, water was making in the hold, and from
all sides came the piercing cries of the drown
ing soldiers. The staterooms swept away
were Immediately dashed in pieces. and their
inmates thrown upon the pillows. No attempt
was made to rescue any, for all efforts TO this
crappled at splinters and boards for assistance;
others swan until smothered or tired out, and
many. without an effort, sunk beneath the sea.
In that moment those still on board themselves
suffered all the horrors Of death. Some had
relatives and all had friends and acquaintance
struggling in the waves. Each tried to shut
his eyes, heart and ears TO every thing around
him, mOmentarily expecting to join the drown
ing soldiers.
Il does not appear to be known exactly how
many persons left New York on board the San
Francisco-the number being stated variously
from $50 to 500.
The number saved is as follows:
On board the Three Bells 230
q Kilby 108
Antarctic, (stated) 225