The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-01-19
THE san FRANCISCO CALAMITY.
Arrival or the Bayk K,lby Mt Boston with
Twenty-Five Passengers rrOna the Wreck
Meeting AZ the Merchants Exchange.
LETTER FROM CAPT. Low,

LGk lEh hOM SAE LOWs
Capt. Edwin T. Low, commander OF the bark xiIby
rived in town yesterday and havs received fpm hir
the following letter in regard the loss Of the
ssco Capt Low scsd truly noble ard heroic pErt In
the rescue Of the sufferers the Ill sted steamer and
his statement will bs read with great interss. -
NIw YORK, Jan. ls, 1854.
Mr. JAMES GoRDos BNSUT:-
After repeated solicitations the part Of those who
anxious TO know the fullest particulars In rssard to
the late disastrous wreck Of the sAn Francisco
have consented to make brief statement OF hs STAIR
far as 1t cane within my own knowledge.
On the morning Of the 27th Of December the stsamsr
San Francisco Hrst from the Kiby, ut about
eight O'Clock. As she psrcsived II spps-
rent TO all shs was in distress, having the union
dows, and being dismAstsd. The Kilby wAs laying
1T the time and such the violence Of the gale
that IL possible to give Immediate relief The wrd
blot wing from the northwest, and tho very
rough. At three O'Clock in the afternoon ship,
and under the lie, quarter Of the disabled steamer
which to extent gave knowledge of her condi
ton; but the violent storm stn forbddns sneoor,
again Ivy to- waiting for . favorabls oppor-
tunity Of communicating with hsy. On the NEXT
Eorping again passsd under the Ice Of the
dismAsted chip, AID wsre hailed By Captain watkins,
whs rssssstsd ns to "sead boat alcDgside." We re
pusd 0sriAiply," and Immediately boat manned
and seat 70 the steamer sad which brought Capt Wat
kins board the Kilby Having arranged for taking
the passengers from the wreck Capt Watkins returned
to the steamer and the work Of tans ring those on
board Immediately commenced. This the 2Sth
OF December, the day after NJ had E-st seen the
San Francisco. Ia reshippng the passengers the
military came frst, the ofhssrc leaving the wreck
according to their rank. This arrangement at
the hmo was generally scquisossd in, inasmuch
tho tofa, 10 all Ancr II
steamer, AID all expected TO dsmhsrk. 1t WAS about
three o'clock In the afternoon before the frat boat load
was received, and the work continued Until dark vt
which time had received about hundred end Atty
Ave OF the steamers company. We then rested both
sides, expecting to labors In tho morning.
During the night the hsvser which contested the two
vessels togethsr parted and 1T the dawn OF morning tho
San Francisco nowhere in sight. Thero was
then much anxiety among the passengers fer tho fate
of those remaining In tbs steamer, inasmuoh there
were thus separated parents from children, husbands
from their wives, Ane friends from friends 1t de
c ed to search for the steamer and two days and
nights anxious eyes looked ont through the csorm ia
hopes Of os Hking glimpse Of the missing vssssL
At the exptraon Of this the search given up
ss bopelsss and we we're .so short of provisions s
cunlstaI GO which compelled US TO make the quickest
voyage to the nearest port The Kby At the time of
the rescue Was heref in = crippled STATE being then
by the great violence OF ths storm. She leasing
badly and short OF sail Ae Kilby loaded with .
general cargo mAh y OF cotton We we're short OF pro
visions when first sspisd the San Francisco haviss
bsen st sea nearly double tnA time for usual voyage.
On Friday morning Jss. l3, ass O'Clock, spoke the
thp Lucy Thompson, CAPITA Psndlston from Liverpool
for New York Toe captain very generously
supplied us With all the stores we required, Aua
took on board his ows vessel ono hundred aoa zen
of our passengers The remainder tui,, satisfied
remain board the kiiby. After ths Lucy rnompson
HIT continued our course towards S-~ York the
port for which seer@t at leaving ihs seamr aod
ak pilot board of Fire Island. Tn the morrxng o.
Saturday hs l4th when Ia sisat Of the HghlSnd lights
IT saDdy h X strong nth westsr struck us, and
&. l. Of nsrnegAt. We then fell Ia With the steam
propeller CITY Of New Ysrk plying between Boston and
Ppiisde hiA and by her towsd into Botop, whsre
We arrived on Monday morning last, 1t o'ooos
cannot close this with cut expressing my regard the
ecsn OF the Lucy fer their jealous vAlua
bic aid extended ~ us In distress. Ny thanks
so cue to Capt Mathews OF the City Of New York. for
his kind attention TO the wants OF the la passengers
Esvns thus given yos pAir narrative OF the facts so
far Is know relating TO tbs dsporAbe fate OF the San
Francisco, subscribe myself, Yours, 80,