Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-01-18
6meral SnteIliaentf.
More Of the san FrancIsco's shipwreck.-

VBtNtId* GH1kI4AD INV.
More Of the San Francisco's Shipwreck.-
The statements following are from various per
sons on board the steamer at the time of the dis
aster. From the chief engineers statement we
feel confident that no blame in any way can be at
tached TO the commander or any one under his
control, and the chief engineer, whose noble sac
rifice Of self is so prominently described, should
receive the commentator OF all.
CHIEF ENGINEER's STANDARDIZATION TO the
departure of the San Francisco, the chief engineer
Mr. ]. w. Marshall, received instructions from the
owners, not to allow over eight revolutions per
minute for the first four days out. The engine
worked in admirable order from the hour of depar-
ture, and was making ~ revolutions per minute
on Saturday the 24th about 10 p. M, at the time
the vessel first preached to. Al this time Com
mander Watkins entered the engineers room and
directed Mr.. Marshall TO drive the engines with all
tha power he thought prudent. The revolutions
were accordingly worked up 10 123 per minuie
which, together with the extra sail which had
been rugged up, caused the vessel to pay of and
run in good style. Very soon after the engineer
received orders lessen the speed, and before he
had time to execute the order, the vessel preached
10 the second time.
The preyious order was countermanded by the
commander who now directed that a full head Of
steam should be got on. While the firemen were
filling the furnaces with the most combustible ma
terla TO be obtained the end of the air-pump pis-
ton rod broke, and the smoke-pipes were carried
away, and the engines were necessarily stopped.
The vessel having shipped considerable water, the
two Worthinglon steam pumps were started, by
means of which the vessel was kept comparative
ly free from water until A. M. AT this time the
vessel was boarded by a heavy sea which swept
the decks and caused the great destruction OF life
Immediately after the stopping of the engines the
engineer set to work TO rig an exhaust pipe, by
taking the smoke pipe from the small boiler; this.
il was ascertained, would not work, in conse-
quence of the loss Of the smoke-pipes, and the
lower belts being wet by the sea that swept the
decks.
We are informed from reliable source that at
no time was there over two-and-a-half feet Of wa
Ter in the vessel and had they been aware Of the
fact that vessels had been sent TO their relief the
ships company would not have abandoned the
San Francisco.
Mr. Marshall, the chief engineer, did not leave
his post during the whole of this trying scene, and
for several days after the first sea was shipped did
not even go on deck. He finally became so ex-
hausted that he was unable to walk, and crawled
about on his hands and knees, and finally the crew
were under the necessity OF carrying him wherever
his services were required to superintend the
work going on about the machinery.
The vessel was supplied with duplicates Of the
machinery the only exception being that OF the air
pump piston rod, which is the least liable 10 get
out oforder, and it is consequently considered un-
e. Il y t
The assistant engineers fremen, &C., about 40
in number under the direction of the chief engi-
neef are said to have acted in the most praise
worthy manner-never at any time refusing TO
undertake anything required Of them
At one time only did the iremen desert their
post which was in consequence of the increase
of water in the fire room; they returned immedi-
ately, however by request of Mr.. Marshall.
STATEMENT OF Mrs. LIVINGSTON, STEwARpEss
ON BOARD OF THE SAN FRANcIsco.-As soon as the
gale commenced ION Friday night, December 23)
the women and children fled from the ladies' Sa-
loon and their berths, in great CONSERVATION. The
men being all above except the steward, Mr.. San
fordl did the best | could TO calm their fears,
which required no slight effort, as may be sup
posed amid the shreks Of the women and the
screams of the children number ofthe females
were mothers Of several children, who were all
clnging to them at once, and several had helpless
infants at the breast Anxious to see above. they
clustered around the stairway, and crowded il
very much. They remained there during the
night On the morning Of the oath, when the
cabin came in, as already sufficiently described by
others, | was Just in the act of ascending the
stairs, when the awful crash broke upon my ear.
My escape was curlously narrow one Had
gotten step further, would probably not have
been alive to give this fearful story, for boy only
a foot or two ahead Of me, ascending the steps,
was killed /, of course, had no time TO give
special attention to him or any body else. turned
instantly back, with presence Of mind which
could only have been impaired by the experience
Of two previous wrecks. My first impulse was
10 relieve the passengers from the ruins OF the
deck, which held many Of them firmly 10 the floor,
amid the most drenching flood of water. was
glad 10 discover that only two persons were killed,
one of whom was the carpenters brother, and
soldier who was in che act Of coming down stairs.
There were many bruises, but no broken limbs
among the females. But the fright and agony Of
the scene was terrible. .
As soon as could got help, and collected the
women and children aft in the main saloon, and
placed them on the mattresses, wrapped in blank
ets so as make them as comfortable as possible.
The children began TO manifest great hunger, hav-
ing eaten nothing since the day previous. busted
myself getting some warm food and drink for them.
While so doing, all the passengers, including the
soldiers and their wives rushed aft, and crowded
the main saloon to suifocaton. The soldiers wives
found particularly unmanageable. Many OF them
were fully conscious Of their sudden widowhood,
having lust seen their husbands swept into the
sea with the deck. The excited crowd ofmen who
broke in upon retreat made the situation OF
the women and children much less comfortable
than otherwise could have made them But the
poor fellows could not help it, in their consterna-
ton.
I will pass over the fearful scenes Of the next
four days, as they have been described by others.
On Wednesday the Antarctic took of the surviving
passengers, from the ladies' cabin, leaving large
number of the soldiers wives and some ofthe chill
tren behind. The Antarctic would probably have
taken all the females, had she been able 10 keep
along side Of the wreck for sufficient length OF
time, or find us again. She had been blown far
away by heavy gale, and we never saw her
afterwards. The anguish of the wives separated
from their husbands, aud of even little children
from their mothers, may well be imagined.
A word about the sickness on board the Three
Bells This was very destructive, some thirty-one
grown persons and six children dying. Various
statements about il have been published. One Of
these represented il as cholera. have seen pa
tents die of this disease frequently, and the symp-
toms were altogether different. The more appar-
ent causes, viz: cold, fatigue loss Of sleep, want
of proper food fright, &C., were quite sufficient to
account for the mortality, without any such theory
as the prevalence Of cholera or indeed any other
epidemic desease.
CATuARINE E. LIVINGSTON, No. III Varck ST.
LANDING OF THE KILBy's PAssENGERs-Jan. Is,
1874 o'clock-At half past ten o'clock last Saturday
night, Colonel Swords, deputy quartermaster, or
dered that preparation should be made to charter
a steamer, to go in search of the kiby, owing TO
the report OF her condition, brought TO his office by
The men of pilot boat No. IL, dhe Phantom.
Alter a little time the steam tug Leviathan was
ordered tv prepare for sea, and her master mme-