The Nevada journal., 1854-10-13
Loss Of the Yankee Blade.
THIRTY LIVES LOST.
I'LL p ARTIC A r S


Point Conception, during fog. She was
about one days sail from San Francisco,
and had hugged the coast, against it is said
the remonstrances of passengers to the
captain. The point where she struck was
about three-fourths of mile from shore
The vessel ran about half her length upon
the rock, and Immediately began settling
at the stern. Great confusion ensued,
and little attempt was made to preserve
order. Shortly after striking, Capt. Ran
dali went ashore with six men, leaving
the vessel and passengers to their fate, and
did not again return. The mates then
took boats, and succeeded in getting few
of the passengers on shore, though the
boat of the first mate was swamped at the
beach. and twelve out of seventeen pas
senpers, mostly women, were drowned.-
During the day, seven or eight boat loads
were landed. During the night scene OF
pllage ensued. About twenty-five villains
ransacked all approachable parts of the
vessel, robblng passengers, valises and
berths of valuables and If is rumored that
a murder was committed during these
scenes. A cry of murder was heard in the
steerage, and two pistol shots. Had Capt.
Randall remained on board, and firmly
exercised his legitimate authority, such
scenes could not have occurred. No apol-
ogy can clear his conduct of the cast of
guilty, cowardly neglect, in deserting his
vessel in the first moment of disaster, and
leaving her and the unfortunate passengers
prey to the elements, and lawless scoun-
drels. He should have been the last man
to leave her, and the excuse in the official
account we give below, that he went to
find landing place is idle in the extreme.
He had officers who could do that but not
one who could supply the place of faith
full Captain on board. The most frantic
demenism seems to have reigned all that
long night on board the fated ship. There
were about 800 people on the steep deck
of the vessel, shivering with the cold, in
great distress of mind and body. A num-
ber of persons were assaulted by the hends
on board, and one person was knocked
down, and with pistol at his heart, COM
PEELED to give up his money. Another
was robbed, and an attempt made to throw
him overheard. A number more of similar
occurrences occurred In the morning
marks of blood were found in the steerage
but if any one had been killed, the body
had been thrown IN the hold. The floor
of the steerage was covered with carpet
bags cut to pieces, and other articles,
where they had been left by the spoilers.
About nine o'clock in the morning the
Goliah came in sight, took large load of
passengers on board, and landed them at
San Diego, She returned, and took the
remainder of the passengers. Thirty lives
are undoubtedly lost, and probably many
more.
The following is the official report of the loss
Of the Yankee Blade, made by Purser Vought
OFFICIAL REPORT.
The Independent Steamship Yankee Blade, !
Henry Randall, ESQ.,, Commander, sailed from
San Francisco, Sept. Both, at o'clock P. NJ,
with eight hundred passengers, and $l63,0O0
in specie passed the Heads at 5 o'clock, and
at 9 o'clock the same evening saw steamer
on the starbGard beam, supposed to be the I'm
Gle Sam or John L. Stephens.
October Ist. at 3 I-2 O'Clock P NJ, being en-
compassed in dense fog, steering 5. +. by
L. course, and supposing ourselves at least ten
miles from shore, we struck reel OF ROCKS on
Point Arquella, about fifteen miles above folnt
Conception, upon which the ship ran upwards
OF sixty eet, while her stern hung in nine fatf-
oufs of water, which in less than twenty-five
minutes sunk below the promenade deck but
so firmly was the forward part embedded in the
rocks, that up to the time we left the ship,
(about P N. on the Cd inst, she had not rece-
ded an inch.
AS soon as we discovered our danger, the |
officers of the deck launched and manned the |
boats, and proceeded at once to get the ladies
and other passengers on shore And here, it |
is but justice to observe, that great approba-
tion is due to Capt. Henry Randall for his
promptness in going on shore to find proper
place to land his passengers--in taking charge
of one of the boats himself, and Bleaching it
successfully, when that of the first officer was
stranded-for the anxious manner in which he |
urged the hands on shore to return to the wreck |
with the boats, when they displayed every de-
sire to desert him, and for sending his son, Hen
ry Randall, Jr., to supply his place on the
wreck, in which capacity he Henry acquitted
himself in a manner far beyond his years, in
spring all hearts with hope, and preserving as
much order as could be preserved under such
exciting circumstances.
While the boats were being lowered the chief
steward and storekeeper went below with a
gang 0! men, and brought out large quantities
OF provisions, which were sent on the upper
forward deck The Purser prepared to save
the ships papers and the valuohles left in his
possession belonging to passengers, which have
all been safely delivered to their owners. But
on gong below ten minutes after the shin