Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-01-15

OF General Scott, in Twelfth street bur as the gen.
erai was unfortunately absent from home On a
VISIT to Baltimore, Major w. left immediately. and
| = suPposeu proceeded TO Washington, i'm order
10 report The loss Of the military to the War de-
i partment. - ~
4 statement by one of the Crew.
we leit New York with prospects Of delight.
j iui and pleasant voyage. For two DAYS nature
seemed 70 favor us, and there was NO sign in sky
or on sea, by which we could guess the fearsnI
and dismal fate which awaited u.s. :
On the evening of the second day December
70 the first breath of the coming gale was fel,
AT about nine O'Clock the wind came our yerv
| Suddenly from the northwest, and the surface of
the ocean began 10 grow white with foam. A lii
tie after midnight the vessel became unmanagea
Bile, and lay in the trough of the sea- each wave
sweeping over her and carrying away planks,
barrels, boxes &c. The passengers now deemed
their situation pcrllous, and some confusion regned
among them. The word was given to tighten
ship, and all passengers and crew engaged with
q VIII IN clearing deck and working the pumps
Tor now the report was also made that the shin
was leaking badly. The soldiers were organized
!n'o Dal'ing gangs, and every nerve was stretched
TO keep the hull free from water In this way the
steamer lay, rolling and pitching, and shipping
heaVy biuows, from midnight, on the 9th iii
seven O'Clock next morning; and now every
yawning sea threatened all with watery grave.
AZ inns hour the foremost fell with a tremendous
sea swept the decks, carrying awav more than
one hundred souls.
Staterooms were arranged around the Quarter
deck, or on the main deck, which were occupied
Dy the oihcers and soldiers. Some OF these occu-
pants were IN their staterooms. and others were
on deck, when this sea was taken amidships, and
all We're carried overboard, including Colonel
Washington, asleep in his stateroom, Major Tay-
lor and wife, Captain Field, Lieutenant Smith, and
the others. The sky was black with clouds; the
rain poured in torrents; and in all directions The
VISION was limited by roaring billows white with
froth and foam. The wind blew perfect hurri-
cane, and each sea swept the vessel fore and aft
Inc engine was broken, the foremast was gone,
pianks Were torn from the hull, water was making
IN the hold, and from all sides came the piercing
cries OF the drowning soldiers. The staierooms
swept away were Immediately dashed in pieces,
and their inmates thrown upon the pillows No
attempt was made 10 rescue any, for all efforts to
this end were useless. Some of the drowning men
grappled at splinters and boards for assistance;
others swan until smothered or tired out, and
and many, without an effort, sunk beneath the
sea. During the afternoon of this horrible day.
sail hove in sight; and though great expansc Of
raging water rolled between, almost defyng uni
onof the two, yet every one was alive with hope
and the prospect of delverance This hope, howl
ever, was short lived as this vessel was the Nal
poieon, which was lost sight ofnext morning (25th)
All the horrors of death again gathered around in
the darkening heavens, the peting rain the raging
sea, and the sinking vessel.
NAMES OF THOSE LOST, AS FAR AS KNowN-Col.
:. NJ; Washington, Maj. George Taylor, Mrs. Tay-
Tor, Capt. II. B Field, Lieut.. r. H. Smith, two la
dies, names unknown - Brooks, a waiter,
--- Duckett, brother to carpenter; the barber,
and about one hundred and fifty of the United
States soldiers.
DED.-Johnson. waiter; Louis Testador, VIM.
Wilson, Walter Watkins and Arthur Henry enpi.
neer corps; Levi Heath, steerage steward; Wal.
ter Heath, waiter; Charles Sanford steward
WASHED OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, colored waiter
the barber colored; F. Duckett, white steerage
waiter; seaman, named Alexander
TAKEN OFF BY THE BARQUE KILBY, FOR BosToN
Col VIM. Gates, commanding regiment and fami-
", including wife and three children First Lieut.
L. Loeser and wife, Miss Eaton, Capt j. W. T.
Gardiner, Lieut. F. X. Murray, Maj Chas S. Mer.
chant, wife and two children; Miss Valecia Mer.
chant. Mrs. Wyse and child, Capt H. B. Judd and
wife, Lieut.. S. l.. Fremont wife and three child.
rem; Mr.. G. w. Aspinwall Mr.J L. Graham, Mrs.
Taylor, Mr. Southwark, Mr.. j. Farnsworth, first |
engineer; with others-in all about one hundred |
men, women, and children
NAMES OF THOSE SAVED ON THE SHIP ANTAR- |
TIc.-Captain j. T. Watkins, commander Of San |
Francisco; Mr.. T. L. Schell, purser Mr.. Charles
F. Barton third officer; Mr. John Mason, fourth |
oiicer; Lieut.. J. G. Chandler, U. S. A.; Lieut.. |
Charles Winder, U. s. A.; Mr. Rankin u S. A. |
Mrs. Major Wyse,S Washington bucket, carpen-
ter, and others.
On BoARp THE THREE BELLs-Surgeon r. S.
Satterlee, Assistant Surgeon H. R. Wir,z, Lieut.
NJ. Burke, Major Francis Q. Wyse, Lieut.. J. Van
voast, Edward Mellns first officer OF the San
Francisco; George Grattan, second officer; J. W.
Marshall, chief engineer; A. Auchinlick, first en-
gineer; David Durham, second do; James Cros-
by, second do; B. Donahan, third do; c. Hoa.
man, third do; w. Buel, NJ d., surgeon; w. III.
Wickham, storekeeper and Understanding two
hundred and thirty in all.
The recapitulation of this sad affair is as follows
Number of souls on board when the San
francisco lett New York. 700
40 Iktv tnn
Do. do. Three Bells. $50
Do do. Antarctic. ............... 200
$50 |
Nuinper iost. ..................... ITO |
II Is thought that the kilby, although bound to |
Boston. has gone 10 Bermuda "a il was only three