Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1854-01-20
LOSS OF THE SAN FRANCISCO.

ue I0iloW1ur statement OF one OF tQ'
passengers in the ill fated steamer Sa,
Francisco, is the most comprehensive ",
nave seen:
On Monday, Dec. 2l, the troops, con
sistins Of eight companies Of the ID Regi
Inent Of ARTILLERY, we're embarked from
steamtugs on board the steamer, ther
anchored in the North river. They mum
bered, rauk and file. 500 men, The off
GERS, with their families, together with The
soldiers wives and families certain por
ton Of whom we're allowed to each com
pany-brought up the number to aboa,
b0O. There were twenty or thirty Other
passengers. The crew numbered from l0C
to $50; so that, all told, We were between
$50 aud 500 souls on board.
I Friday morning, the 231, rose brightly
on our course. We had entered the Gul!
Stream, aud the weather, which yesterday
had been chilly, and caused the ladies' and
children to gather about the stove, had be-
come mild. The wind still from the north.
west, with sea enough to cause the dinner
table to become comparatively deserted.
The day passed without incident of any
kind, and gave no presage of the awful dis
aster so soon to follow.
Immediately after tea l retired to my
room and after reading two hours as quietly
as if On shore, undressed and retired
There was more roll to the ship than had
previously experienced, and the wind SEEM
ed freshening; but thought nothing Of
it. But | soon found there was no sleep
ing. 1t soon blew gale. The ship rolled
and pitched to degree that it was difficult
to keep my berth. All the books and loose
articles upon the table we're thrown to the
floor. Every article in the room, though
confined, was thrown about iu an alarming
manner
At IL o'clock l could bear it no longer
l rose, dressed hurried.y, and went out
upon the deck. My room was on the hur-
ricane deck, on the forward part of the ship.
The scene, as stepped on deck, was ter
rife. The steamer had broached to twice,
and had become unmanagcablc. Her head
was towards the wind. The whole crew
we're engaged in strenuous but vain efforts
to take in the sails. They were blown to
ribbons. The foremast-we carried no
mainmass-was wreaihing and twisting
like young sapling. 1t was large enough
for the Dainmast Of 1000 ton ship. The
fury of the tempest was such that | could
not stand before it . moment; but | seized
the iron brace connecting the king bolts,
and surveyed the scene for moment.
Then l threw myself on my hands and
knees, and made for the nearest hatch, to
get below. This happened to be over the
forward galley. Swinging myself down
by the cabin, l reached the main deck
Here a scene Of confusion understandable
and confounding presented itself. Four
hundred soldiers were bertned on this deck,
in double rows Of stsndee berths, three
tiers each. They had all crept from their
bertbs most Of the standees had been bro
ken and thrown down. The live stock, of
which there was considerable, had escaped
from their pens on the same derk, and
soldiers, bullocks, calves, pigs, sheep, and
poultry, we're all mingled together amid
the broken staudees. The steamers guards
had been carried away some time previously
.ud the sea washed over the deck with eve
y roll Of the ship The lanterns were ex-
tiuguished, and the darkness was almost
.otal. made an effort to reach the after
,abin, but found it impossible.
With my peuknifs | cut a leather belt
rom ore of the soldiers kuapsscks hang
ng around, aud fastening it to a carline,
made secure place to hold on. l remain
ID there towards all hour, the storm all the
while increasing. About one o'clock the
oremast came down almost over my head,
crushing in the hurricane deck. feared
low that the deck would be swept clean
# everything, and determined to seek re-
ugs below. Ixent first into the steerage,
,ut as they commenced battening down the
.atcb, with perhaps two hundred in it,
eft. and went to the second cabin, Occu-
lied by the non-commissioned officers and
heir families. was wet to the skin and
billed through. After waiting here for
xo hours, with no abatement in the fury {
the gale, crept into one Of the soldiers
erths, pulled blanket over me, and after
while fell asleep. The first ray Of dawn
woke ME. arose, and through the store
pom and pantry succeeded in gaining the {
,ain saloon. Saturday morning, the Oath,
ad At las. dawned upon US, and this awful
light had an end.
While passing between the second and '
Fter.cabiu, l felt tremendous sea strike
,e ship, but l had no idea Of the awful
1t Was the denouement-
,e finale of the awful tragedy which had
cen going on through the night. An ovor-
helminq sea had struck the ship on her Q
.,ho.rd nu.rter. carried away tho star 8