New-York daily tribune., 1854-03-15
THE DISASTER At VIRGIN BAY

n as Edfgr q The ~ Y, Tribnae
SIR The steamship Brother Jonathan left San Francisco
at O'Clock on the evening of February l6 and after
exceedingly pleasant pesage anchored in the harbor of
Bar Juan del Sud early tue morning Of the st inst The
rta unusually rough gale of wind having been blow
ing for several days The greater portion of the day was
consequently consumed in landing the passengers aud
freight There nearly 600 passengers on board about
$50 Of whom in the scerage composed principally Of
tie roughest portion of the population of California The
process of landing always necessarily slow, greatly
retarded by the obsnscy and dog in the manger dpo
ston Of these people AZ es the ship reached her
took possession OF the gangway leading 70 the
boats from which the officers unable to remove them
lmsginpg peculiar advsntsgein the choice omues
especially to be derived from being first on shore they
had determined 10 avail themselves Of that advantage It's
the Of the steamship company to land their passen
gss free of charge in their boas but the inhabitants
also bring boats alongside facilitate the landing in
which they charge passengers moderate price These
boats the seefsge passengers would not employ neither
would they suffer others who thus disposed TO do so
but rather insulted and abused them for making the at
tempt Many OF the passengers therefore in the cabin
had not landed from the ship when most of those in the
seersee reached Virgin Bay the transit the
try occupying about two hours. Here two steamers the
Central America and Ometepe were waiting 1t was i'm
medaiely announced that the former would sail early in
the evening, and that the latter would be retained until
the cabin PASSENGER with their baggage the specie aud
express matter should arrive Another difficulty at once
arose. The Storage passengers became impressed with
the idea that they about TO be imposed uponthat
the cabin passengers were TO fare better than themselves
in word that sosstifHg was 10 be gained by waiting
for The Omtiepe and hence neither threats enreates
could induce them 20 embark in the Central America the
lsrgest and best boat of the two The agents of the Com
pany eIdeav0red by all possible induce them TO
so on board bat all Of iher efforts unsyang The
steamer sailed with eco passengers leaving 400 with the
specie freight and baggage for the omeepe. The eOnse
fnenSe OF his folly and Perversy II will be proved
most lameutably disastrous Soon after the sailing of the
Central America the. wind which had been blowing
nefh all cay, increased until IT swept perfect tempest
the Lake aud the 0metepe forced TO take refuge
under the lee Of the mountain, opposite the village during
the night Before noon the next morning she AGAIN made
her appearance and anchored 800 400 yards from
the per The seaNas exceedngy rough and hesurf rolled
IN upon the beach with Tremendous fury. The steamer
had lost her boat and time elapsed before it was re-
covered ailer which much difficulty experienced in
getting Zine TO the shore This accom- shed the process
OF emterkstion commenced This effected by means
OF large air ohambered mon launch capable of contain
ng comfortably W 60 persons Ihrt loads with great
care, were successfully landed ON board the bat
On loading The fourth tune the man having the boat in
charge exhibited great impatenceprovoked, doLbi,
10y he obsnacy he had encountered the previous night
eud fearing he would be unable finish his WORK while
Tie daylight lasted PERSISTED n Crowiing her more
than prudence aud sound judgment ooad justify. and
she was pushed from the pier wh more than 50 persons
or board a. she slowly proeeoded became apparent 70
az on sie hat shc was IN extreme peril ami her progress
was watched siih painful anxiety A. wave alter wave
struck her she was seen TO sink lower in the water until
al length, when about hundred wards distant the
whole column of heavy rolled over her entire eoth
hing her Ia The gunwales. of horror enSuel
which beggars all description Ciies Of terror sinatane
ously from the launch and the hundreds OF sps,
upon the steamer and on shore The sea vas instant
y covered With floating objects, among which were distin
guisl ed many human forms that had been washed rou
TIE boat or bad thfown themselves overheard in the
frst moment Of alarm. Some bstilins manfally
with the waves others yielding themselves at 70
despair sinking without apparent effort self
pTeseTVaOn their hands, fila supplcson raised above
their heads while 10 The midst Of all the launch still
halt hled with human beings clDgng with almost hopeless
agony TO each other The crowd upon the steamer una
able TO render assistance. looked with horror. The
people on shore were less constrained Here stood
IN clusters and WILD alarm, and % and fro,
giving orders others cursng and swearing and few know
ing either what hey did said. The cooler headed
however rushed toward the miserable apologies for boats
thet lay along shore AID endeayOred get them aAoa
Bu te natives the r5i 10 dseOvcrte full extent Of
the danger ard render efficient aid With one wild Shrek
and impnlse that woui have done credit % the best Of
maDk ind they tore of their scsny garments and rushed
the relief of tho sufenrsthe being the rsi in
the benev and dangerous work They hestsed not
count the cost calculate the danger bu, dsshe int,
he furious surf needless Of every thing but desire 70
ave their fellow from DEATH too UOd those
zen OF anoiher race between whom and homsees there
las been 10 mpSsby and but little kindly feeag Brsat
examples Of rue h. rosm could not be glued thaa
we're exhibited by these rude and ignorant people doI
native rushed TO large bungo thaiad hsh amp
y upon the beach and dragging il 10 the waves, pushed
with almost dble speed through the water toward
be laareb As they approached this one Of the women
prang forward tearing half dead child from he arms
is drowning motleI, bsd { With one band above hsE