Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1854-03-24
The Accident on Lake Nicaragua.


ply on Lake Nicaragua was swamped
and some sixteen persons, on their way
from California to the Eastern States,
were lost; among whom were several cit
liens of Wisconsin, and one young man
of our own city. The steamers of the
Nicaragua route on the Pacific, land at
San Juan del Sud; there is then twelve
miles land transportation to Lake Near
aqua, where the passengers are transport
ed to the small transit steamboats,, by
means of small boats. Because of Sc
we're storm, the steamboat on the lake
had been obliged to leave her usual moor
ing, and did not receive her passengers
at the usual time The account which
we copy commences speaking Of the lake
steamboat as follows:
Before noon the next morning, she
again made her appearance, and anchor
ed some three hundred or four hundred
yards from the pier. The sea was ex-
ceedingly rough, and the surf rolled in
upon the beach with Tremendous fury.
The steamer had lost her boat, and some
time elapsed before it was recovered, af-
ter which much difficulty was experien-
ced in getting a line to the shore. This
accomplished, the process of embarka-
ton commenced. This was effected by
means of large air-chambered iron
launch, capable of containing comforta-
bly, some fifty or sixty persons. Three
loads, with great care, were successfully
landed on board the steamer; but, on
loading the fourth time, the man having
the boat in charge exhibited great i'm
patience-provoked, no doubt, by the
obstinacy he had encountered the previ
Gus night, and fearing he would be UNI
able to finish his work while the day
light lasted-and persisted in crowding
her more than prudence and sound judy
ment could justify, and she was pushed
from the pier with more than eighty per-
sons on board. AS she slowly proceed
ed, it became apparent to all on shore
that she was in extreme peril, and her
progress was watched with painful anx-
iety. As wave after wave struck her,
she was seen to sink lower in the water,
until at length, when about one hundred
yards distant, the whole column of
heavy sea rolled over her entire length,
filling her up tothe gunwales. a loud
scream of horror ensued which beggars
all description. Cries of terror simulta-
neously arose from the launch and from
the hundreds of spectators upon the
steamer and on shore. The sea was in
stantIy covered with floating objects,
among which were many distinguished
human forms that had been washed from
the boat, or had thrown themselves over
board in the first moment of alarm.
Some were battling manfully with the
waves; others yielding themselves at
once to despair, were sinking without an
apparent effort at safety-thcir hands as
if insupplication raised aboyet their heads,
while in the midst of all was the launch,
still half filled with human beings, cling
ing with almost hopeless agony to each
other. The crowd upon the steamer
unable to render assistance, looked on
with horror. The people on shore were
less constrained. Here women stood IN
clusters and wild alarm, and men ran to
and fro, some giving orders, Others cur
sing and swearing, and few knowing
either what they did or said. The cool
or headed, however, rushed towards the
miserable apologies for boats that lay
along shore, and endeavored to get them
ahoat. But the natives were the first to
discover the full extent of the danger
and render efficient aid. With one wild
shrek, and nh impulse that would have
done credit to the best Of mankind, they
tore Of their scanty garments and rushed
to the relief off the sutierers-the women
being the first in the benevolent and
dangerous work. They hesitated not
to count the cost, or calculate the dan
Ger, but dashed into the furious surf,
needless of everything but desire to
save their fellow creatures from death,
and these strangers of another race, be-
tween whom and themselves there has
been no sympathy and but little kindly
feeling. Brighter examples of true he
roism could not be imagined than were
exhibited by these rude and ignorant
people. A dozen native women rushed
20 a large bungo that laid high and dry
upon the beach, and dragging it to the
waves, pushed it with almost incredible
speed through the water toward the
launch. AS they approached this one
of the women sprang forward, tearing
a half dead child from the arms of Its
drowning mother, held it with one hand
above her head, and swan with her prec-
ious charge to the shore. Others sue
cceded in saving the mother. Other ca
ses of like character occurred one native
man lost his life in his generous efforts
TO save Others. Some of the passengers
dung to the launch until she WAS drawn
ashore; others swan safely to the beach,
While still Others sank exhausted beneath
the waves. 1t is impossible, as yet, to
determine how uany persisted. In less
than an hour after the disaster occurred,
sixteen dead bodies We're upon the beach,
some dragged ashore by the natives,
others washed in with the surf. Sever
nj others were subsequently found, and
about half dozen more were known to
l. Il e .knSa In the launch