The Sierra citizen., 1854-10-14
WRECK
OF THE STEAMSHIP
VANN33 BLADE "
A NltAlpER nE lluFH I 0HT!
From our Extra of Wednesday

The following particulars OF the loss OF
the Steamer Yankee Blade, we copy from
the telegraphic dispatches to the Marys-
vile Herald of yesterday, which arrived
here at day light this morning, BY Lang
ton l. Bros Express. The intelligence
was brought up from San Diego by the
Goliah.
SAN Francisco, Oct. 8.
The Yankee Blade, Capt. Randall, left
San Francisco at 4 p. m, on Saturday
evening, Sept. Both, for Panama; and, on
the passage down the coast, struck rock
at point about 16 miles above Point
Conception, at halfpast 3, on Sunday
evening, Oct. l. Immediately her stern
went down, causing the death of some Is
persons. The vessel is total wreck
causing much misery, and . heavy loss to
individuals. Some thieves commenced
pillaging the ship, as soon as the passcn-
gers began to land.
The loss of this steamer is but another
instance Of the destruction Of property
and life through the recklessness of those
having the power to employ men able and
willing to discharge their duties.
The utter incompetency, the criminal
carelessness of the Captain, is to be seen
in the fact that he turned his back to all
advice. He was told that the course be
was pursuing would be destructive to the
ship and passengers-al of which he un-
heeded-thus causing the loss Of life and
property. Capt. Bell, passenger by the
Goliah, states, from the best information
he could learn from reliable sources, that
1900 passengers were on the Yankee
Blade. Capt Haley stated to him that
he had taken from the wreck and on shore,
700 passengers, and left $50 on the beach,
as per statement Of Capt. w. H. Burt,
who had charge of the only boat that re-
turned on shore to the relief of the passen-
gers. OF the 1900 that sailed, $50, or
thereabouts, are missing-but he feels sure
that out Of the whole number, $50 have
been saved. AS much as we feel disposed
to censure Capt. Randall, we will reserve
further remarks until We have his state
ment of the occurrence. Why he should
be SO far out of his course-why he de-
serted his ship-remain to be explained.
To Capt. VIM. II. Burt and Charles
Mathews, many hundred passengers are
indebted for their lives. They were both
passengers on board the Goliah. To Capt.
Haley, of the Goliah, they owe everything.
We learn that the following are the
names of the passengers known to be lost:
Mrs. Longston and four children; Mrs.
Brannan and child; Mrs. Sumner and
child; Mr.. Moore and child; Frank Mitch
/ ell.
Further Particulars.
The wreck of this vessel has created
great excitement in the upper country, as
a number ofthe passengers were from this
county. Much indignation is both felt
and expressed on the supposition that the
melancholy catastrophe occurred through
the negligence, or headstrong ignorance
of the officers. 1t is said however, that
Capt. Randall was well acquainted with
the coast. The result will doubtless be
that officers and crew will all be exonera-
ted and nobody will be to blame.
Of the probable fate of the passengers
from this place we will speak elsewhere.
We annex condensed report of Purser
Vought of the illfated steamer.
The steamship Yankee Blade sailed from
San Francisco on the 3Oth Of September,
with 800 passengers on board, according
to the official report OF Purser vought.-
"On the lst inst. at 81 o'clock p. m. when
about fifteen miles above Point Concep-
ton, she struck reef of rocks, and was
completely wrecked. From thirty to
forty lives were lost, and great number
are still missing. The first officer attempt
ed to reach the shore with boat contain
ing twenty-one persons mostly females, but
TIE boat stranded and all but himself and
three Others were lost. Night coming on
the fog set in and it was found impossible
to take of the rest of the passengers, un-
til morning. and during that night the
suffer'ngs OF the passengers are said to
have been extreme.
Confusion in the widest sense prevailed
for there were those who had prepared to
swim ashore stiffening with the cold
those who had sought to drown their fear
in too frequent libations of the ardent
while some with calm resignation had
prepared themselves for the worst. md
awaited their fate in peace. Thus we
passed the dismal night, made still more
solemn by the church-like tolling of the
bell, which seemed to beck us on to our
funeral.
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