Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1854-11-22
corre'ponds.ee orthe North Carolina standard.
SAN FKANc1sco. Oct. I6. 1854,

SAN FRANcIsco Oct l6, 1854.
W. W. HOLDEN EsQ.-Dear Sir: During the past
fortnight two startling events have transpired in this
quarter of the globe which will be themes for dis
cussion and comment for a long time to come. Last
in order of occurrence, but first in its sad character
and melancholy interest, is the loss the p NJ. of
the 1st inst. of the Independent Steamship Yankee
Blade. This terrible disaster, by which some fifty
pcrsons-maDy of them feinaes-lost their lives,
and hundreds their entire fortunes, occasoned
by the ship striking reef short distance above
San Diego, in dense fog
On the p. NJ. of the Saturday previous, thousands
gathered on the wharves to witness the beautiful
and animatng spectacle of the departure Of the
Blade, Sonora and Cortez, with an aggregate of
two thousand passcngers-all standing on the upper
decks, waving their handkerchefs, and swinging
their hats, many, as they hoped in final adieu to
this land OF gold and humbug.
The appearance Of those noble steamers as each |
swung gracefully from her pier and moved in stately
pride down the harbor, covered with joyous home |
ward bound passengers the stars and stripes hoat-
ing at the mast head and amid the boom of pea 5tul
cannon was stirring and exciting to those ac-
customed to such sights. The next news of that
squadron Of rival steamers was that the elegant
and splendid Blade was total wreck. She struck
the reef at ten knot rate Of speed her stem instant
ly sunk to the main deck, the boats were 10 oEered
and in the scramble overlooking and capsizing in
the surf near the beach, Of the loss of life
Cured Simultaneous with striking the reefa
deliberate and systematic Course of plumber, pillage
/ y,
accumulated horrors of sudden shpwreck, and all
attempts by passengers to protect their own proper
ty, were resisted with deadly weapons. The actors
in this unhallowed drama a gang of political
shoulder strikers and the ships fremen, and their
hend-llke conduct in a moment OF such imminent
peril to all amid the phrenzy of despair AMI the ago.
ny of supplcation all around them and reckless of
their own danger proved them equal to any deed in
the whole register of crime. By this catastrophe,
upwards Of $500 600 in private hands lost strip
! rtIc nf fhair.
The cause of this awful ship wreck must rest with
| the commander Randall who like the other captains
of that ne is not thoroagly scientific and practical
navigator, nor fully acquainted with this coast. His
fault lay in trying to save distance by taking the
channel inside the island of Santa Barbara, thus
compelling him to round the point of the main land
near which he wrecked and obliging him also
to thug the shore" in dense fog which had hung
! over him from the start and which should have
warned him not to attempt that difficult passage but
to give both the main land and the island wide berth.
Captain X. was told by his passengers, some of
whom had made the circuit of the globe before he
ever trod ship deck, that they had occasionally
seen the land, and that he out of his proper
course; but he persisted and soon wrecked one of
the finest steamers that ever parted Pacific wave
The independent line had recently been divided
I in New York, between the Mail and Nicaragua COM
panics. The former now own the celebrated North
STAR which is conceded to be the fastest American
built ocean steamer aioat; and when she runs in
connection with the fleet Golden Gate Stephens and
Sonora you may look out for unprccedentedy quick
trips by the mail line With the three last named
steamers, with the Oregon, California and Panama,
safe and thorough boats, this side, and the
Star, Illinois and Law, in the Atlantic, all spendidy
: appointed, safe and fleet ships, the mail line
present fleet of steamers uncqualled in this hemis-
phcre. The traveller Northward should note also
the fact that this is the only line having spare steam
crs at the Pacific Istnmus port.
In the case of the Winfield Scott, wrecked in De-
ccmbcr. ult. her DaSScnocrs were immediately
warded by another steamer. The passengers by
the Blade terminated their trip on the unlucky reef
are refused their passage money, or is reluctant
ly doed out Of them at the rate of 25 per cent.
the dolarmust stay here, purchase other tickets
! on lines not dcfnnct.
The dreadful calamity Of the Yankee Blade comes
coupled with huge and disgraceful forgery, which
has disturbed and distressed this community for two
weeks past, and which puts far in the shade Rath-
burn, Edwards or Schuyler. Henry Meigs, Ex-Al-
dcrman, possessing the unlimited confidence of this
community, recently decamped in a bark, for parts
unknown, with a half million of money, and a large
cargo of lumber. He forged and hypothecated the
stock Of a lumber company, of which he was Presi-
dent, and City Comptroer's warrants, each to an
immense amount, also private notes in large sums !;
he borrowed and received money of confding clerks,
laborers, &c, and in these various ways he has
caused the ruin OF two hundred people.
The scene at the Comptrollcrs office, on the day
after the discovery of the fight of Meigs, truly
terrible. Strong minded men, who had battled sue
cessfuly with all their energies to repair former
losses by flood and fire, who had struggled thro'
the long spell of business depression, for the past
year, would rush into the office bearing thousands
of dollars worth Of warrants, to ascertain if they
genuine, their countenances betrayng the anSt-
ETY. they felt; but when the damning proof was
given that their warrants-their all on earth-were
but much worthless paper the ag, Of the strong
man a fearful thing TO look upon; and if Henry
Meigs could have seen it, his body would have 10
need to die for the soul to find a hell.
These transactions of Mcigs have given a terrible
blow to the business interests of this community
destroying confidence and causing irretrevable ruin
| to hundreds of worthy people. EELLIAMED.
w We have received communications highly
complimentary to two distinguished Democrats, in
which their claims urged for seats in the United
States Senate. We should be glad to have it in
power to crafty the friends of these gentlemen by
publishing the communications referred 10; but we
do not deem it proper, especially as the General AS
sembly is so very at hand, to deviate from the
rule heretofore laid down, of avoiding far pos
sible, any interference in the pending Senatorial
elections. discussion in this journal of the rela
tive claims or merits Of gentlemen would not, il
; our opinion, be productive of that party harmony
which all of US so much desire. We have not gon,
into such discussion ourselves; nor will the friend
of gentlemen, feel sure, insist doing if they
will reflect seriously upon the results to which i
might lead. Let the whole matter 60 where it pro
perly belongs, before the General Assembly Tn,