Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-11-18
oo,re.ponde /. of.he nora carolina standard.

4 gIObe,-
cussion and comment for q long time to come. Last
in order of occurrence but first in its sad character
and melancholy interest, is the loss on the r NJ Oh
the 1st inst. of the Independent Steamship Yankee
Blade. This terrible disaster, by which some fifty
persons-many of them females--lost their lives,
and hundreds their entire fortunes, was occasioned
by the ship striking reef short distance above
San Diego, in a dense log. 5.fEs-t;S.ts
On the p. M. of the Saturday previous, thouSan DIS
gathered the whafves to witness the, beautiful
and anmating spectacle of the departure OF the
Blade Sonora and Cortez, with an aggregate OF
two thousand IIaSsengers-al standing on the upper
decks waving their handkerchiefs, and swinging
their hats many, as they hoped in a 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 the mast head, and amid the boom of peG>efuL
cannon stirring and exciting even to those &C
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 the main deck, the boats were 10 vered,
and in the scramble overlooking and capsizing in
the surf the beach, most of the loss of life oc-
CURED. Simultaneous with striking on the reefa
deliberate and systematic of plumber, pillage
and robbery, begun and carried on amid all the
accumulated horrors of sudden shipwreck, and all
attempts by passengers to protect their own proper
ty were resisted with deadly weapons The actors
in this unhallowed drama were gang OF political
shoulder strikers, and the ships fremen and their
fiend-like conduct in moment of such imminent
peril to all amid the phrenzy OF despair ana the ago
ny of supplication all around them and reckless OF
their danger proved them equal to any deed IN
the whole register of crime. By this catastrophe,
upwards of 5000 600 in private handswas lost strip
ping most particularly steerage passengers of their
all.
The cause of this awful ship wreck must rest with
the commander Randall, who like the othercaptains
of that line, is not thoroagy scientific and practical
navigator, fully acquainted with this coast His
foly.o
channel inside the island of Santa Barbara thus
compelling him to round the point of the main land,
near which he was wrecked, and obliging him also
to "hug 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 r. 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
the land, and that he was out of his proper
course; but he persisted, and soon wrecked one of
the finest steamers that ever parted Paclhc wave
The independent line had recently been divided
in New York, between the Mail and Nicaragua COM
panies The former now the celebrated North
STAR which is conceded to be the fastest American
built steamer aHoat; and when she runs in
connection with the fleet Golden Gate, Stephens and
Sonora, you may look out for unprecedentedy 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 splendidly
appointed safe and fleet ships, the mail line
present fleet of steamers unequalled in this hemis
pierre The traveller Northward should note also
the fact that this the only line having spare steam
ers at the Pacific Istnnaus port.
In the of the Winfield Scott, wrecked in De-
cember, ult., her passengers Immediately for
warded by another steamer. The passengers by
the Blade terminated their trip the unlucky reef
are refused their passage money it is reluctant
y doled out of them at the rate of % per cent.
the dolar-must stay here, purchase other tickets
on lines not defunCt,
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 Megs, Ex-Al-
derman, possessing the unlimited confidence of this
community, recently decamped in bark, for parts
unknown, with half million of money, and large
cargo of lumber He forged and hypothecated the
stock of lumber company, of which he was Pres-
dent, and City Comptrollers 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 at the Comptroller's Office the day
after the discovery of the flight of Megs, truly
terrible. Strong minded men, who had battled sue
cessfully 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
were genuine their countenances betrayng the anli
ETY. they felt; but when the damning proof
but much worthless paper the ag, ny of the strong
man was a fearful thing to look upon and if Henry
Meigs could have seen it, his body would have
need to die for the soul to find hell. Z
These transactions of Meigs have given terrible
blow to the business interests of this community,
destroying confidence and causing rretrievable ruin
to hundreds of worthy people. EELLIAMED.
ONE WEEK LATER FROM CALIFORNIA
New YORK Nov 14.-The fine steamer Northern
Light with California dates to the Oath, and
weeks later news arrived this morning. Her trip
has been made in the incredible short space of 204
days, and is the quickest record She brings
$500 900 in specie. .-s-
Walker the fillibuster President of Sonora, has
been tried and acquitted.
The excitement in San Francisco relative to the
Meigg's fraud continued More frauds have been
discovered.
Smith Clarke, late Mayors Clerk is charged with
unlawfully OBTAINING $780, 900 in his hands. He has
been arrested. s-.
Hamilton Bowls, late city treasurer, has been
rested also. He is charged with fraudulenty taking
away books, papers, and monies, belonging to the
GEOGRAPHICALLY three hundred and thirty-sx
thousand dollars in city warrants. The defence
made is, that his successor has not complied with
the requisites of the law, and hence the detention.
An examination into Meiggs' frauds shows the
amount carried away by him does not exceed
$50, O00.- --. 49,.
The news from the mines is favorable.
Great Ruoo-Notsing Victory -'-r'r
/ Boston, Nov. l4th.-In the election held yester-
day in Massachusetts,, the Know Nothings swept the
State by an immense majority. They have carried
the Legislature, and all the Congressman with but