Washington sentinel., 1854-02-07
C0ngrfssional. o.
THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.

THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
| In senate--Monday, February O, 1854.
The Hon. J. J. RUsK appeared in his seat to
| day.
POTOMAC BRIDGE.
MIR. BRIGHT presented the remonstrances o
citizens of Georgetown against the construction
OF any bridge over the Potomac river below tha
| town. ---.-
INTERNATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS. $3.50. $500.
Mr.. SUMNER presented the memorial of tho
New York Geographical Society," praying tha
Congress would adopt some means TO procure
common international meridian line, and an inter
national standard of weights and measures.
RELIGIOUS ToLERATIoN.
MI. DAWSON presented the memorial of The
Southern Baptist Convention asking that Con
gress would adopt some measures that religious
freedom might be secured to Americans while in
foreign countries.
UNITED STATES COURTS IN ARKANSAS.
MI. JOHNSON submitted resolution directing
an inquiry by the Judiciary Committee into the
expediency OF giving circuit court jurisdiction te
the United States district courts for Arkansas anC
Adopted
GUANo TRADE.
Mr.. PRATT presented the resolutions of the
Legislature of Maryland, in relation to the trade in
guano; which were read and referred TO the Com
mittee on Agriculture
| Mr.. JOHNSON, from the Committee on Militia
ry Affairs. reported bill for the relief of Mrs
Elizabeth 9. Smith. He said that she had enlisted
as private in the Missouri regiment ofvolunteers
| forthe Mexican war, underline name Of Bill Euchee
that she served in her company for eight months
when her sex was discovered and she honorably
discharged. She hadnever received anypay. This
bill proposedto allow her the paw of soldier, and
also the bounty land which she would have been
entitled TO had she been a man.
Mr.. JONES, OF Tennessee, said that the chair.
man off the committee had served on that line,
and he would like TO know if this soldier had been
under his command?
Mr.. SHIELDS said that he had not the honor
| of having her under his command But he had nc
doubt she had performed her duty we'll
The bill was then passed.
THE SAN FRANCISCO WRECK.
Mr. SHIELDS, from the Joint Committee Of the
Senate and House, 10 which had been referred the
| subject of making some suitable acknowledgment
to the gallant men vho had aided in the rescue OF
the passengers and others of the steamer San Fran
cisco, made the following report:
The joint committee Of the Senate and House OF Repre-
sentaves to whom was referred the resolution of the
Senate and House of Representatives to inquire and
in what form the acknowledgment of Congress
be most appropriately expressed to those benevolent and
courageous men, who. under Providence, the
of rescnng from death many citizens Of this republic
have had the under consideration and submit to the
respective houses the following report:
The steamship San Francisco the property Of the Pacc
Mail Steamship Company, Of New York. chartered by
the War Department to convey United States troops and
military stores to California; via Cape Horn.
She left New York the 22d December 1853 having
board in addition to the Of the vessel the third reg
Of the United States artillery and passengers
among whom number of women and children; in ali
| about eight hundred souls.
which rendered her wholly unmanageabe. On the morn
ing Of the 2h she struck by violent wave which
shattered her quarterback her hurrcanedeck and
red away her upper saloon and all the officers soldiers,
and who had taken shelter in ii from the
amounting to about two hundred in number The vessel
seriously damaged by this terrible shock and
continued afterwards to leak badly that it required the
utmost efforts Of all board to keep her aoat On the
same day. and soon after this dreadful occurrence she
spoke the brig Napoleon Of Portland The captain Of this
brig promised to lie by her. but separated from her
during the night The next day the 25h the San Fran
the Maria also promised to lie by her. but the night
arated the vessels.
hove in sight This vessel had suffered much In the
TINT wrecked the San Francco She short Of provi
,sns and v % w,s K and nd lsssg ss s. her captain pro
ktt thrsss 80 nxht. The nd&t ds ths zsth, upwards
transsrred nom the San francisco 10 the Kby. This
operation arrested by the increase o the gale night
but was intended TO be resumed the next day. until all
should be removed from the wreck the Storm however
increasing with the night the vessels unavoidably
separated The kby crused In search OF the wreck fo
some time, until her crippled and disabled condition
compelled her to abandon the search and provide for
safety It full time, she afterwards
tered great difficulties in getting safely into port
On the 3lst the ship Three Bells Of Glasgow Captain
Creighton came in sight and learning the condition
the passengers and promised tole by them
cor them at all hazards This vessel had suffered Sc
yerey from the storm, short of provisions and
and leaked 80 badly that her condition was scarcely les,
commander faithfully kept his promise At the i'm
minent risk his vessel he lay by the wreck for
Lo~t
form the most shlfu and perlous manauyres passing
frequently under the lee Of the wreck to cheer and
On the Sd Of january 1854 the ship Antarctic bound
Liverpool fell In with the San Francisco, and gene
rousy rendered assistance and succor TO those board
On the 4h and 5th all the surviving passengers pre-
viously transferred to the Kby removed board
the Three Bells and Antarctic On the 9th all the officers
and were taken from the wreck, Captain Watkins
being the last who abandoned the illfated vessel
The barque Kilby, after struggling with the winds and
waves fourteen days, finally reached within miles
driven to The next day she fell in with the ship
Lucy Thompson, Of New York, whose commander, upon
volunteered to take the passengers on board This
moval Immediately effected and the Lucy Thompson
she greatly in need The Lucy Thompson brought
these suffering passengers in safety to New York
The Kiby afterwards found In helpless condition
and was towed into Boston harbor by the steamer City
New York.
The Three Bells arrived safely in New York. but sui.
cent time has not yet elapsed to hear of the arrival of the
Antarctic at Liverpool.
The committee deeply impressed with the generous
conduct of these gallant men, who aided in rescuing
distressed countrymen from the wreck Of the San Fran
CISCO
The commanders of the Three Bells, Kby and Antarc-
tic the grateful Acknowledgements Of the country
for their humanity and ntrepidity.
Thanks praise especially due to Captain Cregh
tom Of the Three Bells who for six tempestuous days
nights in spirit Of disinteresed humanity and at the
imminent peril of himself and stood by the sinking
steamer until her gallant commander, who remained the
last board abandoned the doomed and deserted
vessel.
Captain Watkins his officers and appear to great
advantage this trying occasion Lieutenant Francis
Key Murray Of the United States navy also entitled
especial notice for his humane and valuable services Praise
Is also due Surgeon Buell. Of the San Francisco,
asduity with which he attended to the sick dying
soldiers after they separated from their surgeons
Major Wyse and junior officers deserve great credit for
their efficient conduct In the absence Of their superior
GERS Several others, who be designated by
name oing the imperfect information before the
mittce believed also to be entitled TO praise and to the
thanks OF the country.
The committee are persuaded that these humane and
noble services rendered without hope expeca
ton Of pecunary compensation but they for that very
in the Judgment Of the committee entitled only
to grateful acknowiedgmen but also TO substantial
reward They therefore report joint resolution for that
purpose.
JAMES SHIELDS,
Chairman Joint Committee On, the part Of the Senate
JOSEPH r. CHANDLER
[t1.~ az. - a.