Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-02-10
@eneraI gntslligtu;s.
TIE San francisco DIsaster.-In compl

ance with the order oil the Iresidcht oi tue Ohteu
States court of inquiry into the facts connected
with the loss OF the steamship San Francisco is
now sitting at the headquarters oil General Scott
in the city of New York. The court is composed
of General Scott, General Stanton, and Colonel
Sumner, with Major John F.. Lee as Judge adj
vocate.
The court commenced its session on Monday
when the first witness examined was Colonel
Thomas r. Swords, quartermaster of the army on
the New York station, who produced the CORE
spondence that had taken place between Quarter
master General Jesup and HIMSELF in regard to the
chartering of vessel to convey the troops under
command of Colonel Gates from New York 10 San
Francisco, Uia Cape Horn.
Colonel Swords advertised for proposals in Oc
tober last, and the only two vessels offered were
the clipper-ship Lightfoot and the steamer San
Francisco The quartermaster general preferred
the steamer, and instructed Colonel Swords TO
| charter her if General Scott or General Wool APP
proved. General Wool approved the steamer,
and she was accordingly chartered.
After the charter was made and the steamer
was ready for the service she was given in charge
of the commanding officer OF the troops, Colonel
Gates, and the regimental quartermaster, Lieu
tenant L. Fremont, TO receive the troops and their
freight, and Colonel Swords considered her en-
tirely at their disposal.
Colonel Gates was present during the sitting OF
the court. This gentleman had applied for court
Of inquiry, as will be seen by the following letter
New YORK, January "a, 1854.
COLONEL: Having been informed by Captain J..
Mcdowell, Of the staff of the general-in-chief that
communication from under the hand OF Captain
Gardiner, Of the dragons, has been addressed to
him few days since, which reflected disrespect-
fully on my fair reputation as the commanding officer
of the third regiment of artillery, and which here
declare to be act OF great injustice to me, !
have the honor of requesting that court OF IN
quiry may be ordered, that ample justice may be
done to me in relation 10 that complaint.
| have the honor TO be, your obi serv'i,
VIM. GATES, COL Third Artillery.
To Col. SAMUEL COOPER, Adj't Gen. U. ). A..
The court, however, was not ordered in COM
pliance with the above request, lin which case the
inquiry would have been confined TO Col. Gates $
conduct alone,) but it is so ordered TO make its
Investigations cover all the facts connected with
the affair. Nothing less. we presume, will satisfy
the sense of public justice, as lntimations nave
been repeatedly made, through the newspapers
and otherwise, that the lives of the soldiers who
embarked in this unfortunate steamer We're I'M
properly placed in peril. Touching these rumors,
we have even now just received a letter from a
highly respected citizen, himself sadly afflicted In
the loss Of near relative by the calamity, from
which it is not out of place here TO subJoin the
essential portion, as follows:
The more The relatives of those lost by the
wreck of the San Francisco reflect on all the cir
| cumstances the more are they distressed with APP
Francisco had been properly cared for. Col.
Gates has requested court 10 disprove the SIAN
derous mputatons against him. This certainly
should be granted, not only to exonerate him, but
| likewise all others in the public service, and at
the same time to publish 10 he world the merito-
rious conduct of those who displayed such signal
traits of character in scenes so trying. II Is a
good military rule, in every instance where, by
| some calamity, large amount of public property
has been lost by falling iEto the hands of the enemy
or by shipment or fire, &C., or where men have
been unexpectedly captured, their lives lost, or
exposed TO unusual suiferings TO institute an in
quest or general inquiry of all relating thereto,
and minute investigation ordered, not only 10
correct errors for the future, but 10 bring before
government the conduct of all its agents
at has been said there were defects IN the San
Francisco which did not escape the remark of
many. Among other circumstances 1t is rumored
the vessel was loaded to depth which must
necessarily have hazarded the machinery that
she had what termed guards, known 10 every
one TO be unsafe for ocean steamer !; that she
had saloons. not forming part of the framework
of the vessel acting like an immense SAIL, forcing
the broadside TO the fury of the tempest and by
sinking the lee wheel so deep as TO prevent its ac-
ton. Had not the sea have washed oil The tower
ing summer house, and the same time have torn
up that part of the deck forming the guards, the
vessel must have upset or filled al once.
" II is also said the ship was so cut up and piled
on. and numbered with all kind of furniture, ami
mails, &C.. for the accommodation OF ladies and
families, 10 leave space for the soldiers, who
were pressed together like cattle in a market-car.
There is every reason TO conclude that. had the
ship continued on, some dreadful epidemic, such
as cholera or typhus fever, must have broken out
among the soldiers, and carried off most if not all.
"Can it be true that. in making the agreement
for transporting the soldiers, the owners of the
vessel reserved the right though limiting the
freight TO receive any number OF passengers
Can il be true that this vessel so new and so novel
in every respect. not tested by running out at
least as far as the Gulf stream If those aboard
suffered so severely from cold in latitude 40o what
provision was made for giving them warmth in
latitude coo?
"Shoula it be made TO appear that everything
was done for the safety and comfort of those or
dered out by government, then will we be relieved
Of much anxiety, and left with the mournful re-
| fection that the Almighty, who is unbounded in
wisdom, love, and mercy, has so ordained"
National IateHigencer.
Melancholy Effects of the Spirit Deiusion.