Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-02-11
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
REPORT. R

luton of the Senate and House of Representatives
g to inquire and report in what form the acknow-
ledgment Of Congress may be most appropriately
expressed to those benevolent and courageous men
who, under Providence, were the means of rescu.
ing from death SO many citizens Of this Republic,
have had the same under consideration, and submit
to the respective Houses the following report:
The steamship San Francisco the property Of the Pa
eifc Mail Steamship Company of New York. was charter
ed by the War Department convey United States troops
and military stores to California, via Cape Horn
She left New York on the 22d December, 1863 having
on board In addition the of the vessel the third
regiment Of United States artillery and several passen
gers .among whom number Of women and children
in oil about eight hundred souls 4
On the night Of the 23d she encountered Storm
which rendered her wholly unmanageable On the morn
ng Of the Gath she struck by violent vave which
shsttsxsd her deck her hurricanz-d M da
ssd away her upper saloon, ana all the officers soldiers,
and passengers who had taken shelter in it from the
storm, amounting to about two hundred in number The
vessel was very seriously damaged by this terrible shock
and continued afterwards to leak badly thatt required
the utmost efforts of all board to keep her aAoat On
the same day. and after this dreadful occurrence
she spoke the brig Napoleon of Portland The captain OF
this brig promised lie by her. but separated from
her during the night The next day. the 25th the San
Francisco spoke the brig Maria of Liverpool The cap
tain of the Maria also promised lie by her, but the
night separated the vessels.
On the 9th the barque Kilby of Boston, Capt. Low,
hove in sight This vessel had suffered much in the storm
that wrecked the San Francisco She short of provi
sons and water and leaking badly yet her captain pro-
missed to stand by the wreck which promise he faithfully
kept through the night The day the 2sh upwards
Of hundred PERSONS men, women, and children
transferred from the San Francisco the Kilby This
operation arrested by the increase of the gale night
but it intended to be resumed the next day. until all
should be removed from the wreck the Storm however
Increasing with the night the vessels unavoidaby
separated The Kby cruised in search of the wreck for
time until her crippled and disabled condition
compelled her abandon the search and provide for her
own safety It full time, as she afterwards encoun-
tered great difficulties in getting safely into port
On the Slst the ship Three Bells, of Glasgow Captain
Creighton in sight and learning the condition of
the passengers and crew, Promised to lie by them and
them at alhazards This vessel had suffered severely
from the storm short of provisions and water, and
leaked badly that her condition was scarcely less cr
cal than that Of the San Francisco but her gallant
mander faithfully kept his promise. At the most immi
nent risk to his vessel he lay by the wreck for several
days Of storm and danger having for this purpose to per-
form the silfu and perilous maneuvres passing
frequently under the Zee of the wreck cheer and
age those on board.
On the Sd of January 1854 the ship Antarctic bound
yor Liverpool fell in with the San FrancisoO and gener
ousy rendered assistance and to those board
On the 4h and 9th all the surviving passengers not
vousy transferred to the Kilby removed on board
the Three Bells and Antarctic On the 9th all the officers
and we're taken from the wreck Capt Watkins being
the last man who abandoned the ill-faed vessel.
The barque Klby, after struggling with the winds and
for fourteen days. finally reached within ten miles
of New York. when storm and she again driven
to sea- The next day she fell in with the ship Lucy
Thompson, of New York. whose commander, upon learn
ing her perous and distressed condition. kindly volun
teered to take the passengers board This removal
was Immediately effected, and the Lucy Thompson sup
piled the Kilby with provisions and water of which she
stood greatly in need The Lucy Thompson brought these
suffering passengers in safety to New York
The Kiby was afterwards found in helpless condi-
ton and was towed Boston harbor by the steamer
ssCty of New York"
The Three Bells arrived safely in New York, but suf
cent time 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 rescung
distressed connymen from the wreck of the San Fran
cisco.
The commanders Of the Three Bells Klby, and Anarc
tic deserve grateful Acknowledgements of the country
for their humanity and inrepidity.
Thanks and praise especially due to Capt. Cregh-
tom the Three Bells wo for six days and
nights in spirit of disnteresed humanity and ut the
imminent peril of himself and crew. stood by the sinking
steamer until her gallant commander who remained the
last board abandoned the doomed and deserted
vessel
Capt Watkins and his officers and crew appear to great
advantage this trying occasion Lieut.. Francis Key
Murray of the United States Navy also entitled to
peca notice for his humane and valuable services Praise
is also due Surgeon Buell. of the San Francisco for the
assduty with which he attended to the sick and dying
soldiers after they separated from their
geons Major Wyse and his junior officers deserve great
credit for their efficient conduct in the absence of their
Superior officers Several Others who cannot be de-
sgnaed by name owing to the imperfect information be-
fore the committee, believed also be entitled to
praise and to the thanks of the country.
The committee persuaded that these humane and
noble services rendered without any hope expcta
hon OF pecunary compensation but they for that
very reason, IN the judgment of the committee entitled
NOT only TO grateful acknowledgment, but also to some
substantial reward They therefore report joint
tuition for that purpose
JOINT kEsoLUTIoS manesting the of Congress to-
wards the officers and seamen of the vessels and others
engaged in the rescue Of the officers and soldiers of the
army the passengers and the officers and crew OF the
steamship San Francisco from perishng with the
wreck of that vessel
Resoyped By Saae and House Of Representative fhe
United States Of America Congress assembled That the
President of the United States be requested to
three valuable gold medals with suitable devices one
be presented to Capt ghton of the ship Three Bells
Of Glasgow; Capt Low, of the barque Kilby Of
Boston; and Capt Stonter of the ship Antarctic
testimonials Of national gratitude for their gallant
duct in rescung about FIVE hundred Americans from the