The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-01-25
Awful Catastrophe !

We know not in what terms to announce
the overwhelming news which reached us
last night The fate of the steamer San
Francisco is at length known, and terrible
beyond expression it is. Universal anxiety
has become dreadful certainty. The ship
foundcrcd, and two hundred and forty of the
seven hundred human beings with which
she was frcightcd have perlshcd in the sea.
They did not indeed 90 down with the ship
but were swept overheard from her decks
some days before she foundercd. But be-
neficcut Providence tcmpcrs the scverest af-
tlctiOns with consultations. and so this dread
tul calamity might, but for his mercy, have
been infinitely more disastrous; for all Of
the hundreds on board when the ship sank
were providentially rescued by vessels acci-
dcntolly ut hand. OF those who persisted
some We're of the most distinguished and be-
loved of the land. The following are the
sad particulars and the names of some of the
lost, as they reached us last night by tele
graph:
New YoRK, Jan. l3.
The ship Three Bells has arrived with
one hundred and sixty persons saved from
the steamer San Francesca, which foundcrcd
at sea on the 9TH of January.
Those who have arrived include about one
hundred officers and soldiers and most ofthe
crew OF the Inflated steamer. a number of
other passengers were taken of the sinking
ship b. the bark kilby, bound for Boston,
and many by the ship antarctic, bound for
Liverpool.
Most of the cabin passengers, together
with rs many soldiers AZ it was deemed pru-
don't for her TO take, numbering in all about
one hundred persons, are on board the bark
kilby. She has probably gone to Bermuda,
having parted company with the steamer dur
ing gale on the night of the 29th Drccm-
bei, four DAYS before the Three Bells left.
The ship Antartic has on board tho residue
of the troops, and Capt. Watkins, of the
steamer San Francisco, who has proceeded
To Liverpool with them to see that they are
p operly provided for S
In the gale of the 23d December, the San
Francisco broachrd to twice, and was much
disabled. On The oath all her spars and
sals were blown away. At one o'clock in
the morning of the 25th the engine stopped
in consequence OF the breaking Of the pis-
ton rod, and left the vessel totally unm,n.
agcable, the sca ut tbs same time striking
her Tremendous blows under Ihc guards, tear
ing up the pldnking fore and aft on both
sides, and causing the ship to leak badly
The troops were then organised into baiIiny
parties. At nine o'clock on the 25th, heavy
sea struck the steamer amidships, carrying
away both smoke stacks, all the upper sa-
loon, staving the quarter deck, and washing
overheard large number of persons, besides
killing three of the ships crew. On the 2Sth,
the bark kilby was spoken. and Laid by the
steamer until three o'clock in the afternoon
OF the 18th, when n number of the passcn-
pT II, ,.i 10, ia h.. L.
go her hawscr at ten o'clock at night, and
nothing has since been heard Of her. The
gale continued throughout the 3Oth and 3lst, =,
number of the men being sick, and some
in dying condition. In the evening of the
LIST January, the British ship Three Bells
was spoken, and laid by the steamer "a. ill
the 3d, when her boat was got alongside. On
the same day the ship AntaItic discovered
and bore down for the steamer, and on the
4th both ships commenced taking off the
passengers, together with the necessary pro-
visions and water, which was accomplished
by six o'clock in the evening. The next
morning they took off the officers and crew,
Capt. Watkins having been the last man 10
leave the ship, which had been with dtli-
Guilty kept atloat for ten or twelve dayI.
| Those lost overheard are Col John NJ,
Washington, Major Geo. Taylor and wife,
Capt. Ill. B. Field, Lieut.. r. H. Smith three
civilians and two ladies whose names are not
| reported, and some two hundred and thirty
OF the troops. Of the crew OF the ship
! there were eleven deaths from tho time she
was disabled till the Sth inst
Major Wyse and Lieut.. w. A. Winder
are amongst the passengers who have arri-
we'd in New York, Col. Gates, Col. Bourk,
Major Merchant, Capt Judd and wife, Lieut
Fremont and family, Lieut. Loeser, Lieut..
Vanvort, aud the ladies and childrea ara on
board the bark Kilby. Capt. Watkins, 1t.
Chandler, and Lieut.. e. S Winder are on the
! chip Artsrctic.--Na LnL