Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-01-15
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| day. These accounts are from some Of the sui
ferers, who give thrilling and vivid description
of the awful time, and of their sufferings Will.
| reading these statements, we cannot but admire
| the cool intrepidity Of her commander and hi,
associates, as well sincerely sympathize will
those who passed through the terrible ordeal.
Statement by One Of the Passengers.
| On Monday, December 81 the troops consisting
| of eight companies Of the third regiment of arli
| lery were embarked from steamtugs on board the
steamer, then anchored in the North river. They
| numbered rank and fle some five hundred men
The officers, with their families, together with the
soldiers wives and iemales--a certain portion Of
| whom were allowed TO each company-broughi
| up the number TO about six hundred. There were
| twenty or thirty other passengers. The crew
| numbered from one hundred TO one hundred and
fifty; SO that, all told, there were between seven
hundred and fifty and eight hundred souls on
| board.
On Wednesday morning the steamer dropped
| down TO the Quarantine, and anchored for the
| night; weighed anchor, and stood out to sea.
Our voyage was now fairly commenced Al
last every obstacle had been overcome, and the
| gallant ship with her head pointed TO the south
west, moved steadily, though not swiftly, on her
course. She was deeply laden-far too deeply, as
the result proved. Her engines We're new and
untried, and the strain upon them great.
Friday morning, the 23d, rose brightly on our
course. We had entered the Gulf Stream, and
the weather, which yesterday had been chilly
and caused the ladies' and children TO gather
about the stove, had become mild. The wind
was still from the northwest. with sea enough to
cause the dinner table TO be comparatively desert
ed. The day passed without incident of any kind,
and gave no presage ofthe awful disaster SO soon
Immediately after tea | retired to my room, and
after reading two hours as quietly as if on shore.
undressed and retired. II soon blew gale The
ship rolled and pitched to degree that was diff
fcult TO keep my BERTH Every article in the room,
ing manner. tg f
At II o'clock could bear it no longer. The sea
was a complete mass Of foam, boiling and swelling
like aS caudron. The steamer had preached 10
twice, and had really become manageable. Her
head was towards the wind. The whole crew
engaged in strenuous but vain efforts to take in
the sails, They were blown to ribbons. The fore
mast--we carried no mainmast--was writhing
and twisting like young sapling. Il was large
enough for the manmast OF one thousand ton
ship. The fury of the tempest was such that
could not stand before il q moment; but seized
the iron brace connecting the ring bolts, and sur
veyed the scene for moment. Then Threw my
self on my hands and knees, and made for the
nearest hatch, to get below. Swinging myself
down by the cabin, ! reached the main deck.
Here scene of confusion Undesirable and con-
founding presented itself -Four hundred soldiers
were berthed on this deck in double rows Of stan
dee berths, three tiers each. They had all crept
from their berths. The live stock Of which there
was considerable, had escaped from their pens on
the same deck, and soldiers bullocks, calves pigs
sheep, and poultry, were all mingled together amid
the broken standees. The sea washed over the
deck with every roll Of the ship. The lanterns
were extngushed, and the darkness was almost
total.
About one o'clock the foremast came down al
most over my head, crushing in the hurricane deck
mn he had a last 1aSU cd
upon us, and this awful night had an end.
While passing between the second and after
cabin, felt tremendous sea strike the ship, but
had no idea of the awful consequences. II was
the denouemenf--the finale Of the awful tragedy
which had been going on through the night. An
overwhelming sea had struck the ship on her star
board quarter carried away the starboard paddle
box, both smoke-stacks, the whole promenade
deck abaft the paddle boxes, two rows Of state
rooms, of twelve each, on the main deck, and
stove in the main deck hatch. This was the
smallest part Of the havoc. AT one fell swoop
nearly one hundred and fifty human beings were
swept into eternity The majority were private
soldiers of the dHFrsnt companies of the Third
Artillery One company lost all but Ten Of its
members Four officers went with them: Colonel
Washington, distinguished at Buena Vista and
other hard fought fields Major Taylor and vile ;
Captain Field, and Lieutenant Smith. The sea
was covered with drowning men. The roar of
the tempest smothered the 'bubbling cry of strong
they sunk to rise more till the sea gives up her
dead. Two Of all the crowd succeeded in regain
ing the ship--Mr. Rankin, an army suttler, and
Mr.. - merchant, of Rio Janeiro.
A moments had elapsed when | reached the sa-
loon. II was filed with water to the depth of
nearly two feet. The females and children, mostly
in their night clothes, and wet to the skin were
scattered on planks some wailing and sobbing;
some apparently Supplied; and some calmly
awaiting what seemed their inevitable fate. All
~ y - y 4 -.
moments they would meet their Maker face TO
face.
After the first burst of dsmay was over hope be-
gan TO revive in our bosoms. The hull was still
staunch and strong, and some passing vessel
might rescue us from the wreck Something
whispered, "you are safe; !" and after committing
myself and those most dear TO me TO the Father Of
Mercies, | felt at peace
Il Ascending the companion way, from the saloon
TO the main deck, seated myself at the head Of
the staircase and surveyed the scene. The steamer
was, in all her upper works, perfect wreck.
Foremost, smoke stack, the greater part Of the
promenade deck, the saloon, and all the state
rooms on the main deck--al were gone. The main
deck was stove, and the water rushing in at every
sea we shipped. On the opposite side Of the COM
panion way lay the manged and bleeding corpse
Of soldier. who was killed instantly by the fall
ing of the deck. A few feet further lay a man
grooming and near death from injuries received at
the same time. The sea was running mountains
high, and every billow that came with its curling
crest towards us, seemed about to pour into our
shattered deck and sink us.
II was not so to be. We were in imminent
danger OF laundering but our gallant and un-
daunted commander, Captain Watkins, whose
exertions during all that fearful night had been
almost superhuman, directed all his energies 10
save us. To tighten the ship and stop the leaks
were the first objects. To break up the matches
and commence discharging cargo, was the work
Of a moment. Soldiers and sailors all lent il help
ing hand, and as each man knew he worked for
his life, all worked with will. Sanctions were
placed under the broken deck, and il was partially
forced back to its place. II was found that the
water gained upon us rapidly The steam-pump
had become INSTRUCTED. Fifty soldiers were de-
tailed to commence bailing All day and all night
the work went on without intermission. Still,
with every roll the ship took in large quantities of
water, and we gained little upon the leak. Sunday
morning, the 25th, the day of the nativity OF our
blessed Saviour, at last dawned upon us. The
sky lighted up a little there was short CLEAN Of
sunshine and the sea Gained little. A sail or
two were seen in the distance, but none approach
ed us.
II was gloomy Christmas TO us. The work Of
bailing and pumping went on, and we had gained
on the leak. Monday, the 26th the gale continued
with little abatement. All night Sunday the tenn
pest roared round our devoted ship We discov-
arad a anil moi far off On aDDroachiny ms sb.