New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-01-16
STATEMENT OF FREDERICK II. sOUrHwoRTH

forward few Il the most prominent Items Of The ap
palling wreck Of the magnificent Pacific mail steamship
San Francisco
Being weak from injuries and deprivation Of the staff Of
life shall be able to give you very detailed account
of this heart rendng disaster and the consequent suffering
which Caried away the hives of two hundred human be-
ings (psbably more huryng them unprcpared into
watery grave
On the morning of the 2ls Of December 1885, this truly
SPLENDID steamer anchored the quarantine ground and
after receiving board coo souls mostly troops for
California, the next day phe 22d, at q O'clock, pro-
ceeded to sea The nbole ship gded through the
as if she had long known Old and her engine and
machinery together with her new paddle-wheels worked
WELL and called forth the admiration of all on board Her
motion easy and The gilt phenix upon her whtehoue
seemed extend its golden head and wings to speak is
joy for triumph in steam navigation. On the 23d
the weather pleasant could be expected in the
Gulf Stream this of the year but the golden
sun behind the dark clouds along the western SKY in
dcatons were given Of a coming gale Soon the grad
ually rising winds increased perfect hurricane, which
tossed the ike cork to aud fro; and the
angry waves began to rol high, ard threatening aud
dashng the guards, occasionally washed man or
some boxes some live stock into the roaring oce1n
AT about O'Clock the gale had broken the foremost,
and the they washed our deck, broke away the
guards leaving security outside of the saloon the
upper deck against being carried overheard To add 70
our already perilous situation The airpump rod broke
o'clock the morning of the Gath. The upper
loon aft the wheel house was surrounded by state
occupied by officers and few way passengers for
Rio Janeiro and Valparaiso. Besides these occupants,
these saloons were crowded with soldiers who were
forced in here by the necessities of the occasion IL was
perious for any of them to remain deck AMI there
other place for them, inasmu,h the forward
deck cabin and filed with soldiers,
companied by their wives and families Col. Burke,
the officer OF the day, ordered the soldiers into the
after cabin; and when all had crowded into II who
could find standing room, they numbered at least
80. At about O'clock mighty swell such as can
only be formed by old ocean when dashed by such a
forrpa strus arnils
merging the wheel house, and washing them, with oil
their inmates, within instant at least half mile dis
tant, into the foamng Myself and Mr. Rankin were
among the number who washed away, and tue only
two OF this entire company who successful in regain
ing the shp All the rest sunk into the jaws of death aud
rock6 into an eternal sleep by the roaring swelling
sea As only describe the awful situation OF these
mortes by my own experience hope shall be excused
for abiding to myself | well remember l lying in
my state room on the after deck with a travelling
panon Mr. james Stockwe when there came shock
and sudden crash of breaking timber, and felt myself
rolling like top in the water with salt brine rushing into
my mouth and almost binding me: When arose to the
surface of the narrowing sight before me.
half mile from the steamer, and around me was
about acre OF floating timber Immediately by my sue
up FRI the deep r. S0ckwe who caught hold OF
the stick Of timber to which had chung Tor safety
The stick began to sink and seized hold of another piece
and made the best of my the wrecked steamer Two
three huge swels tossed me near the ship and
gasped rope forward ofhe wheel house. to which cuDg
for refuge raising and falling with the pitching vessel
While in this situation saw man standing on the pad
die of the Wheel who plunged into the ocean ut every
roll of the steamer, and who probably persisted Losing
my strength dropped from the rope ~ which chung,
ard fortunately friendly threw me against the
guard Of the vessel which seized hold Of and the next
plunge carrying still higher on the guard, was ena-
bed at last to crawl upon the forward deck and there
with my hand broke open state room window and crept
into il half drowned While in the water the sight around
worse than death itself When rose TO the sur.
face of the water about forty struggling for lie, and
about half of them had blood streaming from wounds
about their heads Being blinded by what thought was
the salt water put my hand TO my forehead to wipe
he irna whq was q nd wa
ing my self from wound on my brow. Ii H. therefore
conclusive that most of those washed away were at the
same time wounded by the crashing timbers. Besides
myself Mr. Rankin the only one saved OF the number
who swept into the ocean.
Such was tie force Of the waves that they broke IN
part of the deck and killed and injured several besides
deueng he passengers in the lower cabins and filling the
saloons with Captain Gardiner slept on deck, AID
was not swept away with the others, but at time
found man Inv his side with splinter thrust through his
head, which must have killed him instananeousy.
After recovered myself look around me, and the on
" dry place in the steamer in the after CABIN where
the officers with their wives and children were slowed
away living rolled in blankets, comfortable circum
would permit But oh the scene OF confusion no
tongue tell no pen describe The storm continued to
rage and the mercy of the without steam
orsa As wave after dashing against ushrek
after shrek from those who dreaded TO look into the
grave. Nearly all gave up all hopes OF safety and many
were patiently waiting TO be summoned before the Amgh
ty Ruler of the storms Stout hearts yielded and manly
cheeks turned PALE and there those who tried 10 pray
who had never prayed before 1t was scene such as
The very thoughts Of the hours and days OF suffer
ing freeze my blood it courses through my veins
IL worthy of remark that in the hour Of greatest
peril Commander Watkins. Capt. MellaS Lieut. r. X
Murray and other gallant officers, consanr5 revived the
sinking spirits Of al on board by repeated assurances OF
safety These heroic men constantly bid the despondng
be Of good cheer and Heaven only knows how many
hear last growing cold kept warm with lies blood
by theFe galant men. ~
The Rev Mr. Cooper on Episcopal clergyman daily
cm the holy book OF life appropriate passages and offered
up prayers deiversnce To Us those prayers were
answered those who sank beneath the pillows are nov
at leace with the world. The mighty ocean has taken
them 20 IT, bosom and their requiem was sung by the
BhstlDg winds OF heaven -
Dmine our DAYS of distress the small engine was kept
constantly work pumping and by It's aid the snip was
kent afost The San Francisco proved herset strongly
built because no vessel unless made Of oak and ron wen
Put together, could have swan an hour IN suSn ge
The bulwarks and guards not strong as ney nght
have been and perhaps TO this owe our Ve he TUG
guards and after cabin been of iron stren9th ana no.
yielded TO the such was it force thar wo1 nave
overturned the ship and not sgle Soui ""
left to tell the awful tale. ,... ,.,,,
We were rescued from our dismal situation by the bark
Kbv This vessel vas loaded with cotton and mol1sses
bonnd 10 boston from New Orleans. About sixty bales
of cotton were thrown overheard make for
founee beings The Of transferring the passengers
into lie Klby from the wreck IN such q sea,
edsily he imagined than descnoed Husbands separated
f their wives children from their parents friend from
friend with no assurance of meeting Oh il
was an awful state and cold il the heart Of him whose
rusafon not quickened his eye dimmed with tear
AT its rehearsal The klby compelled 20 leave the
wreck before all lad been rescued It being impossible %
lay slorg side.
Tie names If these left on board the steamer were;
Msior +. o. Wyse, Lisut NJ A Wnder, c. S Wiater,
Chandler Rankn and about 300 hundred others sol1ers
and crew The above officers with msny Of the passen-
gtrs arrived safely in New York in the Three Bellies as
Iuflishedin THE TRBUSy Of Saturday
Tbs nomes of those on board the Kilby are;
Col Gates wife and three children Col Burke, Capt
lid I I "a srife lent Fremont.