The Empire County argus., 1854-10-14
Statement OF Cnnt. Randall.


Statement OF Capt. Randall.
Mr. EDITOR feel it my duty to make to the
public statement in relation to my acts in connec
ton with the recent loss of the steamship Yankee
Blade, while under my command feelmore the
necessity of doing this statements calculated to
injure my reputation an officer and as
have been put in circulation; and although would
be perfectly satisfied to abide the decision of large
majority of my passengers, in relation to the pro-
priety of my acts, do not conceive | would be do
ing myself justice, in my present depressed and bur-
dened condition, to allow these incorrect statements
and inuendos to go uncontradicted wish, there
fore, to make plain unvarnished statement of the
facts in the matter, and leave the public to draw
their own inferences not asking them to aquit me
Of blame if they consider it deserved.
In what manner the unfortunate accident which
led to the loss of the Yankee Blade occurred it is
impossible for me to say. But it did occur, through
some unaccountable means, which may yet be
brought to light. | now deem it my duty to acqut
myself Of blame in connection with matters which
took place afterward. The moment the ship struck,
the first thing did was to order the engineer to
stop and back her. then ran forward, and found
that she was run high on the rocks. | ordered the
carpenter. third mate. and my son to 90 down in
the hold and see how bad the leak was. While they
were below | went to the engineer and told him to
put on his force pump and see if he could not keep
the water free. then ran back to the hold, where
they were coming up, and they reported to me that
she was all stove and sinking
then went down myself and waded through wa
ter up to my middle, in order to get at the leak. to
see if | could not stop it. saw at once that the
ship lost, and prepared to the passengers.
which was my next thought ordered the third
mate to sound the water over her stern and along
side to see how much water there was, He repor-
ted nine fathoms under her stern, and four under
Il IL. Al. L.
not fall off the rocks and that the passengers
all safe for the time, they remained quietly where
they We're knowing that we were on an iron bound
coast. with the character Of which was well ac-
quainted, was afraid that there was place with
in twelve miles where we could land with our small
boats with safety. therefore determined to pro-
ceed and search the coast for landing place. belle
wing that if the boats allowed to proceed i'm
mediately off with the passengers the lives of those
who went in them would be lost, and the boats be
swamped ALSO and we thus deprived of the use Of
them. then ordered the mate to get all the boats
ready and told them to let no one leave the wreck
until returned. This was about ten minutes after
the ship first struck jumped into boat with
four men and rowed toward the shore in search of
proper landing place. We rowed up and down
the shore about three miles, in which whole dis
tance we found but one place where landing could
be effected with safety.
then came back to the ship for the women and
children, and coming back we met three
boats coming from the ship, which had left contra
ry to my orders, and were loaded with women and
children We took load of women and children
in my own boat and another, and rowed after the
three boats had passed. for the purpose of show
ing them where to land. | called on them, as did
also the passengers, and particularly Mrs Terry.
who was in the boat with me- and tried in every
way to mako them hear me. They did not hear
me, however, and rowed into the breakers about a
mile below the landing place had found, and were
swamped. These were the passengers who were
drowned. Had my directions been obeyed, | am
satisfied that not life would have been lost, as all
the passengers in TIA boats under my immediate
direction were landed in safety When we APP
preached the landing place, jumped from the boat,
and carried the women and children through the
surf to the shore. Those whom | had got to help
to row off jumped out and went away and left me
with but one man, refusing to go off to the wreck
with me again. With this enc man [ rowed back
to the wreck and ashore again four times, taking
load from the ship each time, and the last time was
informed that all the women and children were of
the ship.
The third time went to the ship wished to re-
main on board. but no one would take my place in
the boat | then told my to remain on board
the ship and take my place. and stay there with the
third mate. told the passengers to remain quiet,
as If we could get the boats that had first gone
SnOfe we would take them all, and considered 1T
my next duty to get these boats Finding that all
the women and children were off, started to go
down where the first three boats were swamped, to
try to get them off and put them in use to save the
other passengers When we arrived at the place,
could not get the men to help me get them off,
they refusing to risk their lives in the surf asked
them to do no more than | was doing myself, but
they would not give me any assistance. then tried
to get off to the wreck again with my boat but could
not get any to go off with me, and knew it would
be impossible to manage my boat alone in the
breakers | stayed on the beach by the boats all
night to prevent them from stranding. Just before
daylight, got gang of men to go off, and started
both boats to the wreck. then got another gang
to 60 down and try to get the boats off the beach
again but again found impossible to get any as
sstance after got there By this time, about one
hundred and fifty in all had been brought on shore.
1t will be seen by the above statement that had
my orders been obeyed there is every probability
that no lives would have been lost This is plain,
unvarnished statement of the matter Sorrowing as
must at the sacrifice, it is still qualification to me to
think that can say before my God, and before the
public, that have done everything in my power,and
that feel that blame can with justice, attach it.
self to me or tomy acts. am, respectfully yours
HENRY RANDALL,
IA Late of the Yankee Blade.