Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1854-01-21
The San Francisco disaster.
Interesting Incidents and SpeeulatiOns in eonnsc-
tion NTH He Wreck of the Steamer and Safely
Of the Passengers, &c.

Interesting Incidents and SpeeulatiOnS in eo,snse-
tioB Nth The Wreck Of the Steamer and Safety
Of the Passengers, &c.
Much dissatisfaction, is expressed al the conduct
of, Colonel Gates, in being the first 10 leave the
wreck, thus deserving his command and securing
his own safety. Surgeon Satterlie and Assistant
Surgeon wei;z, were also among the first to leave
-oue Of whom should have undoubtedly, remained
with the troops under their CHARGE 1t is also
asserted that tie superior officers, when on ooafu
the Kilby object ed to renewing the search for The
steamer the next morning after breaking loose from
her but that the younger officers persisted in seek
ing her during the two succeeding days. These
charges will doubtless be fully investigated.
Major Merchant " as badly injured by falling
through the batchway during the storm, hut Is
rapidly recovering. F...G -. !.
board, the San francisco, was son oil Colohet
Gates the nmander of the regiment.
Cant. H. B. Field, U. S. A, Commander OF Com
many K, was graduate from West Pc ut, III ls4u.
He served in the everglades of Florida during Inc
celebrated Seminole war, under Col. Harvey; anu
was on terms the closest friendship and intimacy
with COL J. NJ. Washington, and, like him, served
battery at Buena Vista with skill ana eileol'-
While on the steamer, the men under MS command
had become quite restless from the continued et-
SAPSsNaSG
ranging and endeavorng TO quiet and make them
comfoTta BILE i'll the saloon, he was suddenly swept
overheard. He was 81 years of age, and leaves
wife in Baltimore, and relatives in WllhamSouEgh'
who deeply mourn his loss
CAUSE OF THE DISASTER.
The failure of the air pump Uf the San Fra nCiS
CO. which was undoubtedly the leading cause Of
the subsequent disasters IS attributed 10 the TACT
that the alr-pump arrangement was new in"en-
ton: and All innovation upon the established rule,
,inb &c to- he nj
OF The engines, and Thereby steady its motion. In
this case the air-pump was worked by separate
cylinder, without any means oil securing 1t against
the Conclusion OF the water within. The iault
of having seperate cylinder is obvious The
bucket oil the air-pump having no work TO per
form at he commencement OF the stroke. its mo.
ton is thereby increased, and at the end OF the
STOKE, when it meets the water, treceiveS shock
which must be injurious. In the case OIL an "rdi-
u0Iy engine, the bucket is Steadied by the crank,
and no such dangerous shock is felt. Possibly the
air pump piston rod might have commenced break
ing at the first revolution of the engine IN the ar-
Dor. a,- H.
LANDING THE TROOPS.
The Herald gives the following account Of The
landing of the troops at Bedloe'S lsana:-
The pier was crowded with number oil troops
wearing the United States uniform, composed pTin-
cIpaly Of husbands, anxiouSy losklng out Tor
their wives, sisters, and daughters, WHO had been
sent on board the Kllby. The greetings between
of death, and who had pniled with one another,
some of them without The slightest hope oflever
meeting again, is more easily immagined than de-
Scribed-enough to say that all, with the exception
Of one poor woman, were restored 10 their hus-
bands. She alone OF the party stood Oh the prone
d ade deck OF the boat with babe in her uriis.-
When oil the rest had gladly departed, on going vi
her, teerS were i'll her eyes, and with trembling
voice she inquired il we knew that her husband
was S1tel Aud we were glad TO be the instrument
Of happiness by telling her that he was, but on
board the Antarctic. Joy then succeeded gftefs
but the outward effects we're to ull appearances
the same. Finally, she wended her way up the
path to the garrison, where her physical wants
were duly attended TO by those who arrived on the
island the day before.
sUFFERINGs on THE KILBY.
On board the Kilby the cargo had been removed
from portion of the vessel, aud into space OF
about 20 by 80 feet, not sufficiently high Tor one
to stand erect, over hundred PERSONS were
crowded. Officers and theiI wives, soldiers and
camp women were huddl1d together in that narrow
space, and there they remained Tor twelve days
Ii has been already mentioned that the Kilby was
out Of provisions and water when she fell in with
the San Francisco, and consequently they were re-
duced to living upon parched corn, and such water
as could be collected from the rain winch happily
fell frequently upon the decks The severity OF
their SulTerings attested by the appearance OF
the officers, who, huppyto state, are rapid
ly recuperating under the combined influence Of
TEST ana good cheer.