The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-01-15

Mr. Gates
ID. G ShockwelL
On Wednesday morning, the 2ssh OF December, the
bark Kby, of Boston, came in sight and the Commodore
succeeded in boarding ber, and in efscting charter In
behalf Of the government to take of many OF the
sou Is On board the steamer ~ pessibs.
Towards evening the became quiet, and the
Decentralization commenced, Two boats were kept
going back and forth from the steamer the bark until
ears, ard then di continued await the morning. in
consequence Of tie heavy which running before
they should continue The following the names Of
those who came ON board the Kilby that night -
Lieut.. Murray, U Navy
Col. Gates, wife and family
Maj. Merchant ard family, disabled
Capt. Judd and vie.
Lieut. Col. Burke, severely wounasd.
DR.. Satterlee, disabled.
DR. Wirtz
Lieut. Iotser. wife, and Miss Eaton
Lieut.. Fremont and family.
Capt Gardiner.
Lieut.. Van voast First Dragons, disabled.
Mr.. Falcon.
Madame Bssse.
Mr.. and Mrs Abro.
G. W. AspnwAll.
J. L. Graham, Jr.
Rev. Mr.. Cooper wife and family.
MIS- Ma. W, and child.
After the beats hse been hauled in that evening, .
violent gale from the northwest sprung up and aated
dsripg the night, that when daylight We had
lost sight Of the steamer and, although We orussd
around days in search, could see nothing OF her.
The K,lby, on which also embarked, short of
provhon, and obliged to break into her CARGO
and get corn which all ws had to keep us
alive weeks Our supply Of water was also very
small. and had not been for constant rain ue must haps
l-alk k.1ao aooFnNt NtfnNv hpOkA An
out OF her hold for to sleep in and there
We passed two of the longest weeks Of lives The
% plain OF the Kby Mr. Low is entitled to much credit
for the manner which he managed his vese and the
attention he paid to the passengers 20 had he wever,
many obstacles to contend against His sails were all
old auc incoDplste, and he was crippled in every way
30 that many of had given up al hope Of ressh
ing the shore, when Friday morning, JAM l3, We fell
in with the packet ship Lucy Thompson, G. Pendleton
MASTER from Liver sos which took us all on board with
the exception absut ten soldiers who volunteered to
stay by the captain Of the Kby and four passengers,
who VERT
Mr.. Falcon, BrasiliAu Consul
Madame Bssas
Mr.. and Ara Abrio s4
On the IN v.--sea ship. Fre
cured pilot and anchored inside Of the Light Ship.
Thus ends the sunerings OF hundred Of those
who sailed in the san Francisco God preserve the rest
STATEMENT OF FREDERICK Il. SOUTH
WORTH.
BARK KIBY, Jan. s. 1854
Three hundred miles ont from New York
Mr. JAMES GORDON BESNET
DEAR SIR
forward you few Of the most prominent items Of the
appalling wreck OF the magnificent Pacific mail steamship
Fan Francisco.
Being weak, from injuries and deprivation Of the staff
Of lie shall not be able to give you very detailed
count Of this heart rendng disaster and the consequent
suffering which carried away the lives Of two hun
dred human beings (probsbly mors) hurrying them un
prepared into . wAtery grave.
On the mor5ing OF the 21st OF December, 1853, this
truly splendid steamer anchored 1t the Quarantine
ground and after receiving board over 800 souls
mostly troops for Calfornaths next day, (ths 22d at
half past eight o'cook) proceeded to s. The noble
ship geed through the waters X she had long known
old ocean, her engine and machinery together with
her new paddle wheels, worked we'll and called forth
the admiration Of all board. Her motion was
easy, and the gilt phGnx upon her wheelhouss
seemed extend Its golden head and wings to spak ito
joy for triumph In stsam navigation On the 23d
the weather pleasant could be expected in the
Gulf Stream At this OF the year. but ~ the golden
sun set behind the dark clouds along the western shy
indications given Of coming gale Soon the sra
dually Iisipg winds increased to perfect huricans
which tossed the like cork 10 and ro and now
the angry waves tegan roll high, and threatening and
dashng over the guards, occasionally washed man, or
some boxes or live stock, into the roaring ocean.
At about IL O'Clock the gale had broken the forsmast
and the waves they washed deck broke away the
guards leaving security outside Of the saloon on the
upper deck against being carried overheard To add to
our already perous situation the air pump rod broke at
clock the morning Of the Oath The upper saloon
aft the wheel surrounded BY stasrooms occu
x..~w fnp pio lana
and Valparaiso Besides these occupants these saloons
were crowded with soldiers Who forced in ere BY
the necessities o. the OCCASION It peilous for any
Of them remain decb, AM there other EAce
for the inasnuch the forward deck cabin and state
| rooms we're alled with soldiers, acsomp MED BY
| their wives and families. Colonel Burke, the
officer o! tn, day, ordered the soldiers into
the after cabin and when Ill had crowded into 1t who
could nnd standing room, they numbered at least one
hundred and city. At about o'clocss mighty sven,
such as can only BE- formed by old whom Ashsd By
such TEN pest struck vessel amidshps,
submerging the vhselhouse and washing them, withh
their inmates within instant at least half mile dis
tant into TIE foaming Myself and Mr. Rankin were
smcpg the number who washed away and ths only
two Of this entire company who were successa In regain
ing the ship the rest sunk into the jaws Of death,
and we're rocked into eternal slsep BY the roaring
swelling ssa As only describe the Awfa situation
/ OF these mortab by my own experiences nope
VIII BE- excuied for audng 70 myislf well remember
was ,sg In my statsrc on the after deck, wishs
AtravsDs companion, Mr.. james sto,kwsu when thArs
came shock and sudden craah Of breaking timber, end
felt myself rolling like top in the water, With salt
brine rushing into my mouth and almost binding me-
When AROSE 70 the surface Of the ocean narrowing
sight was before me- half mile from the sssamsr,
and around about an acre Of floating timber. In
medatiy BY my side up from the deep M. Stock
we'll who caught hold Of the same stick Of timber 70
which had cluns for safety. rhs stick bessn TO sink
and ssissd hold Of another pises and made the
best Of my way to the wrecked steamer Tro
or three huge swelh soon toassd mo nsar the $40,
and eraspsd rope forward Of the whsshouss to whsh