Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-01-20

organized INTO water bailing gangs. At nine
O'Clock on the Goth, heavy sea struck her
amid ships, carrying away both smoke stacks,
all the upper saloon, staving the quarter deck
and Tdsh'ng orer 6oord large nUmJcr Of
passen gers. incIuding Col. Woshin gton, Ma
.jor Taylor and rife, capt. Etld. L,cn Smiih,
fwo L0dics names unkuoWn, three ciriHans
also unhnown, and one hundr,d and mn
United States Troops. At the same time
were killed, viz Brooks II waitcr-thc Bar.
Der OF the boat, and the carpenters brother
named Duckett.
On the 2Sth, spoke Barquc kilbv of Boston
bound to New York, which lay by until j
O'Clock. On the afternoon Of the 29tl, COM
Incnccd getting passengers ON board, Up
ward OF 100 got on board, men, women and
children. including Capt. Judd and wife,
Lieut.. Fremont and family,G. W. Aspinwall
and j. Il. Graham. At night, wind increas-
ing with squally weather, the kilby let go
her hawser at ten O'Clock, and nothing was
seen of her afterwards. The gale continued
throughout the Both and 3lst. and large
number Of men were sick and dying. On the
morning of January lst spoke British shin
Three Bells" which lay by us off and on
until the 3D., when her boat came along side
On the same day, the ship Antarctic from
New York for Liverpool came in sight, and
bore down for the steamer.
On W cdncsday the 4th, both ships COM
mcnccd taking off her passengers, provisions
and water, and at sunrise on the 9th, had
them all on board, The next morning took
OFT the crew and officers, Capt. Watkins being
the last man to leave the San Francisco
The San Francisco was disabled Christmas
day. in about latitude $50 20 longitude 60.
in round numbers say 300 miles out from
New York. On the 9TH of January she was
abandoned, in latitude 10, longitude some
where between 80 and GO, ha;ing in DAYS
drlited $50 miles. in IN east northeast di-
rcction.
The full extent Of the loss of life cannot be
exactly determined, till the complete list of
the original number Of passengers is given :
but thus far the destruction Of life grows
more appalling as more deliberate estimates
are made.
The New York Courier states that it is
supposed by the most clcar-hcadcd and best
informed men on board, that the wave which
swept the deck of the San Francisco. bore 23O
human beings to an ocean grave. Some 81
adults and six children, according to the
statement of the Stcwardcss, died from the
disease occasioncd by indulgence in improper
food, and there were other deaths Of persons
crushed, carrying the probable loss Of life
from all causes, ncarl up to 270-a fearful ag-
grcgate. The saved number SIS. orwhom Iii
were taken from the wreck by the kilhy. 2l9
by the Three Bells, and lS3 by the Antarctic,
which proceeded ON her course to Livcrnool.
Various causes are given for the wreck Of 50
stronga ship. in storm which comparatively
feebler vessels rode out in safety. Some Law
it to the fact that she was built with cuards.
like a river steamboat which in Il gale act
like levers, when struck by the waves, and
tend to tear the hull asundcr others to her
being over loaded, which is diSprovcd by a
statement that her load was but $50 tons.
n"i iatcn capacity being , 300 tons utc,c
lay it to her narrow buid, her breadth of
beam not being sufficient to give h-r proper
buoyancy Others To her hurricane deck and
upper saloon, which, taking the wind, mado
her diSohcy her helm and breach To, and which
it is said Boston ship-buillcr predicted
would be blown off before she reached the
Horn. Probably all of these causes combined
to produce the melancholy result
1t is stated that tho piston rod which broke
was the only piece of her machinery which
could not be rcplaccd-the ship being sup
piled with duplicates of the other portions,
also that hor hull was sound WHOM she was
and that at no time was there over
two and half feet of water in the vessel
and had they been aware of the fact that YES
sells had been sent to their relief, the ships
company would not have abandoned the San
Francisco. She was insured for $500 900.
which covers her value.
The thorough seamanship, slccplcss cxcr-
ton and splicitulc for the safety Of those
under their charge, exhibited hy Capt. WAT
KINs, Mr., MELLrS, his chief officer, and Mr.
MARSHALL, chief engineer are testified to most
abundantly by all.
To Capt CREIGHTON, the gallant commander
of the British ship IHrec BcHs, who, himself
suffering from the effects of the storm. with
leaking ship. n9bly stood by the san Francis
W ''i ''i'' '' UNA 1T liic tiSh vi inc
lives Of himself and crew, from motives of
pure humanity-to Capt. Lowe Of the KtNy,
and Capt, STprfrER Of the antarctic, who
seem to have left nothing within the power Of
man undonc, are due, not only rich tribute
of private gratitude, but the thanks of the
country, and we are glad to zee that the
matter has been brought before our National
Congress.
The conduct Of several of tho Younger Of
iicers of the artillery seems to have been de-
serving of the highest praise.
The city papers come to ny filed with ac-
counts from passengers, officers and crew of
the Inflated Steamer. These accounts vary
IN value, some being Incomplete, some evident
~ exaggerated, as of on passenger who SAYS
he was washed overheard with the rest. and
arose to the surface "haD q mite from the
steamer with about an acre Of Hoatino
timber " around him, but was by friendly
waves tossed back aonin IN IA tLo d,ol. -