Georgetown weekly news., 1855-05-24
Loss OF the Steamship Golden Aae

The following very interesting account of
the wreck of this magnificent steamer is con-
tanned in letter from Capt Allan McLane,
who was passenger in the Golden Age, to
the Company's agent at Panama. 1t was
first published in the Panama Star Extra
FL. Fl. MUNRo-Dear Sir: A little after
midnight of the 29th of April, we passed
the Island of Montiroses, the sea perfectly
smooth. and good moon; from thence Capt.
Watkins steered direct for the passage be-
tween the Islands of Quibo and Kicaron, in
clining to the shore Of the latter, in order to
keep clear of dangers (sunken rocks laying
towards the shore of the other named Island
At about O'Clock, A. NJ, of the 29th, the
ship going over the ground at the rate of
fourteen miles per hour, pointed for the pas
sage, and apparently clear of the reef off
Kicaron, as laid down upon the captains
charts-she struck full and fair. The cap
tain was on deck himself speaking with Mr..
Aspinwall,) as indeed he had been all night,
and doing all that a skilltul and prudent
navigator could to guide his ship in safety.
The sea was calm and smooth, without any
appearance or indication of hidden danger
Instantly upon striking, an immense vol
ume of water rushed into her forward-the
pumps were all put in immediate requisition,
the boats were also quickly cleared away,
ETC., etc, in five minutes the engineer report
ed the water rising with great rapidity, ut
terly beyond all efforts OF the pumps. At
this time we had fifteen feet forward and
seventeen fathoms aft and amidships. The
Capt s first intention, of landing his passen-
gers instantly, was frustrated by the rapidi-
ty of the rise of water in the hold, and her
settling aft from the depth Of water amid
ships and aft, which circumstance rendered
it imperative to drive full length on the reef.
At this instant she rolled heavily, and her
bow fell off the reef or rock Having a
good head of steam. Capt. Watkins deter
mined to run on a little further for the main
reef, which he knew lay short distance
ahead. Upon starting, she rolled heavily
from side to side and steered wildly, coming
to too much, and striking a second time
He backed her off, keeping her stem clear,
and again went ahead, running along the
reef, delaying his purpose of beaching her
so long as he had steam to force her ahead,
until he should find spot offering the best
chance of saving his passengers-of course
time flew, and thus passed another five min
uteS, the water up to the furnaces of the
port boiler and above those of the starboard
One-all the fires of the latter out. She still
had steam in her boilers-the engineers and
firemen up to their necks in water in the
tire-room. A few hundred yards ahead we
nn1,I1 Al
point of the island, heightened apparently
with sand beach. The steamer still went
on under command of her helm, the water
still gaining above the pumps, bailing &c.
Another five minutes, and the balance of the
fires were out. We had about hundred
yards yet to go to our cove, which we were
now nearly abreast Of
The Captain put his helm hard aport and
headed right on the beach. The water
along the side continued deep, and the en-
gine turned over very slowly. On she went,
sounding ten fathoms, six fathoms, and fin
ally she stopped, her bow within thirty feet
OF the shore, but SO slow was she moving
that no one felt the stop. We had seven
teen feet all round; the boilers only had
steam enough left to make two or three rev.
olutions. After our first feeling of graft
tnde to Almighty God for our deliverance
from sudddn and fearful danger-from the
Arctic's fate-we paid tribute in admira-
tion to Watkins for his admirable GOODNESS,
presence of mind and great efficiency, quick
thought and prompt action
The reef or rock on which she struck
could not, in my opinion, have had more
than foot less water on it than the steam
er drew, so that a little less draught of wa
ter, or full tide would have taken her all
clear. 1t appears to me to be sunken rock
or reef, laying off the main reef, which
makes out from n. w. point of Kicaran.
SO far as can be ascertained the only injury
is forward, the scarf of stem and keel being
the spot. The wood ends here are doubt
less stove in. Capt. Watkins has had large
pumps constructed, being Of course, unable
to work any of those attached to the engine,
by steam. lie got sail around the bows,
out as yet has been unable to get it under
her, from her taking in the sand. Last
night Capt. Watkins tried his full force of
pumps, those he had constructed, together
with that worked by the donkey engine for
which there is a separate boiler.
The result showed that the rise of water
with the tide was only one-half of the depth
when no pumps were employed. Hence, by
discharglng double the quantity of water he
Is now able to do, he can free her entirely,
float her, and secure the sail under her bot
tom properly-all this he proposes to do;
also, the construction of Golfer dam, which
will perhaps enable him to plug up and cop
per over the hole. Thus the chances are
good for his saving the ship. He certainly
will leave no stone unturned.
| cannot omit to mention the perfect be
havior of the passengers in all respects. The
discipline quietly but effectively maintained
from the first moment of peril, with the
prompt measures taken, inspired general
confidence No apparent alarm, no rush,