San Andreas independent., 1857-11-28
Sr. LOUIS, October lst. 1857.

49, @SoSA', OOtODCI Isl, 1904.
DEAR FRIEND According to prom
ise | write in haste. We had pleasant
voyage to Panama, and three hours rail-
road travel, brought us to Aspinwall =
Four days successful steaming landed us
safely in the Harbor of Havana, where
we remained over highland, then sailed
for New York; when it commenced storm
ing, which continued with unabated fury.
On the sixth day, the vessel became un-
manageable, and we all saw there was no
hopes that she would ride it out-and all
the passengers prepared for death. 1t was
Saturday in the afternoon. The Captain
and First Engineer were all the time
drunk, and let the fires go out; and then
the vessel leaked so much. that the pas
sengers could not keep it down-the
pumps being out of order. We had, the
nearest guess, about six hundred passen-
gers. The storm was so furious, that for
three days and three nights, no victuals
were cooked. The people worked thirty
six hours without eating or drinking
At three o'clock in the afternoon, we all
thought, every minute, that the steamer
would sink. | gave my dear children
liquor to drink, to put them to sleep before
going down. My husband and myself
had no hopes of being saved, or for the
children-but, were comforted with the
feeling that it would soon be over, and we
would all die together. At four o'clock
In the afternoon came sail vessel, and
took all the women and children Off
there were 30 women, and 26 children.
| did not wish to leave Segar, but was
compelled to go into the boat with the
children. You may think what solemn
parting that was. The vessel was three
miles off. In the evening at s clock
the Steamer went down, with all on board.
Then come vessel, by good luck, in
sight-while thirteen miles off, she no.
ticed our distress and heard the shrieks.
was six days in the sail vessel before
| ascertained that my husband was saved;
and during the whole time, my children
and myself had no cooked food to eat, or
to drink, and no bed tosleep on My chill
dren were nearly famished with hunger.
We were four days in wet clothes, until
the sun shone out and dried them on our
backs. All was gloom, and grief had
destroyed the use of speech. On Friday
afternoon, at two o'clock, ship came in
sight, then came our Captain, and said
he believed there were some more of the
passengers saved, that we thought were
drowned. | took my two children on
deck, and as soon as the ship came up,
and | saw Segar, (my husband, | tainted.
The captain sent us all on board the other
vessel-the first l remembered was when
in the arms of my husband and our dear
children around us-had my heart been
of stone such a scene would have melted
It, We were the luckiest of all who were
on board-there was not husband saved
except mine. He sunk, too, and how
long he was under the water he does not
know; when he rose to the surface he
grappled small wine-b box, on which he
foated off and saved himself, thank God,
until two o'clock in the morning, when,
by good luck boat came along and
picked up 40 men, who had saved them
selves on boxes and timber-ny husband
among the number.
We lost all our baggage and clothing,
and our gold dust-except $4,000 had
on my person. We cannot be too thank
full that our lives were saved. Should |
attempt to tell all that happened, I never
would get through with it. Every one
can imagine how we suffered
We. are now in St. Louis, and have
received nothing but the kindest sympa-
thy from every one who knows of our
trials and troubles. We send our kind
respects to all the San Andreas people.
Mr.. E. Herchfeldt, formerly Kohl
berg's partner at San Andreas, was on
board, and was lost.
The people of st. Louis have been so
generous to us, that we do not know how
to thank them enough for their favors.
Mrs SEGAR.