The Nevada Democrat., 1857-11-25


Twenty-One Lives Lost.
nv The J. Godfry, which arrived at San Fran
.iseo last Thursday morning, from Sydney, we
have accounts Of the loss of the emigrant ship
lumbar. with the loss of all on board except
one man. The Sydney Herald gives the annex
cd account of the disaster:
The Dunbar was nearly new, and very strong
Io built. Her timbers were British oak, and
s6s was planked with East India teak. She
cost 1000 to fit her for the voyge. and her
cargo was estimated at Ell, 1000. All that re-
mained of her was sold for GlS2 los. She
loaded at London, and sailed from plymouth
on the 3lst May for Australia. Her officers
and crew. including boys, numbered tifty-nine:
her passengers were thirty-two in the CABIN and
thrty-one in the steeragc-making LIZ souls
an board. There had been no deaths, no sick
ness or disasters on the voyge. They had not
lost a spar nor rope. All Sas pleasure at the
termination of most delightful passage. In a
few hours the ship II was expected would be
safe in Sydncy harbor. The Botany light had
been seen TOR rome hours. A light wind was
blowing and all was passing happily on board
About IL O'Clock on the night of August 10Th
all hands were called up OIL deck To wear
ship" She was then gUlRg under easy sail.
In half an hour afterwards the vessel struck Oh
Botany Head, almost instant destruction follow
ing. In few minutes the ship broke up.
The passengers had generally retired TO rest
at the time, aud they and every soul OH board
except a man named Johnson, an ordinary sea-
man, perished. lie was standing on the poop
at the moment the ship struck aud was thrown
down on the bulwarks by the shock. The yes
sci was thrown on her beam ends. Then first
the mZzen went aud next the main mast.
johnson went below and got out of the skylight
TO leeward, and got up the side of the chain
plates Of the fore rigging. These being broken
he was thrown over, holding by the chain plates.
which held some of the fore planks together
He next found himself on shelf of rock, OBJ
tanned some shelter behind a protection and
there he slept! He rcmainad on this rock about
thirty hours before he was rescued. This man
johnson describes the scene on board when the
ship struck as being of the most terrible and
Leart-rendjng description, such indeed as may
be supposed to occur ia all similar cases, where
the danger is deadly and the destruction imme-
date
When the morning broke he saw the wrecks
and the bodies of his late companions. He Gu
deavored to make signals, but was undscov-
cred He uttered cries. but the boiling ocean
prevented their being heard. A careful search
was. however making Every spot was Occu-
pied by anxious spectators where there was
chance of seeing any object below. At last a
voice was heard, there is a man upon the
rocks" A rope was lowered without delay
After some failures, il was brought within his
reach. There was danger from the projection
of the rocks, but having entwined the rope with
3 seaman skill around him. he gave the signal,
and he was drawn up some two hundred feet.
and was received by the crowd with cries of
graduation and joy. He had passed .bout
thirty hours upon the rocks. Mr.. johnson is a
native of Drogheda. in Ireland and is % years
of age. None buta strong man could have
borne the exposure aud excitement of these
fearful nights None but seaman could have
been so drawn from his situation without peril