The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-11-26

from the steamer opelousas in her collision with
the Galveston in the Gulf the night OF the ieth
inst. He says
81 was passenger on the opeiousas, Capt: E'i,s,
bound from Berwick's Ray to Galveston: vn .i'
night of the 18th, about quarter past ~ gp.N,
I was awakened in my berth by shock, as u vac
vessel was struck by lightning rusnea on ~. M
and found 10 crowded with passenger, an w sno
widest state OF excsement-tne aaa rs I%a All
aud the gentlemen running to ana ire: tne h,st
consciousness had of danger, was nearing tue
mate and steward calling on the passengers 10 save
! Themselves as there were two iiiepreseIvers IN
In each state room, hastily made tor the caoin
O., COZ ifa-nreserver, but reaching II found the
water in II ankle deep hastily retrsced my steps,
aud on reaching the deck again. found the steamer
| sunk 10 her guewaies. The passengers thea ran
10 the hurricane deck. hut in about three minutes
she had sunk to that deck The scene of wild con-
fusion and dismay which then presented itself. |
bcggsrs all description. The Iifc-boat was cut
away and some fifteen or twenty jumped into her.
and others jumped into one of the quarter-boats,
when both boats started for the Galveston, then
some distance from the wreck CAT this time did
not the Galveston, aud totally unconscious
of the cause OF the disastera
The lite-boat, before reaching the Galveston was
capsized, and several of the passengers sunk to
rise no more. l held on to the stern Of the 0pe-
lousas, aud while in that position, was joined by
| the second engineer. This officer had secured a
plank, which ENABLED him to shove off from the
wreck. I did not do So believing the Opslousas
was aground. In few moments, however, the
chinery, broke in two and turned bottom upwards
Seeing the Galveston In the distance, struck out
for her, and after swimming / think, about
quarter Of mile was picked up by one Of the Gal
vcstons boats. Captain Ellis, who was clinging to
| pirogne bottom, was also picked up at the same
| time. The first engineer his wife, a man whose
name do not recollect, two negro boys and some
Others believe. chung to portion of the wreck
after she turned bottom upwards, until daylight,
when they were picked up. A Mexican name net
known, who had rescued little boy, was also
| found next morning holding on 10 q log, and him
self and the boy among the saved.
The mate Of steamer Jasper McFarlane running
to Sabine Pass, of the passengers OF the
0pelousas. and was rescued. He afterwards LETT
the Galveston to endeayor to save some OF the oth
err passengers, and unfortunately persisted in the
attempt.
Among the saved was Mr.. VI IL. Meriwcther, for.
merly of Albcmarle county, Va, who, with his
wife foated an hour and half on a fragment OF
the steamer, until they picked up by boat
from the Galveston. His hands were badly cut IN
clinging to the wood on which he foated, and both
himself and wife were very much exhausted. MIR.
| VI. lost all his baggage, s2l5 in cash. and $500
worth Of goods. Mrs. NJ lost all her jewelry.
The following is the statement of Capt. Ellis, Of
the Opelousas:
Left Berwick's Bay for Galveston, Sunday after
noon. Passed the light ship at 4l5 p. NJ; wind
| about E. y. +. At Sis sounded on Tiger Point
in 80 fathoms, and shortly after, having fathoms,
clear of the flats, steering ". by 5. for Gal
weston bar. At few minutes of IL ?. NJ. it looked
very sqnally the land, but presently cleared
off and left starlight night overhead, but slight
haze on the horizon l ordered an ertrd bright
light to set about Is feet up the fOrestay as the
light stern sometimes went out, without
being Instantly perceived l went my accustomed
round of the ship before midnight, and found
everything in ordcr-boas all right three oars aud
plug dashed in each. then ordered the second
mate to call me if the wind came out from the
| tbxyar md keen lnnk FIR he
| which vessel passed us when visible about l212,
distant from to three miles. other occasions
| / then lay down with my clothes all on, and pre-
sently heard them hosting the jb and foresall.
short time after MIR. Jewell called to me that the
Galveston near, about two points on our star
| board bow. and that he had kept her H. e., our
ship off little. jumped up aud saw light in
that direction close to U.s. and thinking we would
pass, ran in 10 get blue light, six of which had
ordered from New Orleans that very trip; but
when l stepped out. after few seconds detention,
| the light-a green one-disclosed the Galveston at
| full speed, running directly on to our beam; at
| the same moment. the second mate sung out,
e hard-astarboard, but as our boat was swinging,
she struck us stem on about ten feet from our gal
! ley, and ten feet from where | Stood and went
easily into us up to our steam pipe nearly, and
| hung. l climbed up on her bows to get a line.
that | might tasten her to my boat, so when she
was clear she would be close by us, but saw no
one, and feeling her back a5tern jumped back to
my own ship. | saw the Galvestons bows were
solid, she left us, by the light OF our furnace
| doors shining through the hole she made, which
also showed me that my poor boat was done for
| l seized Matched from my room, reused up the
purser, who was next me, and attempted to rush
| aft to my passengers, but the steam escaping from
the broken pipe, and also from the fires, which
were being put cut, nearly threw me down, and
| burnt my lungs so that IT was some time before |
was successful. ! found Mr.. McFarane busy with
the port boat, into which were already several W.
men, sang out to HIM, will you take charge Of
that boat Z" AYE. aye he cried in manly tone
| and well he did his duty, though the boat eventu
ally swamped alongside the Galveston, and he lost
! his life whilst saving others. l then ran to the
| other side but they had unlocked and capSzed
| the boat She lay bottom up.
came across Mr.. Fowler. engineer, and my Sec
oud mate, and cried out to them. and to the pass
| engers near. "Let haul cut the life-boats from
under the half deck" but when got there, they
ali, the officers, jumped into them. | cut the
lashings and drove them out. when they scattered,
| some jumping overheard, and we could not move
| the boat. The water was then knee deep on the
| upper deck, and ran forward. followed by a wO-
man. to if by chance any of my people were
| there. As got near the wheehOuse / felt her
breaking up, and had but time to seize little ca
noe, about eight feet long. which put the fe
male and passenger who just then appeared when
a swash of water took clear; ii rolled over eY
eral times, but | swan alongside and kept it bal
anced rs well as possible. SAW several boats near,
| which supposed were from the Galveston, about
half mile of, and after some time one approached
with several hanging on the ontsidc. one man hold
female in his lap and hanging on with the other
| hand. sang out to take the woman aboard put
| some one said we re full, no more; but one Of
| my own crew was aboard. and recognizing my
| voice, forced the boat and took the woman and
! man with me aboard. ! then ordered him to make
way for the Galveston. the boat was full enough
without me, and after some demur they lett !
did not then wish to live. saw several boats
passing, and the cries on the wreck ceasing sup
posed most of my unfortunate passengers were safe
righted the and nearly freed her OF water,
but my strength failed me, and could not get III
| was presently picked up and after some delay
got on board the Galveston. saw one OF my boats
alongside. half full Of water, and sang out for my
men: two answered me, and we all three got in,
baled her out, and started again for the wreck.
There was then fresh breeze, aud short, ugly
sea- We fell in with the piiot-house afioat. One
man, poor oarsmai, hurt his hand. and took
the oar. After Polling about half hour fell
in with sever al boats in one, recognized, to my
| Joy. Mr.. Young. my pilot, with two oarsmen; in
| another my mate, and i'll another my second mate
was getting vey sick with the salt water swal-
lowed, and recOllect little else but picking mp
drowned man, until was hoisted aboard the Gal
weston, where Capt. Smith received like Ei-
Their and himself and officers stripped their ward
| robes to Clothe us.
There reed of life being lost as there
was wreck enough to float 500 people, but thesnen
Jumped overheard in their fright. saw two iump
on the rail, draw their revolvPrs. and fire away
| Ono all but drowned himself in vain efforts 10
mount "A barrel. The noise Of esca ping steam made
il difficult for orders to be heard, and the rush Of
water and the cracking of the tnrhers needessly
frightened into helplcssness many unaccustomed
TO the
THEArRE-A fashionable audience assembled at
the theatre last night to see London Assurance
The performance was excellent. The bill for to-
night is au attractive one.
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.-Thomas Egan ofClarksburg,