Weekly Trinity journal., 1858-01-02
From the Alta California, Dec. 23d.
of n Fearful Night of tho Heads


wind that sometimes blow on this coast at TIE
present season of the year, have often been made
the subject of remark. and have frequently caused
loss of life to those who chanced TO be exposed to
them in small boats The N0rthers are more
difficult to contend with than the gales which Of
ten blow from the southeast and southwest be-
cause they give little or 10 warning of their ap.
proach, but come tearing mady down from the
cold regions when the sky is clear, and the ocean
sumberng in its most peaceful mood. The lat
ter. on the contrary, give unmistakable warning
of their approach in the dull, hazy gathering Of
feccy clouds, the humidity ofthe atmosphere. and
the final shutting in of the drifting scuds black
ening the sky with their inky terrors, then burst
ing their pent up wrath upon all around
The norther of Sunday night last was fair
specimen of its kind, and it has left death in its
fearful path. Few persons would have supposed
that the calm ana unruffed deed, basking all day
long in the bright sunshine, would have been
lashed TO its utmost fury in the carly evening
for there were no outward indications of q blow
when the sun dipped into the western horizon
and passed out of view behind the blue water
line of the Pacific Ships lay idly upon the tide,
rolling lesurely 10 the long swclls, and Stating
the bolt ropes of their sails against the shrouds as
they lay heplessly waiting for q breeze. Two
hours later than this the sea was in its widest
foam OF fury, and the strong ships stru ggled and
moaned fearfnlly as they battled with the blast.
The ship Susan Rowland went down the harbor
several Of our citizens who were intending to re-
turn with the pilot. After getting outside the
bar they spoke the pilot boat Daniel Webster
and the pilot, and those intending to return. left
the ship and went on board of her. intending TO
come to town. Just at this time they espied a
sail about fifteen miles out at sea, and the pilot
boat bore away for her. She proved to be the
clipper ship Conquest. Captain Sears from New
York. Not being able to come in that night, it
being nearly calm, and an ebb tide running, and
Capt. Scars desiring to send his letters to New
York by the mail steamer Of yesterday. Com. Al
len, who was one of the party who had gone out
on the Susan Rowland, together with +. Murphy
and Joseph Stephens, started to pull ashore in a
Whitehall boat, bringing with them the Captains
dispatches. They were Immediately followed by
two others, Messrs. Wood and Cobb. in another
White-h hall boat, and Messrs Traverse and Smith
in third boat of the same kind. all of these per
sons having been Of the party who accompanied
the Susan l1owland to sea. AS before stated, ii
was at this time az P. ny nearly calm, with
strong ebb tide running.
About p. NJ, when near the South Head, the
gale suddenly broke upon them, with scarcely
moments warning Of its approach In an in
crcdbly short space OF time the sea had made up
very badly. which, together with a rocky shore
under their Ice, made their position an alarming
one. But this was only the beginning Of their
dangers.
Fearful Of going ashore upon the rocks. they
pulled out TO sea. and got their boats heads to
the wind in which position they laborcd unceas
ingly throughout the long night, the sea breaking
over them, and compelling them to bail constant
ly to keep afoat At about one o'clock at night
the boat containing Messrs. Wood and Cook was
spoken by that in which were Messrs Traverse
and Smith, who appeared to be worn out, and
begged for assistance, but were almost instantly
separated in the darkness, and kept aboring on
at their heavy oars This was the last that was
ON Gp hoard NJ nd KNIT l,o No
continued with terrific violence throughout the
long night. the sea whtened with foani and toss
ing its surgng billOws in relentless fury over
these little waits that still foated upon its angry
bosom, as if they bore charmed lives that the en-
ragged elements themselves could not destroy.
The boat Of Com.Allen and his companions ard
that containing Mcssrs. Wood and Cobb kept
company with each other throughout the night
the men bending 20 their oars without one mo.
ment's rest or anything to refresh themselves
with. Morning dawned at length upon them, and
though it brought light unon The 3aT,7 AMI trout
blcd waters, it bore no ray Of hope to their des-
ponding hearts. The sea was whtoned with
foam, the boat Of Messrs. Traverse md Smith was
nowhere TO be seen, and, under their quarter
roarcd and broke the heavy line Of breakers that
wash the long sand beach to the southwark OF
Point Lob0s.
At about l0AM., Murphy aud Stephens became
utterly exhausted and gave up in despair. There
away for the beach and trust to the chances of
being carried through tho breakers safely. Ac
cordin@ly, having hailed the other boat and
they agreeing to follow Com. Allen and his cou-
panions If they lived through the desperate
chance which they had taken, they put around
nearly before the blast, and in few moments
were within the grasp Of the first roller. 1t
swept them on toward the beach with terrific rap
idity each moment swelling higher and higher
preparatory to its comblng, until the great green
bank OF water came topping over and burst with
the fury OF a hundred pentup earthquakes just
ioosened from their prisons, tearing and crushing
the boat into a thousand fragments. and sweeping
its human freight into the foaming vortex hut
still on, on toward the beach. Commodore Allen
suddenly found himself dashed upon the hard
sand, to which, with finger nails and toes he
strovo to cling, to prevent being carried back by
the rcccding snrges. and in which attempt he was
successful. While in this position the next roller
came upon him. and bore him along still further
in on to the beach, dashng him down upon the
hard sand again as before, where, with weakened
grasp he was about striving again to overcome
the power of the reccding wave, when he was
seized by his two brave companions who rushed
into the surf to rescue him, and bore him safely
to the high and dry beach. Strange to say, they
had gone in on the first roller and got safe ashore
while Com. Allen was left behind. Not single
vestige Of the boat to be seen, and they sat
down upon the beach and gave way TO their feel
ings, wholly prostT&ted by their almost superhu-
man efforts Of the preceding night.
Messs. Wood and Cobb having seen the boat
enter the breakers, and hcheld her dashed to
pieces, determined not to take the risk of the
beach and therefore kept out to sen where they
held on until P. NJ, at which time the gale aba
ted and they succeeded in getting inside the
Heads and arrived Mt the wharf at p. NJ, Mon
day. 1t is hardly necessary to add that they
were completely worn out with their efforts.
All day yesterday horsemen were securing the
beach to the southwark Of the Heads in search Of
Mvssrs. Traverse and Smith, but no trace of them
has been found, and there is little doubt that
they are both drowned. The former leaves
young wife, (having been married but about
week. who is suffering the most excruciating ag.
ones, at his untimely and terrible end. Thus
ends the tale of the horrors of that fearful night
The five survivors out of the seven who partici-
pated in this wild adventure, will ever retain a
vivid impression Of its terrors and the physical
aud mental suffering which they endured, though
mt tbOSn Iona honrS