, 1859-02-25


call, while the sea was tremendous and
ragged with fearful violence. At this june
ture it was found almost impossible TO
keep the ships head to the wind and sea,
and she frequently fell broad of, at which
times the sea would board her with terrific
force, engulfng everything on deck, and
pouring delugeS down the hatch and COM
panion ways. The steamer could not live
without being relieved Of the large amount
of freight which encountered her upper
decks, and rendered her top-heavy. Ac-
cordingly, orders were given that all hands
should go to work throwing overheard
everything on the upper decks, and as there
were 500 men on board, a busy scene was
presented, though not all would work
Some were lsiless and Indifferent others
we've praying, some swearing, and some
said it was of no use 10 do anythng-the
vessel must founder-their lives were not
worth two cents a piece. The sea was
running mountain high, aud wave fter
wave broke over her, to the great peril of
all on deck. OF course, all the men were
as wet as they could be, and this in fierce,
cold wind, which, driving through their
soaked garments, made many think it the
coolest weather they had ever felt
There were about 40 tons of barley on
the upper deck, aud that was soon tossed
overheard. The pack saddles and apars-
jos for perhaps 400 0,mules followed Then
went large number of barrels Of provi-
sons. Then went 1900 sacks coal which
was in the forecastle, and weighed down
the bow of the boat, SO that the seas swept
in and threatened to put ont the fires
There were 200 mules on the upper deck,
but it would have required five or six men
to get each animal overheard, and in case
Of urch, all these men would have been
in danger of going over too so only few
not more than half dozen-of' the
mules were thrown over. But nothing
else was spared spars, marine tackle
even the valuable trunks and carpet bags
Of the Offices and passengers were all sacri-
feed. The value Of the property thrown
overheard is not known, bat it is supposed
by some persons on board to amount, per-
haps TO $4,000. There is possibility
that some lives were lost by the seas which
repeatedly swept over the vessel.
At halfpast eleven all the loose stuff on
the upper decks had been cleared off, and
the vessel moved easier, and at midnight
the wind slackcned The captain then
turned the steamer about and made for
port, where she arrived this morning, as
already stated.
Capt. Huntington, Mate Henry j. John.
son, all the crew aud engineers, Lieut.. JAS.
IL. Merryman, Of the revenue cutter w.
L. Marcy a guest Mr. Tlghman, also a
guest Col. Hoffman, aud his officers, and
most Of his men behaved very CALAMITY,
and by their coolneSs and industry, did
much TO save the vessel from swamping
The vessel herself and her machinery, arc,
we believe, uninjured The expedition will
necessarily be detained n week or ten days
to supply the loss Of the articles thrown
overheard, but we presume it will start
again about the goth instant, perhaps
sooner.
p. P.S.-Since writing the above, we learn
that there were no lives lost, although in
the confusion at the time of throwing the
deck load overheard, it was supposed that
some of the men were carried off their feet
aud over the leeward side of the ship
The injury to the vessel is but trihing
and soon repaired. An intelligent gentle
man who was Oh board the vessel, stated
to us that the strength and buoyancy oI
the ship was their only salvation, and that
had she been a weeker craft with the SAINT
load. would inevitably lost them nll