The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-11-22
THE DISASTER TO THE NORTH STAR

Interesting Personal Narratives OF the
Notwithstanding OF the Ship, and
CONSERVATION OF the Passengers and
Overwhelming OF the Passengers ON the
Beach-Brutal yoracity OF the Roughs-
General Disorder and Incidents
Shore-The Etiquette OF the Seaside
Floating ofthe Steamer and Embarka-
ton Of the Passengers-Arrfval mt Kings
ton, Jamaica, &c., &c., Sc.
We sailed from New York October 20, 1859, on the
Omitted States mail steamship North Star bound for AS
pinwal. Although eleven years have elapsed since
II Dorado in the West discovered and the first eager
rush Of adyenturers had measurabiy subsidized yet the
dock and shipping crowded with anxious aud curious
spectators, and the North Star moved from her
ings with six hundred and thirty i've souls board
many cheer and shout OF Godspeed followed her.
fH an hour after leaving port we hauled TO and took
aboard the officers and ordered Panama 10 relieve
shcrs of the Saranac. Our passengers then numbered
eight hundred and seventy five all told All merry
bell; singing songs, while others in groups were
telling their adventures discussing current events OF the
day, &c.
We bad smooth sea until the morning Of the 2ls,
when rough weather in and for day or more nearly
MI in state of torpid misery. seasckness, how
ever, the great eveller could not alct the variety
character slowed away within the compass Of our ship
think might be said without assembling that the Ane
Tcan character was represented completely as it consist
ed Of every form between the most polished gentleman
and scholar and the vest vag that ever traversed
the continent Friday, 2st, noon lat 81 TO- long 70 AZ
dead accomplishing made hundred and eighteen
miles Saturday noon, 3d. lat 80 OIL long 10 co. by OBJ
servaton
We carried TO the eastward by the Gulf stream
The distance made last twenty -four hours two hun
nr.--
we were in smooth sea. The weather was warm and
time passing pleasantly In the evening had music and
many Of the passengers oyously engaged the dance
che evenings amusement closed merrily with the "yr
gnia Reel" The passengers retire. many of them con
fdenty expecting to make Aspnwall as soon if not
sooner, than the Opposition The captain and crew
also, eated with the prospect putting forth their
best endeayors TO come out ahead Sunday noon ed
Lat Is A. long 70 03, observation. Last twentyour
hours made two hundred and fifty miles day bright
and favorable and evening cloudy. Monday noon oath
lat "a 80, long 70 0S, dead reckoning. Distance two
hundred and fortyfve miles. The day is cloudy and
rough and the captain not able to the SUM- did
clear up in the evening" all hoped. During the
night the ship SLOW fearing the Marquano Islands
at noon according the reckoning only one
hundred and twenty miles distant At LAS p H.
the rain thick that we laid to for
one hour and and twenty-five minutes. / spoke TO
The captain after the rain was over and we
were under headwaysay at three O'Clock A. NJ He re-
ported that had passed the islands feared and that the
sea was now clear Captain Wright present. and that
also appeared to be his opinion At 44o A. we struck
one Of the French Keys called Panas island about three
aourhs OF mile from the beach. is accounted for by
The snip having drited to ieeward in consequence OF
running slow and laying to- was the captains opinion
tnough mat we had passed the island ten or fifteen miles
he mad pcen on Inc look out all night and had lust gone
The pantry Tor refreshments but leaving the second mate
On duty Inc later lett his post give orders relative to
washing decks, and while gone the ship struck
She had hardly touched when the passengers ere all
out deck terribly excited were surprised ,ha, Tho
island not in time to avoid danger being ,,
hight It soon ascerained that she be phtened
Of her passengers and coal The small boats were man
ned by the sailors Of the Saranac and the process
removing passengers commenced. The women and chill
dren taken 1rst then the men, mattresses
&C. Some Of the men went TO work builarg tents Will
others went in search Of water, curioss, &c. At frs
all seemed pleased to be once more on terri
withou. Vegetation or water Il appears 10 have bee
formed by volcanic erupons and the coral insect Tn
passengers all landed by eleven O'Clock A. NJ an
the most OF them not having had any and bu
little water, began 10 feel their dependent condition
Water sent in nearly every boat, but 1t ii
buckets and half spilled before reaching the beach
The balance went down the Threats Of lot OF greedy, oh
eeperous fellows, who were void Of principle, and cared
not for their fellow passengers long themselves
served The result that before long everything
10 state OF confusion, aud the cry "water, water
water Two fellows, in their rough and tumble TO ge
ne buckets, came in contact with each other. One
a the other encroached upon his rights, drew OF
sLu shocked him down. The fight a hard one
ay eoh'csted--and, after having been parted three
,he man that sastruck Billy Patterson" got badly
whipped; In the meantime the better disposed passen
es navng got some Of the tents erected and others Of
.ne hn Az, become exhausted cruising over the island
utte rdn
property concluded something must be done "a ses,ore
Srder otneIWse our condition would be desperate Fna
", aoout TWO O'Clock = ~, Mr.. W. S. freeman pro
posed FORMING q committee to restore order take
charge Of provisions and water sent from the snjp
The suggestion was received favorably by a few and
they canvassed the island, announcing that meeting of
The passengers WINS desired The cal was a, once re-
sponded to by nearly ALL and N less than twenty minutes
were ready for action, notwithstanding the heat Of a to