The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1860-11-16
Frightfal AeeIdcnt-0ae Hundred and Fly
Lives Lost.
Panama, I Ct. %.


Panama Get %.
Yesterday most f.ightful accident oc.
CURED in tie dry dock at San Lorenzo in
volying the entire loss Of the Peruvian Fri
care Caliao (Aupurimac,) and almost the
entire destruction of the dock, and a fear
ful loss of life. The particulars of this
lamentabie affair are as far as | can gath
er, as follows: i having been deemed
advisable to dock the ship, in order to
examineher copper and other triHing things
the engineer of the dock was asked if
she could be taken on with her battery,
provisions, and crew on board. His opin-
ion was thai the dock could not raise her
with that weight; consequently her guns
were landed yards sent down, and top
gallant masts struck, retaining her proyi
sions, magazines, and crew on board, aud
in this state she entered the dock, at half
past ten y. ". There was very large
concourse of persons went over to witness
the operation.
The government steamer Ccayati con
veyed the President, Minister of War. and
a large number of invited guests. Upon
the arrival Of the President, the vessel
began to enter tie dock, and was soon
in proper position the pumps were set
TO work every thing up to the present
moment wentwelI The keel of the frigate
took the chocks Of tie platform, aud she
began to ascend out of the water After
some time, the engineer noticed that the
after sections Of the dock were rising much
faster than the forward ones, the extra
weight of her anchors and chains being
the cause Of this. AS soon as the sections
were again level, all the pumps were again
started and presently four Of the uplight
stanchions of the dock broke; this was,
however, deemed Of no importance, rs
every thing else was going on well, and
the frigate coming out Of tie water.
She was now abont SIX tcet above hen
bearing, her keel in tie checks Che CaIIaa
has deep keel and very fat tioor,) but
owing to her great deP.h Of keel, tie
checks did not act rs any support what,
ever on b:I9e; therefore, the ship was
simply balanced upon her keel, ami 50 long
as she could be kept steady in that posi-
ton she was safe; but her crew was on
board, constantly moving from one side
to the other; the ship being alealv Top
heavy, Ills caused ner u give ora ..r -"
slight rolls, thsn she pitched over ON her
starboard leans At he second surge the
three masts snapped about half way VI
from The deck her starboarl ports being
open she rapidly filled with water, and
here began scene of horror impossible
to describe. The water was filed with
men and women, wounded, diving, all
screaming for help. Boats were promptly
sent to :heir assistance or the loss Of ito
would have been stlI more fearful. 9,
the number that were below at the time
very few escaped and their cries for helg
were terrible; hut that which was the
most heartrending was tie poor sick in
the hospital, who helpless with disease
could do naught bat scream for that help
that none could render them.
Up to the present time of writing, it is
not known how many have been lost, bnt
it cannot fall short of ore hundred and
fifty. The wounded that could be rernov
ed, who did not require amputation, were
brought over to Callao, the rest remain
ing on the island. The number Of broken
heads, arms, and legs is great. Capt
Kerr, of the English ship GoIconda, low.
cred his boats and did good service il
saving some thirty or forty lives. The
CalIao was fine A gun frieate, aud was
built in Blackwell, England, by Messrs
Green d William, and she was splendid
specimen of a naval architecture. She i
about six years old. The vessel is tota
loss, being entirely under water; the docI
may also he considered as done for, j
having failed as a commercial speculation
and the present disaster may be consider
ed as the last Of the CaIIao dry dock.