The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-10-11

STATEMENT OF Mr.. II. WHITrEL'

covered by the rescued passengers the Connaught
Mr.. H. Whittell, of New York, a passenger in
the Connaught, furnishes the following statement
| as to the loss of that fine steamship.
Passing the circumstances of the voyage fro M
| Galway, which port she left at =. NJ. of the 25th
ult, until about p NJ. of Saturday the 9th inst,
he says: While heading westwardy, the wind
blowing northerly gale, the ship began to roll to
| the larboard with singular motion, going far
down, and keeping that way long time which
| caused some alarm. Meantime, the Captain was
| heard giving orders about steering, manning the
! pumps, &c. Firemen under the lee of the paddle
| box were observed whispering, and there
other manifestations that something not right.
| Considerable water observed through the gra-
| ting. The engine soon after stopped for awhile
| Alter strenuous exertions by Capt Letch and
crew, the ship righted, and the wheels commenced
moving, when the passengers became more com
| posed. The sea was rough, the wind blowing what
| sailors call an ordinary full gale. Most of the pas
| sengers turned in, but passed a restless night.
| SUNDAY, A. M.-The ship began to roll again
| with that staggering motion similar to the evening
previous. The Captain and crew could neither
! tack nor the ship. Soon after the engine
stopped and steam could not be raised in the boil
ers. The ship rolled frightfully to the starboard
| and the pumps were manned, and gangs of men
| commenced baling with buckets. At 10 O'clock it
was reported that the water was not gaining, but
| on the contrary that the pumps aud balers were
| gaining on the leak, and if the wind would siifen
we would reach Boston that night; but these hopes
were changed to extreme terror when the
word was passed around in low terms. "The ship is
on fre! accompanied by the smell of burning
wood. The fire appeard between the decks. Gangs
were Immediately formed, with pumps and buckets
to eXtingulsh the flames, taking the water from
the sea, and passing it in buckets. AS the fire
gained, the baers began to slacken work; all eyes
| staring around the horizon in hopes to see some
means of safety Several false reports of vessel
in sight were made, but at last we discovered sail
| to the nOrthward and soon after another to the
| westward-both very low down; but it became
| plain at o'clock that both nearing us, and
| a., Al
| one west only two.
! We soon found out that the latter was passing,
| while the other still neared without showing any
sign that she noticed u.s. which kept us in extreme
| anxiety and doubt until she bore directly for us,
| evidently showing that she observed the steamers
| flags of distress, which had been hoisted since
| midday. We then commenced to steer away and
| launch boats, which was a very difficult job, the
| ship lying almost on her side in trough of the
sea. By this time the fire had cut off ali commu
| nication with the saloons. The first quarter-boat
| lowered was struck BY the counter and lost which
caused hesitation about launching the others. But
the worst of our fears that supposing the boats
should ride the which then showed signs of
| moderating, and that we could safely launch and
| I'LL them with passengers. There was no chance
of remaining but short time OIL board, the fire
making such progress The flames were momen-
tarily expected to burst out and sweep the decks
the fire gangs having given up all hopes of eX-
tingushing them, but continuing to apply wet
blankets, &C. The side of the ship then so hot
u
OF the sea-water.
The gallant little Yankee brig sailed alongside,
| and hove to, seeing our deplorable condition and
showing every sign of anxiety for US, but we began
INN :. "9u,I uo ~ SUM an our mum
| ascertained that she only 1873 tons burden. -
h;h - .i a. i;a ~ 10 iN,o .ne Io"e
Mnirn was eAoeme'y ulllc4't: peihg lowered one
| time, commencing with the women and children,
| but with all the exertions that could be made,
~nt On hnord tba ~; GO VII S %u 1h 80;
s.id. ..Tb;s 10 borr36lo afF;r ~ So H. - -; w.
down and 90 man, noonla rat IN board tL
settl;nr dow ond b,rnp;nrS, ~, LII a. Ill " "; @ esr>
nower IN save tbo Serars Of ,ha hoot' =, ana ~,
| On REACHING the hrio rafnsad 70 ratnrn wban Cat
Wilson said. - will on almost .Iongsda and tarp
hawser from on hoard and then vnS viii ha in it,la
or no danger: must Get every one from tbe wrect
rms he did; which had the effect of giving con-
hoend "II Dy s.eaI eXert,"ns All were gos on
fra, osioar - M, oaps Letch ana MS
ssn IN 20, eniaeu oh ooaro unti almost sur
C W.. Mi'n names anu uhiii every soui was saved.
, 0po. soT IN, 'nen senl aloIgslae 10 peg MIN TO
tbroin, .rn,t, S snIo'ing up 'ne IN astS'
W. s;pIs any nieLnonoiy EeIy ngu' over Tue
.ie Just at mionlgnt.
I'D 80 = - IS ,hs Js i; i" % Gu, .ne unh : ;
hIow h,;ur .ba oaufS;o, pa az uenG III iei
called Them on dect in tho nrnino astar
communication was ont off hy tba ya7or ond Hmas
Mr.. Whittell speaks in the highest terms, do
the " Iue ehef ~ anu hinuness vi
Gapt. John wilson, oil the brig Minnie Schiller.
lie was from Malaga, bound tor Boston, with a
cargo OF fruit.
Arrival of the California Pony Express
ST. .osEPHs Oct. lO-Tbe PONY Express arrived
tonight with California dates to September 29th.
At San Francisco, coffee and raw sugar were adj
vapclng. strong trace demand Tor kIo coffee is
win Ia'es AZ zoe gloz2 ees butter Was
o"tin p anu n,nt az .o9- Gus DO
io da H"u I.,i' "n lehoency. iheIe
for shinments Pricas are urcbanoad . :
On the 97tb the old Mnsicai Hall b,;,d;n,r
Montgomery and Brush streets San Francisro
was DESTROYED bv fire. Loss $50 OeO,
Ahe htsI ION Vi sh'er ore Hom iue ne" OoZt
mines arrived at oah francisco on 'he Z'th. III
OF the highest degree OF richness
--'"S i>s ''s I'd" ~ Vi hou' anu ""ea''
The Prince Mt f,bII,deInn;o
pu,,,nrInu,, no, IN TLp,
| formance at the ACADEMY to riGbt in bpnor Of ~
Prince of Wales was splendid affair. The hoase
was filled to oyerGowine with the fashion anf
bsautv of the citv During the sina;ng of tbo na
t;onsi anthem of ..God saye tbe 0nea. ba ed ID;
enea arose on ,nasse The prince Soyod frannonr
Tbe onera of L. Trav;ata WAC yau narfnrndiad a,J
The aTtistes received freouent testmoniaiS Of an
nIsuso from he Pr;nce and tbe amd;onna - NJ. Mdp
Eennett occunied the nroscan;nm box ;mmed;atalT
beneath that Of the Prince.