Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-06-29

FRIDAY MORNING. JUNE 80, 1860.

LOSS OF THE l. 5. STEAMER WALKER.
:. tela.raphic dispatch has heretofore an
nounced the loss Of the United States Coast
Surveq steamer Walker, by collision with
IN unknown schooner OF A5secOm, carly on
Monday morning. and the loss OF twenty lives
by the accident The steamer kennebec ar
rived at New York on Friday evening with
G,rtv-tour Of the officers and crew who were
saved
The Walker was under the command OF
Lieut.. !. J. Guthrie, and had been absent
Tor several months engaged III the WORK Of
the coast survey AT the South, ana was re-
tnrnin. 10 New York for repairs. She lett
<orfolk on Tuesday, the 18th instant, and,
at the time Of: the collision, had passed cape
Nav. and was within about ten hours saliot
New York. The wind had been blowing
fresh from northeast, and there was Il heavy
Lea l-sea which considerably retarded the
,lrorress of ,he steamer. She was, however,
making about seven knots an hour under
steam. At about - o'clock X. NJ, the man
on the lookout saw Il schooner approaching
under fall sail, and steering head on. lie
notified the man at the wheel, and gave the
usual order to port the helm. Tie order
vas obcyed, the helm being put hard-a-port;
bat at the same time the schooner was oDscrV-
ell to put her helm a-starbOrd, thus render
ING collision inevitable. As both vessels
were under full Roadway, there was no time
iol either TO alter Its course, and the SHOCK
was instantaneous anu terrible. The schoon-
ar struck the steamer on the port-boW, near
the forward chains, her head-rall taxing
under the steamers plank shear, stavnSln the
ron plates and opening her down 10 the water
line The vessels then swung clear OF each
other, any the schooner was observed u
round to and remain with her sails shaking
Ior four or i've minutes. She then filled away
and kept on her course. An effort was made
to hail her from the steamer, but II failed.
The shock Of the collision Immediately
brought all that were below on deck, and
word was passed that the steamer was SINK
Ing. Lieut. Guthrie ordered the vessel head
ed in shore and sent men below TO stop the
leak If possible HaGm0cks and mattresses
were stuffed n;o the opening, hut the hole
was so large and the force OF the water so
great THAI it was found impossible to stop 1t.
II fifteen minutes the water had risen to the
furnaces and eNtinguished the fires, causing
the engines 10 stop. Orders were now gwen
10 clean away the two boats, tone having
been destroyed bg the COLLISION and TO drop
Them astern, that they might be ready for use.
there was no time to be lost, however, rs she
WIS fast sinking. The main-mast was order,
ed to be cut away. and the toonis and spare
spars crt loose 20 afford the crew means OF
sustaining themselves in the water. The
boats were now hauled up, and one OF the
crev who was sick and the only lady pas
senger on board, first put into one OF them
implicitly obeving the commands ot Capt,
Guthrie and bis officers, the boats were then
filled with as many as they could safely s,S-
tain, and, at the word Of c2mmand pulled
away from the sinking ship. The next me
ment she went down, carrying with her all
who were on her decks.
The crew were now seen clutching at the
floating spars and loose materials OF the
wreck or clamberlng up the rigging to save
themselves by cllnglrg 10 the topmaat head.
The boats were very deeply loaded: there
wGs a heavy sea running, and their crowded
condition left little or no room to pull at the
oars. They were some ten miles from the
land and, even if they were able 10 reach It,
the heavy sQrt which broke upon the beach
would render it impossible 10 land without
swamping the boats, and probably losing
many lives. In this extremity, aveSSel was
seen bearing down for them. She was hail
ed, and Immediately answered by rounding
to and giving them line. All the crew
were put on board, excepting men enough
10 man each boat, both OF which then re
turned to search for those who were still
.linging to the wreck or floating spars. All
who could be found We're picked up. 1t this
lime an0thei schooner was seen, apparently
engaged in the same work, but she soon kept
away, and how many she may have picked
up, if any at ali, is not known. 1t is hoped
that, Of the twenty persons missing, some at
least are on board Of this unknown vessel,
which has probably carried them 10 some
Southern port.
The schooner which picked up the boats
and rendered such timely and important ser
vice proved to be the K. g. johnson, Capt
Hudson. He remained in the vicinity Of
the sunken steamer, searching Cor the miss
ing men until O'clock p. NJ. Thursday,
when, the weather being thick and 1t blow
ing fresh, the vessel was headed for Cape
May. Here they were all landed, and the
same afternoon the steamer kennebec, Capt
johnson, kindly received them on board and
carried them 10 New York. They have lost
every thing they possessed.
NOTICE TO CITY TAX PAYERS.
TTOI ARE hereby notified that You can save
- > per cent. by paying your personal bills III
whole or part, prior TO the lst Of July. Office in
Market House Buildings. Office hours 2, i. NJ.
% ). 7. II.
We would call the special attention OF tax pay
TO the following section Of the Revenue bill:
SEcTio; IL And be it further enacted, That ii
shall be the duty Of the Collectors to charge and
exact interest at the rate Of six per centum per
nuuum upon each and every tax bill, which shall!
remain unpaid, on the 25th day of November next
for such length Of time thereafter the said n
shall remain unpaid. WESLEY VERY.
Collector Of Isl and 18th Wards
JOHN \. FIELD,
10 2--dtd Collector Of 2nd and .ird Wards
NOTICE.
q CR BILLS for the past half year have all
- been made OF 10 day. A. many AS can make
il convenient will confer favor by calling
III our dcSl; for accounts, which ii not taken away
prior she 25th inst, viii be sent IL all Tor whom
intended, without discrimination. WcreSpccttUi-
" urge that there will be than usual effort
made the part OF our credit customers - settle
up. tLAGEII \ DoDSON.
Washington, june 2$dtlyl