New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-02-11
TIE STEWARDS ACCOUNT OF THE LOSS
OF THE NORTHERNER.

Mr.. John Denning the steward, furnishes the fol-
lowing account Of the disaster to The Alta:
II was about Eve o'clock on Thursday, the 9Th inst
that the disaster occurred The rock upon which the
Northerner struck was about midway between Bunts
Reef and the main land, and perhaps two miles from
the latter. II Is always covered and 10 not as Ihs
HumIOidt Tunes states, "a point no bigger than q
mans band" but rather a shelf The weather had
been fine all day. The water was smooth, and the
shp was going along al q speed OF perhaps twelve
miles an hour. Capt Dali was on deck. was at
tending 10 the setting Of the table with my force, and
remember that the water smooth that no rack
was required ON the table as is the case in a heavy
sea- Suddenly felt the ship touch lightly and CRATE
for some distance over hard substance There was
but little jarso ttle in fact that many persons did
not know that anything had happened.
Ny frat impression was that the ship bad touched
Blunts Reef and went on deck 70 see II such was
the case. saw the reef well the starboard beam.
Then Aft 20 zee IT. in going over the rock, abe had
torn of any Of her bottom, which might be floating in
her wake; but nothing was 10 be seen. The impres-
ion then was that che had not hurt herself much. The
ship did not stop and then Swing on from the
rock ~ has been represented but continued on her
coure, straight arrow, and without any sensible
dimnuton OF speed. In fact she Just grated over the
rock and passed on but In that act che must either
have torn off some portion Of the Planking or have
split open her bottom.
THE SHIP FOUND TO BE LEAKING.
There was confusion noise after the accident,
for reasons already given. The pumps were sounded,
by order Of Capt. Dali when il was found that the
ship was leaking fast Capt Dali then ordered me 70
inform the Indies in the cabin most Of whom were in
their berhs at the time that they might have 70 take
10 the bOais and 10 leave their clothes on ready for
any emergency, but net 10 alarm them. At the same
time the thips head turned toward the shore, and
run for the land ut full speed. went into the cabin
and told the ladies that they had better dress Some
of them said " Oh, Move don't want any dinner"
thinking that wanted them 10 get ready for dinner.
told them that the ship leaking some, and that,
perhaps, they might have TO take 70 the boats. They
thought was joking, and it took tonne time FOR me
10 convince them Of the truth They then dressed,
and all went into the Captains state-room, ON the star
board aide.
then went on deck, and Mr.. French directed me 10
take my men (waters, cooks, etc.. and get up guam
tty Of ship bread from below, in case we should have
70 take tot the boats. While was doing this the water
appeared above the lower, deck and was evidently
gaining fast IrepOred this 10 the Captain, who then
ordered us TO get the mails up the hurricane deck
and then 10 come up which We did.
EFFORTS TO KEEP AFLoAT-ALL HANDS AND THE
PASSENGERS AT WORK.
Meantime the engineers and hremen stuck 10 their
work below like tigers, and continued TO do 90 long
after the Increasing water had put out one Of the fires
and the ship bad struck Not man showed the white
feather. never saw more GOODNESS In my life IN any
time of danger. Even the ladies were calm and coll
ected though showing in their faces the anxiety which
rejqned In their hearts. Two Of the were set TO
firing signals Of distress with the guns and, at The
Captains orders, cent up all the rockets in the ship
"A a
and worked well, while the passengers and all the
available force IN the ship were put 70 baling water
ont of the hold with beef barrels slung In ropes and
hoirted with tackles and the donkey engine. All
worked systematically, and with will. The utmost
order and subordinahon prevailed.
Bleaching THE sHIP-AN AWFUL sURP.
Gradually we neared the shore, toward the mouth OF
Bear River IL growing dark rapidly. The
weather bad suddenly changed, and had commenced
blowing from the southwest, with fine rain. We saw
that We were running into heavy surf. One OF the
fires had gone out and by this time the engines and
frenen had been driven from below by the water.
The padde-whees, however, continued to make very
Glow revolutions. As we drew near, we could only
discern the dim outline Of the shore, which seemed to
be rocky bluff but the darkness prevented our see
ing anything distinctly, and very soon the shore was
entirely shut out from view. There were over four
HUNDRED lifepreservers board and the passengers
pIoyided themselves it'll these as they pleassd-Capt.
Dali Mr.. French, Mr.. ONei and in fact all the OH
GERS encouraging them with the hope that all would be
saved by keeping calm and obeying orders strictly.
IL was about six o'clock when the ship first struck
should Judge che went stem on aud being in the SURF
roller cane after her the moment she stopped, wash
ing fore and aft the ship, and taking several off their
feet, but none were washed overheard. This was,
however, but a small specimen of the surf, which
afterwaTd made up as the wind increased. The ship
took on a sand spit, and remained there but a mo-
ment, when she went over into deeper water, and
worked up hundred yards further An anchor was
not LET 20 until after il was evident that she could not
oct any nearer the shore IL now grew quite dark,
and commenced raining and blowing hard. In a short
time the most awful surf l ever saw made up, and
hogan 10 break over the ship She heeed out from the
shore and the long walls of water, appalling in their
appearance, would strike upon the face Of the deck.
few Of these served 10 break the hurricane deck in
pieces which, with the state-rooms and finally all the
Eight work about the ship, was swept away. Nobody
was washed of at this time. II was very chilly, and
the darkness intense.