Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-12-05
ansbSiIIs aniaH 4ah 3ntritan
wreck of the Steamship GOVeRnOr-ThFiI.
ling Account of tho Rescue OF the Passen.
= n Fl

wreck of the Steamship GOVernOr-ThrtI-
ling Account of tho Rescue OF the Paasen'
gers. -s@.
An officer of the United States steamer Sabine
furnishes the Boston JssrnaI with the following
thrilling account of the wreck of the transport
steamer Governor, on the coast of South Carolina,
and the rescue of her soldier passengers during the
great gale of the LIST instant:
At noon, bsing thirty miles to the southwest Of
Georgetown, we saw three sails from the masts
head. We at once started for them, and at 2, P NJ
made them out to be the bark Young Rover, the
gun boat Isaac Smith, and the transport steamer
Governor. The Isaac Smith ran down to US and
reported herself disabled in the gale and had
thrown overheard eight 68 pound guns She also
reported the Governor in sinking condition, with
1853 officers and marines on board and twenty Eof
the crew. She bad been separated from the fleet
in the gale, broke her hog frames, lost her smoke
stack and sprung leak in three places.
The lssac smith attempted to take her in tow, but
could do nothing with her. as the wind had inereas-
ed again to q gale, very heavy sea running in at
the time. The facts being made known TO Captain
Rnggold, he at once kept away for the Governor,
which was now at anchor one half mile eff, with
her ensign flying union down. She presented a
sorry looking spectacle, with her decks crowded
with men and the sea bI eaking over her. We
to anchor cables length from her, and three Of
our boats were lowered to go to her assistance Mr.
taking charge of them. They succeeded in getting
hawser to the Governor but could not get along
side without swamping, and they were obliged TO
return to the ship.
We then hove up anchor, dropped down within
haiGng distance, and come to anchor again, and
then Veered chain until got the steamer close un-
der our stern. We threw three hRwsers to them
and made her fast and made preparations for saw
ingthose on board. Two sparsiWere lashed over our
stern with gratings for landing stage. We then
oh,
attached with bowline on the end for singing the
Governors people on board. Everything being
ready at half past eight we commenced hosting
the marines on board. We got forty three from the
wreck when our large hawser parted. Another
mSde fast st once, but that parted also and so
did four made in succession. We then tried one of
sheet chains attached to the capstAn and hove
it tight but it sprung the large iron SPINDLE cut the
wheels nearly of, and then parted. 1t was imposS
sble to hold the wreck up to our stern, there was
such heavy sea running. Word now came that
she was sinking FAST and Capt. Ringgold employed
the last resort to those board which was to
veer chain and drop alongside, which was done.
Our Erarboard fquarter struck the steamers port
bew causing an awful crash as they came to-
gether.
About forty men jumped on board of US {; but
two poor fellows less fortunate in their ain,
cut in TWO between the vessels. Captain Lucius
ii. Beattie, of Boston, one of our masters, had q
narrow escape from being crushed to pieces. When
ernOr with six Of the crew, to render assistance,
by securing hawsers, &C. at the time of the coils
ion. He made jump for the ships side and gsin>
ed the quarter gallery, and managed to get on
board just as it was smashed to atoms.
1t was now eleven O'Clock at night, and the scene
at this time batfled all description. Blue lights
were kept constantly burning so that everything
could be distinctly seen. The bow Of the steamer
was crowded with men, whose cries Of despair
were awful to hear. The vessel was complete
wreck forward. We were now about forty feet
apart, just the length of the hawseTs along which
three OF the marines tried to cone. They were
thrown twenty or thirty feet in the air. can new
er forget their cries they struck the water and
sank TO rise no more.
Two poor fellows were seen under the guards on
the braces. They could get neither up nor down
They maintained their position for about fifteen
minutes, when tremendous rolled under the
ship and washed them both into eternity. Quite
number jumped overheard and swan to US. Our
ports were lined with our men, with ropes hanging
overheard, gratings planks and boards attached to
them. a great many were saved in that way Our
crew worked like heroes. Some jun ped over board
with bowlines ard made fast to those whg were too
much exhausted to reach the ship. Capt. Ringgold
and the officers were untiring in their exertIOT
All orders were executed promptly which served
in great measure to sustain the spirits of those
left on the wreck. At half past eleven O'Clock the
wind commenced to lul and word came from the
steamer that they could keep her afoa till morning,
Orders were then given to suspend operations
until daylight. We had saved one hundred and fifty
men at daylight In the morning the sea being
somewhat smoother. we dropped boat alongside
the steamer kept her just clear Of the guards and
took the remainder of the officers and crew off by
their dropping into the boat by line. They were
then whipped aboard by the sings on the boom
spanker. We also hoisted aboard 1900 stand of
arms, and all the ammunition end most of the cloth
ing. By the time we got them out the water was
over the guards. We lost two boats, (they were
smashed between the frigate and steamer,) strained
our bits and cspstan, and sustained considerable
damage about the stern.