Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-11-30
SflistclIaneous.

The Wreck of tae Steamer Governor
Thrilling Account Of tho Rescue of
Three Hundred and Seventy-Eisht
Men.
An officer of the United States steamer
Sabine furnishes the Boston Journal 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 lst instant
At noon, being thirty miles TO the south.
west Of Georgetown, we saw three sail from
/ the mast head. We at oucs started for them,
/ and at =. VI. made them out TO be the bark
/ Young Rover, the gnnhoat Isaac Smith and
( the transport staamer Governor The Isaac
! Smith ran down to us aud reported herself
disabled in the gale, and had thrown over
/ board eight GO pound guns She also report.
! ed the Governor iu Il sinking condition, With
: 31o Ciicers end marines on board and 20 VI
/ the crew. She had been separated from the
/ fleet n the gale, broke her hog frames, lost
, her smoke stack enG sprang II leak 10 three
places.
/ The Isaac Smith attempted TO take her in
tow, but could do nothing with her. as the
wind bad increased again to a gale, very
! heavy sea running in at the time. These
/ ilcts being made known to Captain Ring
( gold; he at once kept away for the Governor
which was now at anchor one half mile ofl,
@ith ber ensign flying Union down She
presented sorry looking spectacle with her
! decks crowded with men and sea breaking
over Der. We came to anchor a cables
length from her, aud three Of our boats were
lowered to go TO her assistance, hr. Bach
I our first lieutenant, and BAalswGin Hatfield
aklcg charge Of them. They succeeded in
getting hawser to the Governor but could
not get plyn .sde without getting swamped
aud they were obliged TO return to tho
ship.
No then hove up anchor, dropped down
within haliiug distance and come TO anchor
again, and then yeered chAin until we got the
steamer close under olr stern. We threw
three hlwsors to them and made her fast, and
made preparations for saving those on board.
Two spgrs were lasbed over orr stern with
grating Tor landing stage We then topped
up our spAnker boon, to which a whip was
attached w.Ih hOwIna n the end Tor sling.
ing the Governors people on board. Every
thing being ready at hall past eight, we com.
menced holst!ug the m8ua-s on board. We
got iorty-!hre0 from the wreck when our
laige h."ser parted. Another Was made
fast At once bu. that parted also, and so did
four mode in succe ssun We then tried on0
OF cur sheet chains, attached It TO the capstsn
an3 hove it tight, bat It spruug he large iron
spindle, cyt lnJ wdeels uearly ol. Gbd then
parted, II Tas impossible 70 bold the wreck
up % o.. stoIu, ,Aere "ss such uensy ssa
running. Word now came that she was
sinking fast, and Captain Riuggold employed
! the last resort to save those on board, which
hi
was done. Oar st1rboard quarter struck the
steamers port bow causing an awful crash as
they came together
About forty mea Jumped on board Of us;
bnt two poor fellows less fortunate in their
alm were cut 10 tGo between the vessels
Capt Locus II. Besttje, of Boston, one Of
our masters, had narrow escape from being
crushed to pieces. When the whip was rig.
fed he went on board Of the Governor wiJh
SIX Of the crew TO render assistance, by secur.
ing ha@sers, Ec.. a. the time of The collision.
lie made jump for the ships side and
gained the quarter gallery, and managed to
get on board just us 1t was smashed to
atoms
II vas now gleven O'Clock at night, and the
scene at this time ball-s oil description.
Blue lights were kept constantly burning, 50
that everything could be distinctly seen.
! uS W" u LlF Slea'HtI was Cib"JSb "itu
men, whose cries Of despair were BHigl to
bear. The vessel was complete wrecG
forward We were now about fifty feet HpaTt
/ just the length Of the ho" sers, along which
/ three OF the marines tried to come. They
/ were thrown twenty or thirty feet in the air.
, can never forget their cries Us they struck
] the water and sank 10 rise no more. Two
poor fellows were seen under the guards on
/ tae braces. They could get neither up nor
| down. They maintained their position for
, about fifteen minutes, when a tremendous
sea rolled under tha ship and washed them
( both into eternity. Quite number jumped
! over board and swan to Us. Our ports were
lined With our men, with ropes banging over.
board, grat!ngs, planks aud boards attached
10 them. A great many we're saved IN that
| way. Oar crew worked like heroes. Some
jumped overheard with bowlines and made
fast to those who we're two much exhausted
- reach tho ship. Captain Riuggold and
the officers were untriug in their exertions
All orders were executed promptly, which
! served 10 a great measure 10 sustain the
, spirits of those left on the wreck. A. half
past eleven o'clock the wind comneuced TO
lull, aud word came from the steamer that
they could keep her adoat TIL morning.
Orders were ,hen given to suspend opera
tions until daylight. We had saved 100 men
at daylight. IN the morning. the sea being
somewhat smoother, we dropped boat along
side Of the steamer, kept her just clear Of the
guards, and took the remainder of the officers
and crew Oh by their dropping into boat by
q line. They we're then whipped aboard by
the slings on the boom spauker. We also
hoisted aboard 1900 stand Of arms, and oil
the ammunition aud most of the clothing
by the time we got them out the water was
over Lhe guards We lost two boats, they
were smashed between the lrigate and
steamer,) strained our bits and capstan, and
sustained considerable damage about the
ste!n.
STRANGE BEDFELLows There is lady, a
Miss SNiIH, mot related TO us,) residing 10 our