, 1862-08-23
STEAMSHIP GOLDEN GATE BURNED
AT SEA
1913 Lives Lost, Together with S1,4OO,747 of
Trea sure.
CAPTAIN HuDsoN's STATEMENT.
MANzANILLo, July 80, 1867

MANZANILLO, July ~, 1867.
GENTLEMEN IL have to report to you the total
loss of the Golden Gate by fire, which occurred
on the afternoon of the 9th inst, fifteen miles to
the westward of Manzano At 5 in the after
noon, when at dinner, the ship was reported to me
on fire: l Immediately arose from the table, re-
questing the passengers to remain quiet, and pro-
ceeded to the spar deck, when l found dense
volume of smoke coming up from the engine
room hatchway. All the fire hose of the ship
were Immediately put in requisiton and worked
with all possible energy.
The ship was now about three or four miles
rom the land. | saw at glance the impossible
ity of subduing the flames, and Immediately put
the helm up to run the ship ashore. Men, wo-
men and children were now ordered forward, and
probably one hundred had reached the forccastle
when the flames spread with such rapdity as to
cut off all communication with the after part of
the ship. Tordered Mr. Waddell, the chief en-
gineer, to Keep the engine moving as long as pos
sible. All regular communication with the en-
CINE room was cut off in a few minutes by the
flames; several of the fremen and engineers were
still below. The feed-valves of the boilers and
furnace-doors were opened wide, and all precau-
tions used to prevent explosion.
So rapid was the spread of the flames, howev-
that the engineers and their men barely escaped
with their lives, by forcing passage through the
after freight room bulkhead At half rast five
we grounded about three hundred yards from the
beach, where there was very heavy surf break
ing. Before reaching the shore the after boats
were lowered away and filled with passengers,
who remained by the ship, rendering all possible
aid in saving life. In the meantime life preserv-
ers, spars and everything of buoyant nature,
were furnished to the passengers, thrown over
board after the shock.
The flames spread with such rapidity that the
hurricane deck from the foremast aft, fell with
tremendous crash before reaching the Shore and
soon afterwards the foremast went by the board.
The heat had now become so intense as to compel
ell who remained to leave the burning wreck, by
lowering thems selves in the water by lines fur
nished for that purpose and many had thrown
themselves into the water from various parts of
the ship. After all had left, Capt Pearson and
myself dropped from he browsprit, and succeeded
with great difficulty in reaching the beach,
found about eighty had reached the shore with
life.
All that remained visible of the ship at P. NJ.
was her engines. boilers, and wLeelframes. At
daylight on the following morning, 2Sth inst we
found and buried sixteen bodies, and at A. NJ.
started for Mananillo, and at noon we reached
the terminus of the beach, about five miles from
the wreck, and found the roads impossible from
the density of the chaparel or brushwood At
p NJ. boat hove in sight, with which we commu-
ncated and sent to Manzano for relief On the
morning of the 29th two of our boats reached us
and reported that they had saved sxty-four pas
sengers.
The 81. Louis touching at Manzanillo early the
same morning, and hearing of our disaster, came
to our assistance, rescued those who had remained
with me on the beach, We had, on leaving San
Francisco, two hundred and forty-two passengers
and ninety-six crew. There now remain seventy
two passengers and sixty-two crew-making our
lost and missing (some of whom may yet be found)
two hundred ard four. Capt. Lappidge will re-
main at This port until tomorrow evening, 3Oth
inst, for the purpose of searching still further for
missing passengers.
From the shelving beach and heavy surf where
the ship is lying there remains little or no proba-
bity in my opinion, Of saving the treasure. 1
shall remain however, as agent of the underwri-
ters, with portion of my crew and officers, for
its protection, and with the hope, also, of being
able to save additional life. Orders from you will
reach me through the house of Oetelling & Co.,
of Manzanillo. l cannot say too much of the eff
cheney and GOODNESS of my officers and crew, under
the trying circumstances through which ;hey have
passed.
Very respectfully, &C.,
w. w. HUDSON.
Messrs Forbes & Babcock, Agents P. NJ s. SEQ.