The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-09-27
Terrible scenes ut Sea...Narra.
tive Of ~ survivor from the
Golden Gate

Terrible Scenes at Sea.--Narra-
tive Of II survivor from the
Golden Gate
Mr.. A. Bates, a steerage passenger on
board the California steamer Golden GA te,
furnishes San Francisco paper the follow
ing interesting narrative of the scenes on
board that vessel when she was burned at
sea
The day was very warm, and was sit
ting on deck forward. This was about half
past four clock in the afternoon. All was
qniet. l suddenly saw smoke issuing from
deck, about midships, and near the smoke
stack. l watched it a moment, when, be-
coming convinced there was a fire, cried
out. Just at this moment Others saw the
smoke too, and we all rushed towards the
pumps or brakes forward, which were chiefly
used for cleaning the deck eu
We used the pumps as best we could. We
took turns working. worked few minu.
tes, when, seeing it could do no good. went
forward. All then began to crowd forward,
and had no life-preservers, for they were in
the boats behind, and no one could 60
through the fire after them. In about five
minutes from the time saw the smoke the
flames burst through the decks. 1t seems
as if the means for extinguishing fire had
been neglected, for the pumps would not
work. ast yT .n'-,
The flames kept coming forward every
moment, and all pressed shl, closer to the
bows. Ropes were now attached to the ves-
sci and thrown over the side, to hold on to.
Some were so frightened that the moment
The fire came near them they plunged Wild
ly overheard and were drowned Others
climbed over and held on to the ropes as
long as they could. They got exhausted
and dropped off, sngly aud in pairs, and
were lost
There were ten boats aboard-enou sh to
save every soul on board-but only three
of them could be got at Two of these,
loaded chiefly with the crew, got safely to
the shore. The other sailed away for Man
camilla, and has not been heard from. The
men that got into the boats leaped overheard
an were picked up. The officers seemed to
do very well, and the men were not insub-
ordinate, but appeared to obey orders and
work well.
secured rope, and determi ned to stay
aboard to the last moment, and then swim
for the shore. I am a very good swimmer.
I had stripped myself Of everything but my
shirt. had about my waist belt with
some money but large sum which had
in my trunks was lost. +. ID
While thus standing at the bows, gras-
ping my rope, continued Mr., Bates, ga lit
tie girl, a lovely child, about eight years Of
age, came up to me and asked me to save her
Her name was Addie Manchester, and her
father lives In San Francisco. She said
go, mister, can you swim?"
told herI could. She begged me so
hard to save her that determined to try
to do so anyhow told her would try to
save her if she would do just as told her.
She said:
81 will do just as you tell me. Save me,
do. piease-I don't want to be drowned"
l showed her how to act-to get on my
back and grasp me tightly, but that she
must not choke me. She promised to do
just as told her. She was quite COOL
just as the fire got up to US, the vessel
struck the bar. l got over. taking Addie
with me. She held on to me tight, as told
her to do. I struck for the beach, not far
of. The breakers ran very high. got
past the first one in safety with my burden.
got past the second one also. After
passed the third one, found that Addie
was gone. I turned round and saw her GO
ing down behind me. A man on plank,
who was passing. grasped her by the hair
and pulled her on his plank. saw she
was safer than with me, so continued on,
and was dragged on the beach. l lay OIL
the beach insensihle for about half an hour
When came to saw Addie. She was
lively.
I dug hole in the sand to keep warm in.
We buried the dead each in a separate
grave, which we scraped out with our hands
and pieces of board
Next morning we travelled inland. About
five miles off we reached spring; here we
rested. Some of our party then started
across the mountains to reach Manzanilla !;
others, including myself were to remain un-
til assistance reached us. We had nothing
to eat. That afternoon, and after our
friends had let US, the st. Louis came along
and took us aboard.