Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1862-08-30
The Golden Gate Calamity.

The Golden Gate Calamity.
The following is Captain Hudson's state
ment of the circumstances attending the burn
ing Of the Golden Gate, made to the Pacific
Mail Steamship Company:
MANzANiLLo, July 80, 1862.
GENTLEMEN 81 have to report to you the
total loss of the Golden Gate. by fire, which
occurred on the afternoon of the 27th inst, Is
miles to the westward of Manzanillo. At S
in the afternoon, when at dinner, the ship was
reported to me on fire: Immediately arose
from the table, requesting the passengers to
remain quiet, and proceeded to the spar deck.
when found dense volume of smoke COM
ing up from the engine room hatchway. All
the fire hose of the ship were Immediately
put in requisition aud worked will all possible
energy.
The ship was now about three or four miles
from the land. I saw at glance the impos-
sibility Of subduing the flames, and immedi.
ately put the helm up to rush the ship ashore.
Men, women and children were now ordered
forward, and propably 100 had reached tho
reached the forecaste. when the flames spread
with such rapidity as to cut off all communi.
cation with the after part Of the ship. or
dered Mr.. Waddcll, the Chief Engineer, to
keep the engines moving as long as possible.
A regular communication with the engine
-.
by the flames; several of the firemen and en-
gineers were still below. The feed valves of
the boilers and furnace-doors were opened
wide, and all precautions used to prevent cx-
explosion.
So rapid was the spread of the flames. how.
ever, that tho engineers and their men barely
escaped with their lives. by forcing passage
through the after freight room bulkhead At
half past five we grounded abont 800 yards
from tho beach, whcre there was heavy surf
breaking. Before reaching the shore after
the boats were lowered away and filled with
passengers. .ndrr charge or my chief officer,
Mr.. Nolan, who remained by the ship, render
ing all possible aid in saving life. III the
mean time, life preservcrs, spars, and every
thing of buoyant nature, were furnished the
passengers, and thrown overheard after she
struck.
The flames spread with such rapidity that
the hurricane deck, from the forcmast aft, fell
with tremendous crash before reaching the
shore, and soon afterwards, the forcmast went
by the board. The heat had now become so
intense as to compel all who remained to leave
the burning wreck. by lowering themselves
in tho water with lines furnished for that p,,r-
pose; and many had thrown themselves into
the water from various parts of tho ship. AZ
ter all had left, Captain Pierson and myself
dropped from the bowsprit, and succeeded
with great difficulty, in reaching the beach,
found about 80 had reached the shore with
life.
All that remained visible Of the ship at 8
P. NJ, was her engines, boilers, and wheel
frames. At daylight OH the following morn
ing. the 2Sth inst, wo found and buried 16
bodies, and at s A. NJ, We started for Manzan-
lilo, and at noon we reached tho terminus Of
the beach, about miles from tue wreck, and
and found the road impossible from the den
sity of the chapparal or brushwood. At 3
p. NJ, boat hove in sight, with which we
communicated, and sent to Manzanillo for re-
lief On the morning Of the goth, two of our
boats reached US and reported that they had
saved sixty.four passengers.
The St. Loxis touching at Manzanillo ear
ly the same morning. and hearing our disas.
ter, came to our assistance. rescued those who
had remained with me on the beach. W.
had. on leaving San Francisco, two hundred
aud forty two passengers and ninety.stx crew.
There now remain seventy.two passengers
and sixty.two crew-making our lost and
missing (some Of whom may yet b. found)
two hundred and four. Capt. Lapidgs will
remain at this port until tomorrow evening. for
the purpose Of searching still for missing pas.
sengers.
From the shelving beach and heavy surf
where the ship il lying. there romans little
or no probability. in my opinion. Of saving
the treasure. l shall remain, however, as
agent of the underwriters. with a portion Of
my crew and officers. for its protection. and
with the hope. also, Of being able to save I'D.
ditional life. Orders from you will reach me-
through the house Of Ostliug + Co.. Of Man
xanillo. cannot sav too much of the eff.