The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-06-03
CATASTROPHE AT SEA.
Collision ef the Steam Transports
J. .sa :. City Of Bath and Poca- ,'.- - 7.
hentas or Cape May. iass' .,a ''
SINKING OF TEE P0CAuONTAs.
Forty Of Her Passengers and Crew Carried
Down with tho Ship,
s4s=p ... -.. =
ea &c., &c., 10.


Tho United states steam anspor. City Of Bath. Capt
Lincon heuce Juno I, at eleven o'clock A. M, bound
to Washington D. c. returned to port las night having
been collision with tho steamship Pocahentas, from
Nov Orleans, Cape May, havin. her bows stove IN
and carried away Tho Pocahontas sunk In twenty
I've minute Carrying down with her about forty Of her
passengers and crew. ~. ss.rg h - . s
CAPTAIN LINCoLN's REPORT.
The City Of Bath len New York juno al elcvcn o'clock
A. NJ bound 10 Washington, d. G. At half past eleven
O'Clock p NJ mado steamers light ahead, put helm
aport to clear at tho time the Pocaontas helm
put starboard and the two boats together,
City Of Bath striking the Pocahontas about the fora
rigging, backed Off from her. and found that we WORD
leaking badly; commenced throwing overheard cargo To-
tighten her forward and succeeded In stopping the leak.
Sent boats 10 the assistance Of the other vesse ana
lay by the place until daylight hopes to End more OF
her people "a rge number having already been received
on board) but picked up only one Az tho time OF the
collision caps May light ship bore southwest seventeen
miles.
The passengers lost were soldiers discharged on fur
lough The Pocahoutas W screw steamer, OF aoous
eight hundred tons commanded by John Baxter, OF Hy.
anuis and sailed from New Orleans on tho 24h of May,
with one hundred souls board. She had rem
dered good service to the during Texas
expedition under General Banks. The voyage up TO the
time Of the disaster unusually pleasant The captain
tBax,sr was in feeble health. with the consent OF she
Chief Quarermaser OF the Department Of the Gulf he
had placed charge Captain Samuel Baxter, who was
an efficient olcer of experience All tho officers on
board did very best TO render tho passnge peasans
one On board the the lady Of the noble
Captain Frank Haleck, Company X, scott's Nine Hum
dred in charge OF hIs brother. Captain Harvey aeckJ
On Wednesday night, Juno 4, being dark and hazys
a s,eanaer's light within few hundred
yards OF the Pocahontas Captain Baxter and
officers werc on tho lookout. Soon our whistle
was blown very loud several times. The Pocahontas
was making eleven knots through the water oy
steam and a heavy press OF canvass. Everything ap-
pareuty done TO prevent disaster. but by some
| n,tal mistake Of tho helnsmen both steamers tho
chips came In collision. Tho City OF Bath, bound 10
Washington with storos ran into the Poca-
hontas bow on. striking her on the sarboard sde juss
abaft tho fore rigging. .f y l4r9 Ns IS sa se@f
II being nearly eleven O'Clock, most OF tho passengers
had retired to their berhs, OF whom soon started
for the upper deck. The two captains discovered
that tho vessel sinking Tho boats ordered "a
be lowered immediately Tho engine was stopped Tho
two vessels remained humping each other for few
minutes aud then separated One OF three boats during
the excitement was swamped and the other two did whae
they could % save poor souls already aoN tho
Pocahontas went down about twenty minutes Planks
ladders thrown overheard, and Captain Linz
coln OF the City Bath threw overheard of cork
life preserves but the high and tho wind rcsh
which caused masy OF the poor fellows to sink into .
watery grave.
chaplain in the United States Army, an Invalid on
absence TO his family stayed by the ship to TIE
last encouraging the mon, and threw many panks into
the water aud kept saying, "IIoh on, boys" until he
was quite hoarse; and when tho sup going down.
bow nrst the chaplain deliberately took of his ovsrccas
and plunged in,o tho soa Hc swan or fast he
could not having been able to plank or nepre
server for himself He provdentislly reached the stern
OF OF the boats exhausted and was kindly helped In
by two men already in the boat. There beng SUN.
keep tho water out of the boat tho chap
lain gave his cap 10 ono OF tho sailors bail with This
boat which under the charge of Captain Samuel Bax
tor did good service By picking up many soldier near
the jaws OF death.
ono OF tho soldiers saved had but one arm having loss
the other in tho battle OF Pleasant Hhl Ia. His nsme 10
rcnnison and he belongs to tho veteran Second New York
regiment.
The survivors very kindly received on board oe
the City Of Bath Captain Lincoln compelled 10 throw
overheard much OF his cargo to keep his ship from
sinking Hc remained the spot until morning, and
had tho satisfaction Of saving poor fellow, who had
huggcd up to good plank all night.
The scene is beyond description. Many have been
saved without hat shoe losing everything but their
lives Mr. Duncan, second officer OF The Pocahoutas do
serves much 2rui.e for his great cxertons In saving
many who were ready to perish.
There an excelont chance for the gentlemen OF the
Christian and Sanitary Commissions to do good. Many
OF tho soldiers have not any 10 reach their homes
in comfort Many OF the destitute may DO found on board
Of the City or Bath for a day or two
~ 4 IA Tnna