The New York herald., 1864-06-07
THE RECENT DISASTER At SEA.

the Ist instant, with the Steam Trans
port City Of Bath.
Mr. NJ Van Benschoten, Chief Clerk Of the steam
ship Pocahontas, having been applied 70 by several
persons having friends ou said steamship for niorma
tion regard said disaster and earnestly requceted
by them to make public report thereof, embraces the
nst opportunity his enfeebed health and strength will
permit to make such statement he is able from recoI
econ all his books papers and effects having been lost
by eaid disaster.
The Pocahontas left New Orleans on the oath OF Mag
last for New York having board thirty two officers
and and nine cabin and sixty storage passengers
In all hundred and one persons. The steerage pas
sengers composed mostly Of sick and wounded SOL
ders either furough discharged from the servioes
from Department OF the Gulf The ship charge
OF Captain Samuel Baxter acting place Of Captain John
Baxter, who board but unable TO discharge hia
duties captain, by OF sickness, and the acting
captain was put in charge Of the vessel New Oreano
by the Chief Quartermaster there at the request q
Captain John Baxter.
Nothing worthy Of note occurred our passage FROM
New Orleans until the night Of the disaster which, al
about eleven O'Clock, light discovered ahead and
approached II found 1t to be that Of steamer
steering southwark As apprehension expressed
in regard to the same at retired TO my stateroom.
Our signal lights all in their proper places and our
captain the proper signals be timely sounded
and our seered get out OF the
on which the other vessel appeared to be saing bus
she, not seeming to hear our Signals, which
again sounded bore directly down upon until the
collision took place. was aroused by the crash, noise
and confusion deck, to which Immediately repaired,
only partially dressed found that the which
proved be the City Bah had struck the Pocahontas
Just abaft the fore chains, crushing In her side
and making . breach In her which extended about
two feet below the surface OF tho water. When
arrived deck. tho two vessels were crashing
together, and remained that situation for several
minutes. When they separated Il was discovered
that the rushing rapidly through the breach
made into the Pocahontas and that she fast sinking.
In the meantime the passengers had rushed deck n
great repidation and confusion and Il was dis
covered by them that the Pocahontas sinking they
commenced to jump board the City Of Bath; but only
few OF them succeeded In dong she soon ouS
Of their reach having hauled of and stood about hah
mile from us. Our captain ordered all our heboats
(three in number) 10 be lowered, which order wac
promptly obeyed, and two OF the boats immediately
lowered The other boat was on top Of the forward
house. which captain took command Of; and - our
vessel sunk with the second officer and several pas
sengers, oated of from the wreck, and rendered most
praiseworthy and efficient service In rescuiDg from
drowning all those that bis boat could tontkin wis
struggling In the water. The other two boats
filled they reached the water by those who
able TO reach them and could And place. In o.
which Captain John Baxter, who baSeiy
able to leave his berth and reach the boat, from
physical debility caused by his recent severe nmeA
While he in the small boat he called my name, and
down the boat where he was but at once
that 1t overloaded and would sink immediately
ghened then told the Captain that would leave the
boat and take my chances for being saved in oths1
way, advising him to remain whore he was and save
our sinking ship inducing several others to follow me,
that the boat might be saved succeeded by the aid
or chain 10 again reaching the deck but Of those
who followed became excited. and 10 climbing over The
gangway they oosened their grasp and through
between aeoks into certain death Aithoueh did nos
was afterwards Informed that he also returned 70 the
sinking ship and was last seen going towards his oc
He probably went down with the vessel he loss
Upon reaching the deck Of the sinking vessel immed
atey went aft to tho engine house, and found ch9
engineer stu al his post attending 10 the engine although
the escaping steam aud smoke almost nsupportabe
He remained there noby dischargng his duty until the
rushing waters arove him from his room. when he
leaped overheard, and picked by Of tho small
boats and saved After going 70 the engine room saw
that the vessel could remain above water but few
ments. she going down very fast the bow being
already submerged ran down TO the cabin and there
found cork life preserver, which strapped about
and Instantly returned TO tho at part or the vessel
finding several persons yet standing there shreknt
gneer stood by my side uns the water reached Us
and whose last words were let both die together"
and became separated In the water was drawn in.
stanty back by the surging OF the water the sink
rigging, and was carried down some distance ere cosle
extrcate myself but finally came 10 the surface and After
oa ON Sosrs s S
OF Bath where found her officers and hard At worr
using every exertion TO save their leaking vessel BY
throwing their cargo overDoard and working ai their
pumps Here allow me TO express my sincere and
heartfelt gratitude TO the ocers aud OF the City OF
Bath In the name OF saved, for the kind In
which all received and cared for board Of
their vessel We were supplied with everything they
and feel assured that all OF remaining passengers
and crew win join with me in rendering them many
staos mail from Key West, and other public papers
TO my knowledge. All the property effects on board
were ost-the vessel sinking about thirty minutes
after being struck by the City OF Bath.
Inc following s complete list Of those saved and
los. being known to me- those who were saved beng
taken on board tho City OF Bath and their there
leaking badly, reached New York on the I'd Inst
NAMES or sAvEp-orIcgRs AND cRKw
pepscbocn shef carT rc.ns . c
Frank Duncan second ofrcer; John varran, chief
snecr Thomas Shepard second steward; George Mlsri
first cook Bernard Watley, second Byron Baxter.
VIM. Norris wheelsmen; Michaelsuivaa, fireman; Delot
streith, John Finn, oilsmen James Elliott, Henry Car
Smith. VIM, Harvey, CARROT O'Nei George W. Maxim,
Charles w. Brown, Joseph Downe, John Philips seamen,
Battle Moore, waiter.
PASSENGERS SAVED
DR.. q. g. Percival, cabin passenger; j. Gonzales,
chaplain, cabin passenger Edward Norhrup, soldier,
cabin passenger Harvey Haieck, wm Annelsy, Louis
cabin csspn
Knox Henry Glover, Quincy Spring. lorenzo varrett,
Charles Bacon, John Finney John Field John TosonO
Anthony Pero, Alfred Woodruff, Edwin 4 Cox,
walter Mead, G. Cook George Holbrook, L.
+. King, 9. H. Howe, Richard Underwood, Patk Honan,
Ayres, James Duff Thomas Morris, soldiers, sieeraeei
John Cronin zone Hundred and ixtysccond New YORK.
Volunteers died board the CITY Of Bath before reach
New York;, Randall Harrington. Total saved, sixty.
Captain John Baxter, Robert Filchie, hrst assistant
nUo oQafo angina #
Frank Liening, first steward; John Berry, whceiman
aud two nremen, names unknown Total, seven.
PASSENGERS lost
ono second lieutenant OF scotts Nine Hu ndred name
unknown, residence New York city; Edward Marttes,
cabin passenger, and thrtytwo steerags passengers
mostly soldiers, whose names am unable 70 give.
Total number Of lost, forty one.