New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-06-07
Report OF the Chief Clerk Of the United
States Steamship POcnhonfns, as TO the
Disaster Off Cape May, caused BY COL
Iission with the stcnm Transport City
nf Rafh.

Disaster Off Cape May, caused by Col
Iission with the Steam Transport City
Of Bath.
The above-namcd, having been applied to by
several persons having friends said steamship for
information in regard to said disaster and earnestly
requested BY them TO make public report thereof en-
braces the first opportunity his eneebled health anu
strength will permit to makn such statement as he is
able fro. recollection al his books papers ana ehecs
having been lost by said disaster.
The Pocahontas left New.Orleans on the oath OF May
last for New.York, having on board 81 officers and
crew. and cabin and co Storage passengers in all loi
persona. The steerage passengers were composed
mostly Of sick and wounded soldiers, either on froush
or dcharccd from the service from the Department 81
The CinM. Tho ship was In charge Of Capt. Samuel
Baxter acting in place Of Capt. John Baxter who was
on board but unable 10 discharge his duties as captain
by reason Of sickness and the acting captain was put
in charge Of the vessel ut NewOrlcans by the Chief
Quartermaster there, ut the request OF I"p1 oohh
Baxter.
Nothing worthy Of note occurred on passage from
New. Orleans until the night Of the disaster, ON Which,
at about IL o'clock, light was discovered ahead had
as We approached II We found II TO be that oil astee,
steering southwrrd. As no apprehension was
in regard 10 the same at retired 70 my sthteoom
Our signal lights all In their proper places ana our
captain caused the proper signals To be timely soundea
when he the other vessel was bearing tosaIu Us
and our vessel TO be stccrcd TO get out OF the
course on which the other vessel appeared 10 be sahg
but she not seeming 70 see us or hear our slghais,
which were again sounded bore directly down upon us
until the collision took place. was aroused py thc
crash noise and confusion on deck. 70 Which iihhe
datey repaired only partially dressed and found that
the steamer (Which proved 70 DC tae c al srn,ns
in her side and making breath in her which e1tended
about two feet below the surfacc Of the water.
When / arrived on deck. the two vessels were crush
ing together and remained in that situation for several
minutes When they were separated II was disco'efea
that the water rushing rapidly through the breach
made into the Pocahontas and that she was fast sink
ing In the mean time the passengers had rushed Oh
deck In great irpdaton and conuson and M soon as
it was discovered by them that the Poc.honfas was
sinking they commenced TO jump on board the Ciy oil
Rab 6uf only few OF them succeeded In doing, as
abe was soon out Of their reach having hauled of and
stood about a half mile from us. Our captain ordered
all our lfeboats Uhree in number 10 be lowered which
order promptly obeyed and two OF the boats were
Immediately lowered
The other boat was on top Of the forward house,
which our captain took command of; and vessel
SUM- he with the second officer and several passen.
gers, Hoaied off from the wreck and rendered most
praiseworthy and efficient service In rcscuing from
drowning all those that his boat could contain who
were struggling in the water. The other two boats
were filed as they reached the water by those
who were able 10 reach them and cond Ind place. IN
one Of which was Capt John Baxter who was barely
able to leave his berth and reach the boat from physical
debility caused by his recent severe Illness hue he
was in the smaboat he called my name, and went
down into the boat where lie was but Mt once that
was overloaded and would sink II not Immediately
nehtencd. then told the captain that wonld lsa'e
The boat and take my chances Tor being saved IN some
other way advising him to remain where be Wa and
commenced clambering beck on the deck Of our
sinking ship inducing several Others to follow me- that
the boat might be saved. succeeded by the aid Of
chain in again reaching The deck but several Of those
who followed became excited and IN climbing over the
ganrgay they loosened their grasp and were cast
through between decks into certain death. Although
did not see Capt John Baxter after left the small boat
was aerwaTd informed that he also returned 70 the
sinking ship and was last seen going toward his office
He probably went down with the vessel he was lost
pom reaching the deck Of the sinking vessel imnedi
atey went al TO the engine house and found our chief
engineer still at his post attending 10 the engine, al
though the escaping steam 8nd smoke were almost In
supportabe lie remained there nobly dscharging his
day until the rushing waters drove Lin from his room
when he eaped overheard and was picked up by one OF
the small boats and saved.
Aer going 10 the engine room saw that the vessel
could remain above water but few moments. q she
was going down very fast the bow being already sub
merged. ran down 20 the cabin, and there found
cork lifeprcseryer which strapped about me and in
stantly returned to the aft part Of the vessel finding
several persons yet standing there, shriekng frantic
ally for aid among others the first assistant engineer
who stood by my side until the water reached and
whose last words were. Let us both die together
when the vessel went down We both eaped from her.
and became separated H. the water
ives drawn instantly back by the surging Of the
water over the sinking wreck. and became entaged in
some Of her upper rigging and was carried down some
distance ere could extricatc myself. but finally came
10 the surface and after struggling in the wnter until
nearly exhausted picked up by Of our boats
and taken board the City Of Bath where foEnd her
officers and hard at work using every excrtion TO
save their leaking vessel by throwing their cargo
board and working all their pumps Here allow me 10
express my sincere and heartfelt gratitude 10 the
officers and Of the City Of Bath in the Of
saved for the kind manner in which We were all re- |
ceiyed and cared for board Of their vessel We
supplied with everything they could command for our
comfort during our stay on board and feel assured
that all Of remaining passengers and crew will
Join with me in rendering them many thanks.
We had on board the Poeahontas the United States
mail from Key West ard other public papers 10 my
knowledge All the property and effects on board were
lstthe vessel sinking in about 30 minutes after being
struck by the City Of Bath.
The following Is q complete list Of those saved and
partial list Of those lost only few Of those who
lost being knownto me. those who were saved being
taken board the City Of Bath and their there
obtained by me. The City Of Bath although injured
and licking badly, reached New-York on the I'd inst:
NAMES OF sAvKp-oyUCgRs AND CREw.
Capt Samuel Baxter Acting Captain NJ NJ. Van Benschot
ten Chief Clerk Samuel r. Baker First Ocer Frank Dun
can Second Officer John G. Vauan Chief Engineer ThOma.
Valley, Second Cook Byron Baxter VIM. Norris Wherls
men; Michael Sullivan fireman Delot Seith, John Finn
osmen lame. nott Henry CsImen Jane. West, coal
oNe George w. Maxim Charles w. Brown, Joseph Downe
John Philips, ssamen; Battle Moore waiter
Dr. 90 Percyal, }. Gonzales Chaplain. Edward Northrup
soldier Harvey Haeck WIN. Anneiy Louis Townsend eli
.s ' Reuben JGeBs H. Smith .0s Tho%s
Quincy Spring Lorenzo yae Charles Bacon John Finney
John Field John To:on Anthony Pero Allied Woodruff
King Howe Richard I SSor SsTs FL, HsSsn
Thomas Margin John Flood. Calvin Maynard James y.
AyIes lanes Jane pnS Thoms; Morris, soldiers .eege John
fore reaching NewYoh), Randall Harrington. Total saved
siIy.
Capt John Baxter Rcber, Filchie Fir, Assistant Engineer
CbaIes MayeTs Second Assistant Engineer FTsni Lspins