The weekly union record., 1865-08-12
Del Norte Correspondence.

CAMP LINcoN, August l, 1865.
EDITOR UNION RECORD :-Everybody about
this camp complain of being well. Our Flag
has been at halfmast yesterday and today for
the loss Of the steamship Brother Jonathan,
which was wrecked eff the coast near here.
| learned by the Third Mate, Mr.. Patterson,
that the vessel left San Francisco on Friday,
2Sth of July. bound for Portland and Vic
toria, with go passengers and 80 crew. and q
full load of freight-Captai DeWolf in com.
mand. They had fair weather all Friday, but
on Saturday it began to blow from the north
west, increasing TO gale by night, blowing
hard all night. On Sunday morning the YES
sci changed her course in order to get out of
the heavy sea by making close along the coast,
but on sighting land and not getting out of the
heavy sea, the ship working very bad, being
loaded heavy forward, changed her course to
make Crescent City; had fair view of Seal
Rock and the Two Sisters on the weather
bow, about four miles had hardly got on her
u n
shocking the whole keel off of her She
struck just forward Of the foremast. The
swell of the sea raising her bow clear Of the
rock aud then setting dead down. The next
sea lifted her forward and set her down mid
ships, the foremast dropping down until the
ioreyaEd rested on deck, the vessel rolling
heavily from side TO side .At this time two
guns were fred in quick succession, and the
boat that came shore cleared the ship. The
next sea carried her clear over the rock, her
bow going down. The last that was seen of
the vessel was her stern, standing straight up
in the air. 10 twenty minutes after striking
everything had gone to eternity. Of all that
living load of freight only l9 persons were
saved Mr.. Patterson Third Mate four fire
men, four sailors, steerage steward, two men,
four ladies aud three children passengers came
off in the only boat that was saved. The port
quarter boat was lowered away with about
thirty ladies only to hurry them into eternity
q little taSter-the boat upSettlng almost as
quick as touching the water. Another boat
was swamped under the guards, when every
body seemed to become paralyzed and quit
trying 10 save themselves. Captain DeWolf
walked his quarter deck TO the last, as cool as
If just going to a safe harbor, instead of that
port whence none return. General Wright
Staff and family were on board, Mrs. Lee, and
two camels for Lees Circus. Mr.. J. Lord,
of Crescent City. was Oh board. He leaves a
wife at that place. When the ship turned to
come to this port he procued box of peaches
10 present to bis wife; but how soon after be
found watery grave. Mr.. Lord and General
Wright were on the quarter deck with the
Captain when she went down. Boats have
been out from Crescent City, ever since. and
people have patroled the beach for miles up
and down, bat up to o'clock P. NJ, nothing,
not even a stick of the i'll fated ship has been
seen. Fires have been kept burning afier
night and guns fred every hour as signals to
those that were out of sight of land.
Captain Buckley sent an express to Jack
souvile yesterday uoop. so you will have heard
of the disaster before this reaches you. Most
OF the passengers were in their berths, more or