The weekly union record., 1865-10-21
The Yosemite Calamity.


most horrible, though, it seems up to this
time, unaccountable affair. Ii occurred 90
Thursday of last week, at Rio Vista. The
Unions special reporter says:
As the Chrysopolis, at six O'Clock last night
on her downward trip, passed alongside the
wreck of the Yosemite, at Rio Vista, the lat.
ter appeared merely as il she had lost only that
portion Of her upper works forward Of her
smoke stack. A closer inspection confirmed
the first view, for on her lower forward deck as
many SIS three horses could be seen standing
quietly in their places, while above them the
shattered timbers seemed so closely interviewer
that the equues appeared to owe their safety
to their cob house-like covering. Abaft the
wheelhOuSes no damage whatever was done
the exploding boilers lifting forward and up
wardy but filing the forecastle-which is
called the Chinese saloon-wiih steam suffic
/ lent TO Kill the thirty Chinese therein instant
aneously. as is evident from the fact that their
bodies appeared as if they had been deluged
with steam. The explosion demolished the
guards, and threw out the pilot house, the Cap
tain's Office, the bar and the clerks Office. The
Yosemite left Rio Vista last evening, in tow
of the Chrysopols, for San Francisco.
The following are the pames of the white
men killed, whose bodies have been recovered:
W. S. Sutherland, Agent for the Bank of
British North Columbia, and Minor Moore,
bis travelling companion; james S. Fallon,
John f. Myers, 7. Major and VIM. Stephen
son, of Maguire's theatrical troupe Louis
Lille, supposed to be German; Henry n.
Dakin Charlie Jacks C. c. Jacks; II.
Regensburgher Marcus Champion Isaac
Harris, of Austin, Nevada, on his way home
to the States; his pockets were cut out by
robbers; Manual Mendoza, Portuguese
John B. Darlington, Justice of the Peace,
arrested two scoundrels who had been engaged
in cutting out pockets and robbDg the bodies
of the dead. Pat. Farron, deck hand on the
Yosemite and one Of the arrested, had on his
person five watches and about 5000, the most
of the money being in cloth packages and
marked in Chinese characters. The other
robber, who gave his surname as Mcguire, was
also deck hand on the Yosemite. He had on
/ his persons two watches and several hundred
dollars in treasure, the principal portion of
which was also inclosed in cloth packages and
inscribed in Chinese characters. These two
robbers were examined before Justice and
sent to Suisun to Jail. Justice Darlington
also succeeded in finding slowed away in the
| forecastle of the Yosemite about 81 900 in
coin and dust, bid away in old boots and shoes.
Most of this coin and dust was also in cloth
packages and marked in Chinese.
The following incidents of the explosion are
given by the Unions reporter:
Captain Poole was in bis usual place in
making the landing. which is on the hurricane
deck forward, directly over the smoking saloon.
He was thrown into the air. and the next thing
he remembers was that he found himself for
ward on the promenade deck, giving orders.
He had n his right hip pocket, when he went
up, about $3.50, and 10 his right vest pocket a
gold magic. cased watch. When he came
down, he hadn't either money or watch, and
the only portion of the watch he has been able
to fad is the small circular rim which held the
crystal, aud that was found among the ruins
which were deposited on the site of the barber
shop.
Stephen 7. G4ge, of Virginia City IA Lin
coin Presidential Elector last year,, was stand
ing on the upward forward deck, aud went up.
/ He says he recognized, while in the air, the
pilot OF the boat, aud the pilot also recognized
him and mentioned the circumstance afterward.
Gage alighted on his left knee, confusing ii
/ Slightly, but rose TO his feet Immediately. when
falling timbers struck him on The head, com
pelling him to kneel again. He then made
tracks for terra frma. with his right hand
badly cut and lacerated.
4 little boy was blown clear ashore, aud
picked up dead.
Captain Ager, of San Francisco, went up
with some money in his pockets, but be came
down without any.
/ 1t appears by the testimony of the Chief
Engineer, and the finding of the coroner's jury,
hat the disaster is supposed to have been due
to the defective quality of the English iron
used in the construction Of the boilers. The
Chief Engineer also expressed the opinion that
the Inspectors method of testing boilers has q
tendency to injure the iron.
The San Francisco Alta makes the following
comment on the explosion
We think that most rigid aud thorough
examination into the causes of this disaster
should be instituted, aud if it should be ascer-
tanned that it was the result of carelessness, the
utmost punishment which the lazy permits
should be Inflicted upon the guilty parties. If
a deficiency of water was the cause, the boiler,
if it still remains in the hull, will reveal the fact.
1t is a duty which the community owes to it
self 10 see that this last terrible catastrophe is
sifted to the bottom. Steamboats, blow up
nowhere with the frequency that prevails in
the United States. For this there must be a
cause. That cause should be discovered, ard
removed, if possible.
The Yosemite sufferers remaining at the
Court House. says the Sacramento Union Of
wednesday, seem 10 be doing remarkably well.
No deaths have occurred there since Saturday.
They receive constant attention from the
Howard Benevolent Society, aided by dozen
or more ladies, some Of whom are in attendance
at all hours in the day and evening. No more