Weekly Trinity journal., 1865-07-08
NUMBER 26.
The "Golden Rule " Disaster--Perilous Es-
cape of 600 People--A Nice man for
Captain.


The Panama Chronicle of June llth gives these
particulars
1--WE are at last enabled to give some facts
connected with the loss of the steamship Golden
Rule, gathered from the account given by the
purser and Storage passenger who volunteered
as of the crew of the boat in " hich the pur-
ser came to Aspinwal.
The vessel made her first start from New York
on the Goth of May for the voyage to Greytown,
Nicaragua. On her passage down the bay an
explosion of one of the hues seriously injured
an engineer, that the ship stopped and the
man sent on shore for proper treatment. She
next came into collision with ferry boat, there
by damaging paddle wheel, causing another
detention for repairs On the 22d she finally got
to sea. At $40 A. Nj, 3oth ultmo, thick
morning. and during heavy rain, she struck
on Il reef that runs out from the island Of Ran
cador The vessels speed at the time she struck
was tweuty-one knots an hour and she went
hard and last on the reef. The on board
was at once pitiable, for the POOR passengers
knew not at what moment they would be s,rug
Cling in the water. The captain and officers by
good mana cement and example, succeeded in al
I LAYING their fears and preventing panic. At
dawn the chief officer dispatched iii boat
for the inhabited island of Old Providence to
seek relief. As the day cleared up the land was
seen by one of the passengers, and the announce
ment hailed with immense joy. The ships
boats were all manned by the and some
volunteers, and all the passengers, $50, were
safely put on shore.
At half-past clock P. NJ, on the "a instant,
a boat under the command of an officer was dis
patched to Greytown and at the same time Pur
ser John ". Rodgers started for Aspinwal in one
of the quarter boats manned by three of the
crew and two stecrage passengers, under com
mand of second officer, David Reid.
According to the Purser's memorandum, there
were on board AT the time of the disaster: First
cabin passengers, l16 second do, 105 steer
age. 249: officers and crew 90-tota, go. OF
whom there were-men, 39l women, l3G; chill
dren, 93-total, go.
The Golden Rule was new ship not quite two
years old and 3, 900 tons burden.
The same paper of June 18th SAYS:
- The United States steamers HnBtsriie and
State Of Georgia arrived at Aspinwall on the 18th
inst. with the passengers of the Goiden Rule
These people speak highly in praise of the kind
treatment they received on the ships of war, but
curse fcarfully the captain Of the Gofdca Rule.
They state that on the 10th of Nay there was
quite jubilee on board, celebrating the cap
tain S birthday. There fine lot Of Cyprian
beauties on their way to stock some house Of i'll
fame in California, and after the champagne, etc.
had Inflated the participants, the captain and
other officers fraternizcd with the Cyprians in
unbridled and promiscuous disorder. The orgie
was unlimited, and save the second officer, and
q
pcared to have lost their prudence and their
wits There not the usual loo; out for dam
ger, and the ship left to the mercy o.. Provi-
dcncc and the guidance Of chance About 20
or 80 minutes before the ship struck the second
officer who was watch, went and knocked Mt
the captain cabin and told him that the ship
was out of her course The captain who had
an Illicit companion with him. waxed wrotl at
being disturbed and replied, : You be ID, tie
ship is all right let he~ 20 along The second
officer, however, fearing trouble, went down TO
the engineer and directed him to slacken speed
The noise of the Roncador, which is the Spanish
for roarer,' was then heard, bat too late for
prevention.
When the landing of the people commenced,
permission was asked of the captain 20 open the
baggage room so that the passengers might save
what they could. lie gave another surly and
most proiane answer to this request. i faw
persons saved a few things which they had near
at hand. The provisions landed no:Liag
else than hard biscuits. On this and on pint
of water each per day, scanty sustenancc was
made The water was collected from the crew.
ces Of the rocks, and some was procured by
means of the ships condenser, which was l.ui-
ed. The suffering from exposure intense.
as the appearance of the people plainly indic-5tes.
! When the HRHtseotc and STATE Of GcoTgtf hoYc
in sight, the JOY Of these poor castaways WIS
frantic. Cheers followed cheers in wild aud IN
biaut fury. The hus that were being built were
knocked over in half mad glee, and tears OF
ultation coursed down cheeks thai were already
scared by tears of grief
The passengers state that their reception
the ships ofwar the kindcst they could wish
for. Hot coffee was first served out, which was
most acceptable to the furnishing aud feeble siom-
achs Next, an excellent meal was set before
them, which heartily rclished. Afterwards
an abundance of good water. cooled with tho ice
/ that Mr.. jackson had 50 graciously provided was
/ ua do 81 10 n all hn afhi no
officers and men of both ships were constant in
their attentions to relieve the wants Of the pas
sen9ers, and to make the passage from Roncador
70 Aspinwal comfortable circumstances
would allow.
Too much praise cannot be given the gallant
men under Commanders Prcbe and Deyins for
their kindness. The rescued people are unceas-
ing in their thanks and their gratitude seems to
know no bounds. But of Captain Dennis. Of the
Golden Ruie, everything evil is said. The socab-
ulary of vile names has been exhausted in his
condemnation and no doubt the papers OF San
Francisco will be filed with pictures Of his char
acter As it is unfair 10 condemn man unheard,
we will refrain from indorsing all that has bren
told 10 us but If he be rs bad rs he is reprcsen-
ted God alone help him in his defense.
/ When the passengers reached this city the
! / lth their fororn condition excited the compass
| sion of the bystarders. There were handsome
adylike looking women in soiled and bedrag-
gled dresses, and their faces showed the fiery
scorching effects of torrid sun. d. II. Corwine,
Mr. Sternburg and others, hastily collected all
the small clothing they could find in town, aud
distributed them among the half naked little
sufferers. Had time permitted much more would
have been done for these objects of charity but
they were sent on board By the representative Of
the company almost the moment they came across
from Aspinwall. There is no doubt, however,
that Captain Merry, Of the steamer america,
will do everything possible 10 soften the misery
of the passengers who under his charge
The America sailed hence during the night Of
the ! lth for San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragna and
San Francisco
The DuTcH GAP CAsAL.-lt seems that this
undertaking has not been altogether failure
! for the Richmond Hbf0 say. tho, Can NuIford