The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-01-29
The Wreck Of the Monongahela.
FULL PARTICULARS.

Mononyahela to a friend in lonkers, written
from Santa Cruz shortly after the earth
quake
this that the Monnngahela lies at III time high
and drv On the island of Santa Cruz. We
have lust passed through the shaking OF ter
rible earthquake, which, while ieariuy asiIa-
tln- this and the adjoining islands, surred up
the sea to its very depths, and lett us, alter
the toughest kind Of handling, where We are
now, and where, | may safely say, no snip
| has ever been before.
/ We had lust finished dinner on the afternoon
| IF the 18Th of November, and |, with several
others, had gone as usual to have our accus-
toned smoke on the forcastle, when We were
suddenly startled by loud rumbliny noise
/ and violent shaking of the ship from stem to
stern. Our first thought was some accident
/ in the engine room or some damage to the
| boilers The men below decks rushed up IN
dreadful CONSERVATION, some running to the
sides of the ship to throw themselves into the
sea, AMI all apparently contonnded with the
noise and agitation 50 strange and unaccount-
able. At that moment one OF our officers, who
was looking toward the land, exclaimed " 1t
lit is AN earthquake There goes the towerot
the English church - But just then all was
Quiet again. We thought our danger past ;
when now. seemingly in second for so rap,
idly did all these things haPpc1 that WE could
not note the time-l saw u large t1atboat,
which was anchored a short distance ahead OF
US, going at a tremendous speed directly on 10
the land. and our own vessel simultaneously
settled upon the bottom of the bay, from which
every inch OF water had disappeared.
The chain to which our anchor was attached
brought up with violent jerk. We mme.
diateIy let out more, which ran with fearful
IHclocily until The whole length Of 1870 fathomS
was run out in less time than it takes to tell It,
As our chain Vas going out we swung nearly
all The way round, and were thus being fast
driven on to the shore. Our position now was
fryhtfu certain death seemed imminent.
We were anchored about quarter OF mile
from the land tin five fathoms of water, but
with the rapidity of thong hit all this water re-
ceded from under us, the ship had careened
over, and WAS fast aground on a bottom which
seemed also fast sinking beneath US. At this
moment one of the men aIoit IN the rigging
sung out: my God look look out 10 SEA -
There, about three miles from land, we saw a
perfectly solid wall of water, coming directly
toward the ship, and threatening to carry
everything before it into Unbelievable destruc-
ton. 1t WAS about thirty feet in height, and
extended the whole length of the island You
will not wonder that for moment a fearful
panic should have paraIyzed some of the men,
but it is no more than simple Justice to say
that at that awful moment The ma j"llty of the
crew were cool and collected, obeying every
order quietly and with alacrlty, though expect
ing in very few moments to be overwhelmed
in the impending destruction Most prosiden-
italy, however, before the sea struck us, the
waller had deepened under us sufficiently to
float the ship again. Had it not been for this
nothing could have saved US. Ii came first
upon our quarter, and turned US broadside to
IT, then lifted us bodily and rushed US IN shore
at a speed past all reckoning. When the sea
reached were still lying on our port side,
but the sudden shock sent us nearly aS much
upon our starboard side indeed, We came
within an Of going on ouI beams end on
our port side. If We had done so, the ship
and all hands would most certainly have been
lost.
Following Immediately behind this wave
were two Others not quite 50 large, yet very
nearly so. Each one of these AS in turn stru;k
the ship made her trembIe in all her joints
Already we were on the island side Of the
street which runs parallel with the water, and
the ACTION of these consecutive waves was first
to draw Us back a little in the recession, and
then to impel US forward again, and land us
upon bed of coral just opposite to the hotel
from which am now writing. We passed over a
long row Of sheds which we helped the to
knock down. and then directly in front of the
second story windows of houses on the streets,
within which we could distinctly hear as we
went along the heartrending screams Of the
unfortunate women and children who had not
time TO make their escape.
1t is most curious that, notwithstanding all
the hard knocks and sudden jerks through
which we passed, not a single spar was lost.
The rife gun upon the forecaste was forced
from its fastenings upon the first urch and lost
overboard carrying one Of the crew with it,
who. however, was fortunately rescued. One
man jumped overheard and at once disappear t
ed and three who were in the boat at the time
were also drowned. Their bodies have been
recovered and decently buried.
Just as soon as we were firmly landed the
crew made a rush for the side of the ship. and {
began to scramble down to the ground upon 5
ends of rope, OF whatever they could lay their
hands upon. This was soon stopped, however, {
was detailed to go ashore and bring back the
| founu that quite number OF |
hem, in lheirrapid descent were badly burned !
and some almost faYed alive. One poor fell !
ow, when he was about halfway down. fell
lad broke both legs, which have since been +
lmputatcd \
We are now busiIy employed in getting a
everything out of the ship to tighten her. She t
5 not materially injured, and if the weatheris |
lear and pleasant, and no more earthquakes +
t is thought she can be got aaoat again. h
The people on the shore are completely de- II
noralised This is about the worst real earth II
quake that they have ever felt. They have d
lad before only slight trembngs. Nearly all S.
he population have deserted their houses, and
re living in tents made out of sails and avn
1gs which have been sent 10 them from our p
hip. In the largest tent are gathered nearly &
Il the elite of the town, and we take turns in nj
counting guard over them every night. They al
re, as you may well amagine. dreadfulIy til
ightened, and fancy fresh shocks a, every b;
ound. And we are constantly having shocks
nothing like that Of Monday last, but still al
.,J than ratbor Iiv..Ix, ,,pn o,,,o,,.