The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-09
sEawRGeA On TIE PAs.g.c COAST.


saved.
We published on he 2lst November a despatch
from san Francisco giving q very brief account OF
the loss, two days before, OF the American ship
on the Pacific coast, at Pigeon Point
about thirty miles south OF San Francisco. The fol-
lowing are the fun particulars Of the shipwreck
we ind them in California papers OF the 2lst ult.:-
After leaving The Australian coast the voyage was
pleasant, with few storms, and about 1--WE days or
of calm weather. For three days before the disas-
Ter the weather had been cloudy, with heavy MIST
which finally turned into rain Wednesday
morning, and continued up to the time the ship
struck. A fair breeze had been blowing from the
soulh to southeast but was shifting about with
ngnt ram falling aud hazy weather. Owing to the
s.ne VI tlie weather the captain had been unable 10
take any reliable observation, but supposlng himself
long distance at sea he orders during Wedncs-
DAY night TO head the ship northeast, telling the
second mate that he hoped to sight land by daybreak
the next morning.
STATEMENT or FREDERICK WILSON. SEAMAN.
wilson was steering the ship al the time Of the
disaster, and states that she was sailing under fore
and lower topsals, loresan, iib and staysail. The
weather was dark, wind strong and heavy sea run
ming. He relieved the wheel at fonr A. MI. and the
course given him was northeast, the wind blowing
from the southwark Of southeast. Wilson con-
IL was the chief mates watch on deck. The can
tain came att and asked the mate II tlat was net
the loom OF The land which they saw. The mate
said, Eyes, believe it Is, sir.n then spoke to the.
captain and told him that was sure could see the
breakers ahead. The captain looked and said TO me
quickly ''Put your helm hard down. She had her
sarboaId tacKs about and the ship came around
from northeast TO southeast by east; but az she
would not come around and missed stays the yards
were squared to wear ship and the helm was put
hard starboard. The snip would not pay OF, how
ever, and ran directly IN among the breakers.
she struck once heavily, bows on, and then swung
br0adslde on. Then l left the wheel and ran for
ward to the corner OF the house. and me CAPTAIN
sung ont for the carpenter to cut away the masts.
This was done. and we ran INTO the cabin to stand
clear OF the falling masts When the masts were gone
heavy surf was 70 ling into the ship, and All hands
20 into the house. Then the ship split I'm two. just
before the heaviest sea struck her crawle1 down On
the mzZcn rigging to eewarl, aud saw the mats
trying to turn the boat up that was capsized to lee
ward The life buoy was wing there, and tod HIM
TO save himself As he attempted TO take hold OF the
buoy the wreck turned over on him, aud did not
see him again. then crawed back upon the wreck
and sea washed the house cabin overheard to lee
ward. We all got upon the house and the wreck
partly kept the sea from breaking over us. But u
heavy sea struck the ship and capized the house,
knocking us all OIL, and were all swimming under
water. Then The captain came up alongside OF me.
He had stripped of all his clothes lie caught hold
OF the house. but soon after let CO. and did no. see
him again. When was obliged to let so loated
along and do not know how got ashore. The sea
often buried me. sometimes coald hear the cries
OF my shipmatcs In the water about me, and heard
one cry out ..oh, am slnking;' but do not know
who IL was One after another the cries stopped. ]
think, was In The water about hall an hour
threw me on Shore and when my feet touched
the bottom | tried to run up the beach.
crawied up until got among some bushes, where
came to q road. and the second mate came ashore
near me. We could Just see the day beginning 20
landed short distance below US. was SO tired
that my legs would hardly support me. After
while saw a small house and went TO IL and re-
ported TO the people there about The wreck. This
mousse Il at Pigeon Point, | believe. There were
some Portuguese ishermcn whalers and their
whaleboats We went down TO the beach, but could
not ind any bodies The fishermen treated US very
Kindly and took care Of my wounds where had
becn c,,t. Afterwards the mates body was washed
on shore. Then we all went to Pescadero, carrying
the body with and leaving 1t there Then we went
10 spanishtown, and from there to the railroad end
us saved from the wreck and eleven drowned. The
first mates name was Wilson. He leaves wife and
The cgptau's name was Cornelius soue. nc
well known in Brooklyn, y. u, where he leaves .
wife and family, think. The second mates namo
was Fleming.
STATEMENT or GEORGE THOMAS.
was below when the watch was called. was
awake: the first mate came forward and cried out :"
thc men, 'For Gods sake, come out, or we shall be-
ashore" We all hurried on deck. saw land on
the port beam and breakers ahead probably hall a
SHE would not stay lie then gave the order %
square away the fore yard, but before she was
struck again just as | reached the cabin door, The
captain came out OF the cabin with an axe In his
hands and ordered us to cut away the masts he
on. and as they went over the ship swung br0adsue
on the rocks There was tremendous running.
A heavy roller struck the ship and parted her, fore
and af, like reed. The main deck was torn COM
pleteiy up and carried away by the sea. I was
at the nlizzen channels and crawled up 70 tho
cabin, and all hands were gathered there by
that time, standing on the weather side. Another
the shin ana drove it, with ms on ton Gey or sixtv
yards In towards shore. Captain Soule stood along
side OF me and was stripping on his clothes. John
smith, one Of my mates, stood next to me. SAID
to the Captain, ave rather nearer land than We
thoughtn lie replied '.Yes, but II Is not my fault;
now and said he was chilled John Smith took Cd
his nannei jumper and wrapped It around Captaire
Soue's shoulders. The Captain called out to the.
first mate, but he could not have heard him.
looked around and saw the first mate trying to put
on a life buoy. A sea struck the house and y
top OF tho house. Captain Soulc said to me, II
am bleeding to death" | asked, "What is the
matter, Captain ~ lie said, "IIerc, - and showed
me a wound In his neck which was bleeding
pr0hfsely, covering his body with blood. Another
sea swept aboard the house and threw portion
OF the wreck on IT, When It cleared away saw
John Smith lying at my feet, but at first did not
recognize him. for he was terribly cut about the head
John smith," Just then an immense roller
struck The house and turned It completely over bI-
might fve or six yards under water and then came
up clear Of the house, but among the floating drifr
Of the wreck; caught at one OF the pieces ana
chung 10 IL. the captain come up close to me.
He, too, was holding to piece OF the wreck, but did
not speak. A sea parted us and saw MIN no more.
1uE LOST.
The victims OF this terrible disaster are Captain
Cornelius SOue, First Ofilcer Wilson formerly or
the Panama, the cook "a native OF Bristol, England,
known) the carpenter IA russian Fin name un-
knownl James King, seaman, native OF Proyi-
dencc, X: l.; William Brmer, seaman, Of shwaukees
Charles williams, seaman, native Of FINLAND; John
Baptist, seaman, native or Chile; Olorf Peterson.
seaman, native OF sweden; John smith, seaman
native of Hamburg.
-1- .ar. THE SAVED.
Henry Fleming, second mate; Charles wilson,
Michael Johnson, James Green, Frederick Wilson,
George Thomas and Charles Brown, seamen. IL be-
came Immediately apparent that no more could pos
sibly be saved ss the breakers were dashing with
such terrible force that no human being could have
survived their force until that time.
THE INJURED.
Those who escaped are omowhat bruised and their
faces scratched from being thrown violently upon,
the beach; Dut with the exception OF the second
mate none OF them are seriously injured. Mr. Flein-
Ing received a terrible wound In the lower part OF
his back from spike. which was apparently driven,
directly in nearly Its entire length. His wound ~
painful. although not regarded as dangerous. Hcr
was taken TO pescadero. where he WAS yestsrday.i
confined 10 his bed and was under the care OF "a
PHI, stefan and nursed by the h0sptabic strangers
among whom he had been cast.
CAUSE or sulPwREcK.