Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-12-16


From the New York Herald.
The Haskin was sidewheel steamer Of
about l, 100 tons, and left New York on
the 18th of November, for San Francisco.
She was heavily loaded, and had thirty
six persons on board, including two gen
tlemcn going out as passengers. About
noon on the 18th, two days after leaving
New York, the heavy seas commenced
tearing up the guards next the wheel
houses, and opened the sides Of the
steamer so as to admit water in great
quantities. All the pumps were set al
work, and every effort was made to stop
the leaks; but about eight o'clock at night
the main stCampipe was broken by the
heavy rolling and pitching Of the steamer,
and the engines audpulnps ceased tOwOrk.
After an Intellectual attempt 10 keep the
water down by bailing, the commander,
Capt Wakeman, determined 10 abandon
the vessel The steamer had three boats.
These were launched as soon as il was
found the vessel must 60 down, and the
crew Immediately took possession Of them.
. One boat was swamped soon after being
launched, and several of its occupants
are supposed to have been drowned, al
though all may hGye succeeded in regain
ing the steamer, and been saved by means
Of the raft The second boat pulled
away with four OF five men in her, and at
ten clock the Captain and eleven per
sons lef. il the other boat, leaving a num-
Der of the crew on sOard the steamer, the
Captains boat being already loaded down
10 the gunwales. Those left on the yes
SelcOastruCted raft by cutting away pOr-
ton Of the hurricane deck and flashing
spaTs across it TO stiffen it so as TO with
stand the waves. At half-past eleven,
when the Captains boat was about three
miles distant from the steamer the mast
head light disappeared, at which time il
was supposed the vessel went down. as she
had five feet of water in her hold when
the Captain pulled off. The second boat
was passed bottom up, with two men
clinging to her but as the Captains boat
was already 50 overloaded that its OCCu-
pants had to take turns in jumping over
board to tighten her, nothing could bedOne
for these two, and they were soon lost
sight of in the darkness.
The Captains boat had one gallon of
water, ham, a pillow-case about half
full of crackers, and three bottles OF gin.
One of the bottles was accidentally bro
ken, and another was served out during
the first few hours 10 sustain the men in
their hard labor, bailing out the boat and
keeping her head to sea- At daylight
Thursday morning all were nearly ex-
haustcd. The sea was very high and
from two to four men were almost con- 1
stanny in the water, clinging to the side /
Of 20
swamped. There were six oars. TwOOf
these were dashed together, and, with the .
ham tied upon them, were towed astcTn
rs a drag TO keep the boat steady hut a
shark soon snapped off the ham, I
leaving the crew almost entirely destitute
Of provision. Each of the twelve persons,
including the Captain, was reduced TO
handful Of salt water soaked crackers and :
a swallow Of fresh water twice in twenty F..
four hours, aud on the first day great I
suffering was experienced from thirst !
The seas came in three successive waves, I
which the heavy laden boat bravely |
managed TO ride over by backing water !
with the first, pulling vigorously ahead |
aad meeting the second, and backing |
again as the third came on. In the in
tcrvsi preceding the next three waves the
crew would bail out the boat Thus
huilcting the waves, bailing out the frail !
boat and alternately Jumping overheard TO
Tighten her the crew passed Wednesday
night, Thursday and q part Of the sue
rectning night A great many sharks
were seen hanging about the boat, but
constant watchfulncss prevented them
from Selling any of the men.
On Friday, just as the occupants Of
the boats were about despairing Of res
cue, a sail was discovered A shirt was
hoisiud on an oar, and finally the signal |
was seen from The vessel, which proved |
10 be the GTasmere, Captain Bellom. On |
getting alongside of the schooner, the !
boat was capsized by one of the men who F!
Carclcssly stepped upon the gunwale, and |
all were precipitated into the water |
Three Of the men, exhausted by labor, |
exposure and lack of food, sank be- !
fore help could reach them. Their |
names have not yet been obtained |
Captain Wakcman narrowly cscap- |
Cd drowning, and was only saved |
by the heTOism of Capt Bclem, of the |
Grasmere, who jumped overheard and |
seized Wakeman Just as he was going |
hoMn. Two NdNS blleI getting on BOARD |
the schooner, Capt. Wakeman was taken !
violently i'll, in consequence of his hard |
ships and almost supcrhuman eXertions,
and on reaching Bermuda was obliged to
remain for medical treatment, while the |
remainder Of the party returned to New !
York in the steamer Fah-kce Great |
credit is given to Capt Wakeman for
his GOODNESS and energy under such try
ing circumstances, the survivors attribut-
ing their rescue entirely TO his efforts.
The following are the names of those
saved in the Captains boat Edward |
Wakeman, Captain; John T. Robinson,
assistant engineer; John Simmons and
Patrick Green, fremen; Henry Landry,
John Williams, Henry King, Charles
Johnson and Henry Ganstover, seamen.
1t is believed by the above named per
sons that those who remained on the
Haslin 10 construct a raft succeeded in
their undertaking, and that, being in the
gulf stream. in the track Of vessels, they
have been picked up. They had time TO
get their raft overheard, and securea sup
ply Of fresh water and provisions from
the Haskin and It i, probable that intelli-
gence will he received of their having
been rescued by some outwarl-bound yes