Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1870-03-03
ss OF THE
GOLDEN CITY.

= SuA coLl tduCiSCU telcRIuulS lcSpci-
day afternoon made brief mention of
the wrecking Of the steamship Golden
City, which vas the first that had been
heard Of the calamity on this side Of
the mountains, and there was consider
able anxiety hst evening for further
particulars, which We find in the Alta
of yesterday, given by a passenger on
the Inflated vessel, and of which the
following Is a brief summary:
The steamer Golden City left San Fran
cisco the 18th Of February, with about 800
passengers. The weather was pleasant, and
everything promised q pleasant voyage. We
had been out from port about Is days and ID
hours, and had run about 200 miles, when,
on the morning Of the cd, the first passen-
gers on deck were alarmed at finding the
steamer running head on into n thick fog,
and hearing the heavy roar Of the breakers,
apparently In close proximity. It was evil
dent We were dangerously near the shore,
while right ahead the peril still apparent to
old sailors on the coast, the density and
blaekneu Of the bank OF fog hanging over
Point Ua3aro, were unaccountable to US who
knew nothing Of the coast. 1t was night
intensified. Looking over the other bow,
north and west we could sec 4 smooth sea
and a clear horizon. Shortly before 7 :. ~,
Just 40 the tables were being let down
TO breakfast the Storage passengers,
the ship was felt humping against the
bottom with NO great violence, but II
sufaeed to cause = rush on deck. She RODE
over this obstruction and careened on with
slightly diminished speed. She kept on her
course without any change OF position for
about two minutes, when she struck again
with great force. Il seemed as II 1t was in
tended to drive her over this, but all efforts
70 clear il only drove her further on. The
engines were then reversed with o view to
backing Of. It was too late, and she was
hard aground. Her fate was scaled; at this
juncture she carsened from side to side with
fearful force, sending men, women and chill.
dreu into prestrate masses over the deck.
It was . dreadful sight, enough to cover
the bravest heart. Women were calling for
their husbands, children screaming. for their
mothers, and others praying God to save
them, 10 4 manner beyond any adequate de-
scription. Presently the third mate came
forward aud began pulling the pile Of life
preservers asunder. The men who had until
now been quite calm broke loose, and made
DuCQ y CuhIkG a. pIOOdOty hSNSA y w
fore. In less time than 1t takes to tell it, the
heap was cleaned OF TO the floor. In the
confusion such havoc ensued that more than
half the coveted articles were rendered use
less. The fog which interviewed between us
aud the shore was gradually clearing off, and
BY the tins we were equipped with life pre-.
servers, put on hurriedly IN all styles and po-
silioni, the eager faces turned shorewnrd to
measure the distance to be overcome before
taking the dreadful plunge for land. 1t was
less than half = mile from the Inflated vessel.
Il caused much e~asiness among the people,
calming the terror-sticken, and giving prom
Ice Of safety.
officer (Gerrick), who worked heroically to
save the ship, called for order among the
crowd assembled round the stern !; he told
them Il was determined to take to the boats;
he required their help and il they would keep
cool al would be saved.
Two boats landed their human freight
without accident. The life raft, manned by
the Chinese crew, was then put into service.
By II o'clock, four hours from the time she
struck, the passengers were landed. The
boats continued hard at work during the re.
muinder Of the day taking out as much stores
and provisions a. could be got from the
wreck. Providentially they were enabled to
secure enough to place US out Of absolute
want. We had hard tack in abundance.
Next morning we were put on short allow
ance Of water.
About l =. n. on Wednesday the 23d, the
SECOND mate, with . picked crew Of sig men,
was dispatched to Cape 81. Lucas. with In.
struetions to keep In the track Of the ex-
pec.ed steamer, eight days out from Panama,
due here on the morrow or the morning OF
the following day (Friday).
At about l:30 ?. y. wo were cut short IN
our conjecsores BY tidings that she was in
sight. A boat was sent out to intercept her.
Af:er an exchange Of signals with the shore
she turned back and steamed round the point
out OF eight,
The Colorado landed Is miles south Of the
wreck, and the passengers had to walk down
to the place. During the journey nine Of the
passengers were lost among the sand hills.
We left for San Francisco about 8 o'clock
that night. Before our departure o quantity
Of water and provisions were left onsthe
beach to relieve the unfortunate lsft behind:
The Colorado and her passengers arrived
in San Francisco night before last.