The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-10-26
WRECK OF THE CONTINENTAL.

FounderinE Of the North Pacific Transporta-
tIon Stesmer-IBcidents eT the Wreck-0ne
Hundred and Doe Persons with DIBcnlty
sayed-Nine Probably Loaf.
From the alta Californian.
The steamer Continental, Captain G. G. Dali
sailed from MaZatlan on Monday, 26th Septem-
Der, about z. M, leaving the L Uuited States
steamer Ossipee in port, bound for Magdalena
Bay. On the night of the 9th the wind, which
had been blowing strong from the southeast all
day, increased to gale, and by morning 1t be-
came evident that a ''cordanazo," peculiar to
the gulf at this season, and one of the most dan
gerous of hurricanes, was raging. The wind blew
from every point of the compass, and the seas
were terrific, striking the ship on the bows and
on the quarter almost at the same moment.
From p NJ. to II P NJ. she lay to off the
Cape; about A. NJ. of the Goth she sprang
leak. The steam pumps were working and kept
the water down for a time. These efforts were
continued with great energy until about p. Nj
the water gaining slowly but surely. After |
o'clock the water gained rapidly, and the situa-
tion became desperate, the Ouly encouragement
being that the storm had abated slightly, and
the raising of the barometer gave hopes that its
greatest fury was expended. About so p. NJ,
the water then having reached the lower be-
tween decks, the captain gave orders to take
to the boats, himself leading Mrs. Melia to the
after starboard boat. The sea had subsidized
much since morning, but was still sterri6c,
and the utter darkness of the night added
greatly to the perils of embarkation. The
first boat-the after starboaTd boat at-commanded
by Captain Lund, OF the brig Augenette
(wrecked on the 18th of the preceding month off
Mazatlan) was lowered in safety. The starbolrd
waist boat, commanded by the ships carpenter,
and the forward starboard boat, by Captain
Dali, were also safely launched The port
forward boat, commanded by Captain Sasa
Captain of Mexican coaster) and the port
waist boat, commanded by the second officer,
Mr.. Bedford, broke the davits during the pro-
cess of lowering, and were safely lowered only
by miracle. Frenchman named f. Pedrin
crushed to death nv of these DDats and
a Mexican woman, name unknown, was thrown
out of the boat and drowned. The second
steward received severe wound on the head
and other minor injuries. The after port
boat, commanded by the first officer, Mr.. Korts,
was launched without accident. The night con-
tDued stormy, heavy rain squalls succeeding
each ether. Many suffered greatly, some hav-
ing only drawers and uBdershirt, others shirt
and pantaloons, and many exhausted by their
labors; during the night the boats we're kept
headed to the sea, and at daylight each COM
mander made tor the land according to the best
of his judgment, all by miracle reaching the
shore and beaching in safety-the captains
boat. the port forward boat Captain sasa, aud
tie second officers boat at St. Lucas; the after
starboard boat Captain Lund, and the starboard
waist boat, Carpenter in front of the Fortuna
Rancho, about eighteen miles east of San Jose
del Cato, and the first officers boat at the
Boca San Cristobad n. N. E. of the Cape and,
strange to say, dead to windward. All were
most kindly cared for by the inhabitants The
discovered sail, which proved to be the Con-
tinental still atloat, but in a sinking condition.
Six or seven men were visible on board of her,
and two or three on RATS, one in a little
fishing skiff belonging to the captain. About
the same time the port forward boat Captain
Smth) was discovered. and it being large
metallic life.boat with only sixteen persons,
Captain Dali hailed her to aid in taking off
those on board and on the raft; at the same
time he called to those on board the Continen-
tai TO spring into the sea and by the aid of
spar to swim to the boat. Two were rescued
Fl ON the RATS, but those on board the wreck
were afraid to make the efforts; they remained,
and were in all probability lost. The port for
ward boat, having mutinous crew, refused to
90 to their assistance. The captains boat being
greatly oyercrowded having twenty in all, over
hauled Sasas boat, transferred five men and by
| eremptory orders and threats sent them back
TO the aid of those on deck. 1t was ascertained
subsequently that they returned but q short dis
tance and thenabandonedt them. During the night
OF the 29th fires were built at the cape by those
already landed as q beacon for the other boats
And early next morning two boats commanded
by Captain Dali and the Chef-Engneer, MIR.
Coughlin, put to sea to aid those remaining.
They wefe scarcely clear of the Cape when the
Osspee made her appearance, and Captain
Dali boarding her, she put to sea to the site Of
the wreck, but not trace of the Continental
could be discovered, but the poor fellows on
the RATS were picked up: so that none were lost
except those who remained on the ship, and the
man on the Captains skiff, the second cook,
uamed Taylor The wreck was visited as late as 2
?. NJ, on the goth, by Mr.. Bedford, second officer.
The indraw still being very dangerous, he called to
those on beard to come TO the boat. Mr.. L. z.
Green, passenger swan off with a compass.
Mr. Lytle, who exceedingly sick was
lowered, but was so exhausted that he mad to
give up the attempt. The rest were afraid to
make the effort, and nothing more is known of
their fate, except that the snip foundered about
dark. Thus of one hundred and ten passen-
gers and crew, as nearly as can be ascertaned
nine only were lost, and of these there is lust a
bare possibility that seven may have been
rescued, as it is known that they had small
RATS constructed of mess tables and life pre-
servers,