The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-03-04
Loss of the. steamer Colder CITY
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SAN FRAscIsco, March 2.-The Golden
City left this port on the 18th Of February
for'Panama with four hundred passengers
for New York, and valuable cargo, in
Guiding cargo of teas received by the
China steamer, and large amount Of
treasure. On the morning Of the 22d she
went ashore uear Point Lazare, Lower
California, about fifteen miles from the
Bay Of Santa Maria. The passengers, bag
gage, and treasure, we're landed. with little
difficulty, the sea being smooth, but the
locality is barren and far from human
habitation. Aparty was Immediately sent
to Point Lazare to erect signal and keep Q
lookout for the steamship Colorado, about
due from Panama. She was signalled about
noon on the oath, but it was impossible for
the steamer to receive the sufferers on
board at the scene Of the disaster owing to the
heavy surf at that point, and they we're
compelled to walk to Santa Maria bay over
On utterly barren waste, enduring great
distress from hunger and thirst.
Several OF the passengers were lost in the
sand hills and chaparrel bushes, and had
to be abandoned by the steamer. Only o
small quantity of provisions and water was
saved from the wreck, and it was fortunate
that the Colorado arrived 80 soon, or intense
suffering must have resulted. When the
wreck commenced breaking up, and the
cargo drifted ashore, some casks containing
liquor were broken open by the passengers,
and drunkenness and disorder ensued.
Fearing bloodshed would be the result,
strong party of passengers organized to de-
stroy the liquor as fast as it came ashore.
The passengers had no confidence in Cap
tain Comstock, and paid no attention to his
orders. They held an indignation meeting
On board the Colorado and passed resolu-
tions that, in their opinion, the wreck was
due to the incapability or gross careless
ness of the commanding officer, and that
much unnecessary suffering on shore was
to be traced to the same source. The pas
sengers, with but few exceptions, reached
here last evening. The baggage and the
treasure were left on the beach under pro-
per guard.
TERRIBLE sUFFERISGs.
SAN FRASCIsCo, March 2.-The suffer-
ings Of the passengers of the steamer
Golden City on the march from the scene of
the disaster to Santa Maria bay to meet
the steamer Colorado is described as terri
BILE. There was no water along the route,
and they had bpt little hard bread. Old
men, women, and children, walked for
twenty two hours over the rocky mountains,
and under burning sun, and on their arri-
val ut their destination were entirely pros
trated with fatigue.
Every passenger has his version of the
affair, but all agree on the principal Incl
dents. After oil had reached the land one
of the boats was rugged with sail and
manned by six or eight men, and sent to
sea to look for the steamer Colorado, which
was expected to pass that point, but it is
supposed the Colorado was missed during
the night. Nothing had been heard of the
boat at Santa Maria bay when the Colorado
sailed. Tie accounts differ as to the num-
her of passengers missing. Some say nine,
some fifteen, but the latter number is con-
sidcrcd the most correct.