New-York tribune., 1870-11-05
THE WRECK or THE CONTINENTAL

STORY OF THOSE DESERTED on THE VESSEL.
The following additional details of the wreck
of the steamship Continental. which was lost in hurr
cane Cape st. Lucas the 3oth Of September, were
taken by reporter Of The Alto California from the
statements Of those who remained the vessel after it
deserted by most of the passengers and crew. Pat
rick Payne of the 1remen, called on deck ct
about y. III. by the First Engineer. He says:
had no idea that they werr going 10 abandon the
vessel until l came deck Three boats had left and
two preparing TO leave. our boat, that com
man ded 10y second gate, already down. and the
stew ards boat being lowered. When were
the hurricane deck and about 10 embark in our boat the
called out to that the boat was smashed
that he would take in his boat He told us not To be
uneasy he proposed 10 he the last man To leave the
ship before she went down rhe first mate then showed
an his boat. IL the last to leave. and
LEFT the sinking steamer with no hope except in
IpesernerS ana RATS hd & hGI see The ihe cause s
should have stood 10y her till The last OF, al least
till all others had been cared for. There were
now eleven persons board six passengers and
hye of the crew; | called out to the hrst mate:
ION Examination. found between 10 and II feet OF
water the hold We spent the night IN building RATS,
which made 10y sshing the swing tables, used for
deck passengers together These fastened Ia ropes
and sung the side of the vessel o be IN readiness
for usc 1T "a notice. Mr. eastman and ms sen
went through the -hlp every hour during the night.
Arter two or three examinations We found that the water
raising AT the rate Of about eight inches hour
W. satisfied the ship would live till morning.
ana several persons on BOARD went 10 step, lot they
were very much dlgued having worked most or them,
all day at the pumps, or bailing. None Ot the crew
went TO sleep. Al about o'clock IN. on the 29th
fired two rockets but received no signal In return The
night had been very dark the sea ran mountains high,
fury. At ds break Of the aloft with
glass aud sighted Cape st Lucas about 30 miles of.
up 10 within 100 yards Of the ship. He called
out Ia us 10 put on hfe-preseryers, to get his
would save rs. Five OF us obcyed but only two we're
taken up The other three were left a while
the boat, and did not try the rats NJ all About
O'Clock on the morning OF the Goth the wrecked
Aha ftrr ulnl In fha
time after looked again. but she nowhere 10 be
seen; she had probably gone down in the meantime.
in the water He says found II necessary 10 lash my
self the raft, in order 10 keep from being washed OH
Snyng lept nom for more than as bo5rs had tSen
scarcely amouthf Of food since the storm and had
not morscl Of food drop OF water the raft twas
lonely and dreay position; drifting about on the sea-
wave. ( The second time tipped over my feet
% sIrneK on iOr.nHy nnIt ana $1,000 tT" umi1es
me Ike shot. and | found myself struggling in the
Ss h Alter ts p extra @ essricn % susSeeG c i" in
getting the raft again THIS little incident frightened
me worse than anything thai had Yet occurred. The
clouds had cleared and the moon shone brightly
The heavy waves subsiling. and began 70 have
hop" that the boat would return and pick me up My
lips were parched and the gnaw pains Of hunger and
thIst were intoerabe. Occasionally would wet my iips
With salt waicr OUT IL Drought me pnt niue feIeL
Between and 10 O'Clock next morning found the raft
turning around. Al nrst thought my head was
aroused my self from the drowsy condition INTO which
had fallen sure enough, my rat ~a- turning ana quite
rapidly too. I had run INTO whirlpool. from 10 10 ~
feet diameter, should Judge, The raft was whrled
around ten twelve times, and then IL stopped Very
soon after got Of the whirlpool the sharks made an
attack my frail craft and tried 70 ZIP me over They
would turn their backs and ran under me, aud
come up against the raft with considerable force IL
had not gol up on N, hands aud KNEES ana steanea @
raft think they would have turned 1t over "'eraI
times and made food Of me.
Several times during the day stood up and locked ios
sails. Between and O'Clock saw vessel bearing
down toward me- swung my hat over my head unlh
my became tired that II Nell helpless nv my side
IL the u. - steamer Osspee. knew her a. soon ~
she hove In sight. The reaction OF being entirely
without hope. and then seeing rescue 50 close at ad
gave strength. when the OSspce oamc ny. a boat
was lowered, aud was taken on board The sight OF
human faces, aud knowing WaA sac, torUthcr with my
fitgued nnd iamished condition. quite OVcrvue me aud
Ictlu, Ncp near subiUg upon tue dcCk ct The vessel