The Hawaiian gazette., 1873-10-29
Charles NOrdhon-s Statement of the
Accident 10 the steamship
"CoSIu RicH."
I'm he s.s Fraasi,cs Nsrslss csIL

Fr-z the Saa Francisco Alrui1s Call
Among the passengers on the ill-fated vessel
vas Charles NordhoG. one OF the editors Of the
New York Tribune asd an author of con
siderable repete. uho. With bis wife and chill
drcn. has been mski1g tour Of the world.
corresponding for his journal He was IN this
city several mou,hs ago. and vas returning from
the Sandwich Islands ez rouss 10 New fOfk.
when the accident occurred. He IS stopping at
the Grand Hotel. and will remain few days to
rest before proceeding home BY the overland
route He il 4 mild hammered. quiet, retiring
rsntleuiau. and after expressing his willingness
TO give all The information be possessed IN r'gard
to the disaster. be requested that as itiIe prom-
nsuee De given to his name Is consistent with
the narrative He then gave the following &C
count Il the wreck:
We had eioudy aud thick ~eaiher for two days
before We we're aakiag the hnd. aud therefore
uuld take 10 observations. The Captain told
ne he expected to make the F4rralone- about .
o'clock 90 "Wednesday morning. When git up
A. daylight that morning the fig was 80 dense
that ze could Mt see ANYTHING It vas on that
accoau;. / suppose. that The Captain gave the
Farraloues ~ide birth going TO the southNard
OF them. We pushed on slowly every day IN a
VERY thick fog-I think as thick as have ever
seen. With the exception Of that % the coast Of
NeE FouudIand About II O'Clock sc seemed
"a be near Ind Soon after ze heart The whistle
Of steamboat. aud Immediately <hi=sIed IN re-
ply. bot we're 40, answered. the steamer pruba-
~ hayi1g pass GOT If bearing by that time.
Is the course Of the afternoon The fog hfted
tzo or three times 50 as to permit Is 70 zee the
Isut fgr Two or three ulluutes At time. don't
think that land vas in sight longer than that At
auy time during The day. vent 10 call ny Eife
Two or three timss IL come snd see the shOre.
and bssgre she cogId get on deck the land was
hidden. About O'clock ID the afternoon sc
smoke fishing vessel and we're informed thar sc
we're aboot ten miles from the entrance to the
buy. The Captain vas very careful protesting
ssr5 sIo4ly aud taxing souHdiug= eontInualiy as
h. vent So Ee vent sIoug seeking something
"a slsos Is where se we're Until night cane upOn
u It1as ilnp0szibIs 70 get any paint 10 found
oar rsckouing iron. During the afternoon the
C.utsin told ne that be didn't intend 10 ruu any
NJ saving that be z0Gd rather remain outside
The CATE all night than to risk even alarming the
passengers. laughed at tins. and told him that
he nepd DOT be IN any hurry 90 oar serOant, a.
un5er the Circumstances re could wait
TIE fog grs1 thicker tauards d.rk and as there
uus DO moon it vas impossible 10 see where We
1srs. and re seat very sIoHIy 54lil aboat eight
[ O'Clock. When The vessel struck She appeared
10 ne % strks under the counters or stern at
6r., and ny impression Is that she also struck
usdsr the usd-sbips aud little ioC1ard Of that.
She struck bal slightly at erst. bat sftersards
bouoed more heavily several times 90 the rocks,
I sEe theo ezrsensd seaEard- At the time che
s,rsek re coald not see the land, bat coald heat
The sarf batting The Jar Of striking sas plainly
s-lt and eaased cousidsrsbls alarm. Which vas -
Iayss b. the wise and prompt actioa Of the par
r. Mr.. Ticker. and tEo % three OF the gentle
men passengers. ahO appealed 70 all 10 the cabin
to sit stilI asd keep qlist- Mr. Tucker seset
tt-suzb.,at 9Th great coolssss. prssenee Of MIND
and munIiness 10 the discharge Of bis dgtg- liz
eaiIed naaber q -zisera 10 bis assistance i'm
meEi.sely and dlssffsslsi the Iif-prsssrTsr. Eerl
qaiekiy.
II vas not Al Erst iaiended that the passenger
sk.ylI Esase the ship bal IL s-s a=rerIsissd thz
he Eay o. kind Of shell. vita deep water o.
he ost.Fse anI L zas feared that beiAg c1resne'
.hse night ErH q into deep waller aad sink r.
this reasna IT As deen-d adsi-abie that tha Pas
=-nrses sh0od b got iuto the bats Immediately