New-York tribune., 1874-08-12
STEAMSHIP PERILS.


DETAILS OF THE LOSS OF THE CITY OF GUATEMALA
TIE VARIATION OF THE CoMfAssES LIN
CAUSE OF THE DISASTER.
The Pacific Mail steamship Colon arrived az
this port from Aspnwall yesterday bringing se'er vi
rho OF the unfortunate steamship City OF Guate'
mala which went ashore on Watllngs lslanu az "iu-
night on July TO- She also brought the log OF the apah
doned steamship and q communication from her COM
mander Capt Hildreth, explaining the nature OF the
accident the position in which she lay, aud the proba-
bities concerning her fate.
The principal details of the disaster have areauy oco"
recounted in the columns of THE TRIBUNE one WINS o
her voyage from NewYork to Aspinwall when' on 'he
night of July l6 at - o'clock she struck upon cor
reef at the northeastern extremity OF Wa'uhg
Since the first tidngs OF disaster all reports nave oeon
meacer and unsatisfactory. From the particulars
brought yesterday 1t learned that the NesseI hau
been making excellent passage from Vow ioiA'
whence she sailed July H. and an early arrVa ~ hsPn
wall was anticipated She was on the regular 'oui 90
of the Pacific Mail steamships, but Oh '"o
! night OF the 10th seems TO have wandered some
what from the usual Before the mistake was us
covered shock was felt throughout the steamer anu
tho VI ter begau TO rush in An examination was nastS
made and two large apertures were 1ouhu oeno"'u VI,
engine The vessel firmly wedged upon tne rooA'
however and was in danger OF SINKING inero "o'o
no on board and the crew wero az ohcc se
work
An investigation disclosed the fact that the vesse was
on the ouer edge OF the dangerous coral reef which
surro1nd Watlings and others OF the Bahama Islands
Through the large fractures the water was pouring "
more and more rapidly and In one hour arter e 'oSo
struck she was full of water Soundngs were taken ~
once and 1t discovered that there were no lcS ~
a feet OF water all around the vessel while 6Oo ieet
s,or ,ba water was from 80 TO 35 feet In depth. At
distance OF only 800 feet it was Impossible 10 hhu
botto1n Twelve Of tho were sent away IN ooats'
and no accident is reported. The comnanuer
sought aid from Nassau without delay, and
hoped to secure steam-pumps at once and
pnmp out his vessel. There no time to send to
New-YOrk for pumps, since strong nortn-eastery
breeze was blowing, aud the blOws were rolling over
the reef aud promised soon to float the steamer on or
arrive from this ty. 1t found impossible. how
ever to accomplish anything and the vessel was hnay
still hoped, however that large portion OF the cargo
would be saved, but it would be much injured by the
The cause the disaster stated by Capt Iildreth
the variation in the compasses Nassau the port
sought by Capt. Hldret5 Is about 1O miles northwest
OF Wathngs Island in direct line, but the Islands OF
Eeuthera and San Salvador Intervene and the route by
southeast Of San Salvador 10 latitude 230 &C. north lon
situdo 7lo 2S 1t has fertile soil, is l6 miles IN
dangerous coral reefs which surround 1t are from quar-
ter OF IA mile to mile from the shore, and the point
where the Guatemala lies Is about half mile northwest
of White cay the northeastern extremity OF the Island
The crew of the Guatemala, being landed, were at
length sent TO Aspinwa and put IN charge OF the
United states Consul at that port On Aug they were
received on board the Pacific Mail steamship Colon,
bound TO New-York. The list Of those OF the Glate-
maa's crow who embarked on The Colon Is as follows
Wilson. Surgeon; Charles + hrHny PIeghioes Levi,
Payne JOIN Gleason James WOcey John g. bgsiH yoh1 key
on the passage to this port the Colon passed WITHIN
five miles of the abandoned steamship at l:tO p M Fri
day. Aug. T. She had not yet gone TO pieces and her
hull appeared TO have sustained no further injury than
that caused by the first shock Her smGkestaek was
stu standing and the deckhouses were snghy Injured
The mass, however had been removed probably by the
wreckers who nfest the coasts in this vicinity aud earn
their livelihood By preylng upon unfortunate vessels.
Capt. Hldrcth having made his statement. the sub
stance or when Is furnished ABOVE REMAINS IN Nassau
anG will do everything IN MS power 10 save the ergo
fun description OF the steamer her cargo value, in
surauce, etc. has already bo"u gwen IN HE TRIBUNE.
Capt Dow. commander OF TIE COion, by whom much
Of above information furnished says the vessel
viii doubtless be a total loss.
COLLISION BETWEEN THE CITY or BOSTON AND
SCHOONER.
The Sound steamer Cty of Boston, Of the Norwich and
New-York Line, eft New-LOndOn Monday night at
the usual time The water smooth aud the sky clear.
and au uneventu passage looked for. The City OF
Boston had board large number OF passengers. She
had proceeded her way about 90 miles when the pilot
discovered q sail Oh the port bow standing
to the northward. Tnis sail about four miles
west OF Cornaed Point short distance to the north
was second vessel going east but she lay outside the
steamers course. The first sail was directly in the
course Of the steamer and to the pilot appeared about
mile away. The captain OF the City Of Boston was also
In the pot-hOuse and his judgment 10 her distance
coincided with that Of his pilot. Tho vessel which
now seen TO be a small schooner, had her main
sail set but with the feeble breeze, max
ing little progress. The only light VISIBLE
the schooner feeble flicker from the
companionway II was thought If her sarboari light
had been burning IL could nave been seen from the
approaching steamer. Tue boat officers In the pilot
house deeed advisable to pass south OF the schooner,
and gave turn TO tho wheel To accomplish that
epd The officers suddenly discovered however,
that had mis the distance OF the schooner
were already almost upon her. They gave sudden
whlrl the wheel aud rang the bell 10 reverse the
engines. late 10 avert disaster, however,
and tho CITY of BOstOns bow struck the
schooner Oh her starbOard quarter Although the
steamers engines had been reversed she was still under
headway and struck the vessel with some violence.
The httle craft down Ike stone and signal was
AT once gwen stop the engines, That injury might
be Inflicted by the revolving wheels. Two men were
lowered, they rescued No trace OF the cap
tain could be found and as he was below when the acc
dent occurred his escape well nigh hopeless the
men rescued proved be the mate and the steward OF
the schooner The former watch at the time OF
the collision and appears not 20 have seen the steamer
hi she was close upon MIN. He stated however, that
there was torches the schooner " give warning
| even had he seen 1t III time.
From tins officer II was learned that the sunRen
schooner Was the Daniel Fricl OF Camden. n. j. She
WAS owned by Capt Slas'RObertsOn Of Camden, the only
victim Of the disaster. she was schooner OF ouy
about l2O tons and bound from Westerly, H. l.. 10
! SouhDrook, Conn, with cargo Of granite The
pecunary loss will be small as the schooner WAS not
Valuable one After delay of about 40 minutes the city
OF Boston, which hardly scratched by tho COLLISION
| proceeded on her way with the rescued men.
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