The New York herald., 1874-08-24
TIE LOSS OF THE STEAMER GUATEMALA,
Arrival From Nassau OF the Principal
Omcers OF the Conference.-The Can.
tain's Report of the Loss Of His Ves-
sel-Thes Vessel Said to Have Parted
nIdaJ.fns.

tatn's Report OF the Loss of His Yes.
sel-Thes Vessel Said to Have Parted
Amidships.
The steamer City Of New York, which arrived In
this port on Friday from Nassau, brought the
principal officers, save the Captain, OF the lost
Pacinc Mail steamer City Of Guatemala, recently
wrecked on watng's Island in the Bahamas. The
Captain has sent home his official report Of the dis
aster. which the company, however, declines to
make public till after the meeting Of the board
OF directors to-day. The following state
mcnt OF the purser will be read with interest
at the present moment. There seems to be no
DOUBT as to the truth Of the report that
when tile vessel struck the Captain was under the
belief that Wating's Island was fifteen miles
ahead, a belief brought about by variation OF the
compass.
The Official investigation as to the cause Of her
loss, by the United States Steamboat Inspection,
within week or ten days.
STATEMENT OF PURsER W. H. MERRY.
The ship went ashore on Watling's Island in
the Bahama group, at few minutes before
midnight on July 10. Before we left Nassau,
! on the 18th inst, the report reached us that
she had split in two and that the waves
were making clean breach over her. Wsthngs
Isana used be celebrated for Its sheep
and the inhabitants, numbering several hundred,
are all negroes, with the exception or about
four white men, the chief OF wnom is kind OF
justice OF the peace customs oficer and was chief
wrecker for our stranded steamer. ! cannot de-
her late commander, has worked to save all that
was possible from the wreck. The greater part OF
800 tons, I think, a quantity OF damaged cargo,
including provisions, sewing machines and nard-
mas % S G
ing been taken there Dy the wreckers, who are In.
terested in the vessels salvage: what they will
will ha hQcld nv Nacc rfrfi
arbitratlon. At one time there wer, thirty seven
OF these wreekers' vessels alongside the SNIP all
&C., and ana the SC enc was an exciting one N Mr. San
ders the United States Vice Consul gave us all
the assistance he could, and his conduct toward US
has been most praiseworthy. Tpe ofacers and
crew had the goou luck to save their clothing, it
having been put put on board vessels o OF our line
ceved from Mr.. Hatch. The same applies TO the
steamers sale. specie, &c. The Waiting Islanders
board when the safe was sent ashore on the City
OF Panama. We lost 500 tons Of coal and the ma.
WE ABANDONED HER ON THE BOTH OF AUGUST,
when she had eight feet OF water In her hold: which
s Wa W u the eroom 81 SO
the vessel was immovable. The pumps sent down
to US by the City Of Panama were useless we had
OF some use to us, but this Is problematcal. All
who remained on board worked with awill to save
We had plenty OF provisions and Ice, and when
we left the vessel finally we took guam
Wrecking schooner. If the ship had not been very
sOidly put together, she could not have remained
standing az long as she did, for she was fully ex-
posed to the weather. When we lett Nassau, Cap
tain Hildreth was considering whether he should
charter q vessel to send on the salvaged cargo
York, Of the Alexandra line. think be seemed
inclined to carry out the latter idea Watng's
Island Is about 200 miles from Nassau. We had
seemed more INCLINED to steal than &C! as legit.
mate salvors; however, at last, all worked
graph to the company at New York BY order Of
Captain Hildreth, and to bring him back their
reply at the wreck, which did.
believe that this is the first accident that has
ever happened to any snip over which Captain
the following Pacnc Mail steamers s:-RisIng star,
two trips Granada, one trip; City Of Panama, one
trip, and City OF Guatemala, three trips: The cur
very variable and treacherous. and on the last
voyage the lost steamer passed twenty miles to
lighthouse on this spot About ten years ago a
British frlgate went ashore at Rum Key In the
xSn Q, wangs Sc s Island and about SIX or
nately got Oh.
THE LAND WAS HIDDEN BY A MIST
when the City OF Guatemala went ashore. The
Captain had instructed. believe, one OF the quar-
termasters to call him at II AS but he failed to 90
Directly the Captain used his night glasses he
deserted land. and instantly ordered the engines
2st G be oese A. But b. H. ynco too ss
onicers do not stand watch. The Captain
time thinking that wasnap sand I0I was s
some distance ahead. The Captain attributes the
pass Ths s Who arrived a.
ton on the 10TH from Nassau, states that ne was
keeping bright lookout, but II was SO haxy that
OF the AFFAIR which ne has written, and whioh Am
aoout 70 deliver 10 the company he makes ful