Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-11-09
OCEAN DISASTER.
Loss of the Steamship Pacific.
Two Hundred Lives Lost.
statement Of ihe Supposed sole
Survivor.

SAN Francisco, November "a dis
patch from Port Townsend last evening
says: Henry F. Jelly, supposed to be
the sole survivor of the Pacific, was
brought here yesterday by the ship Mes
senger in a wretched condition, be hay
ing been on a raft thirty-six hours be.
fore he was picked up. He says the
Pacific collided with some other vessel,
whose light he saw; but in his interview
with Gilkey, captain of the Messenger,
lasting twelve hours, he made no mem
ton Of the lights Of the vessel, and
some think him laboring under a hallu-
cination as to that. Experienced navi.
gators here think it more likely that she
struck a hidden rock.
Jelly makes a statement to the follow
ing effect: Took cabin passage on the
Pacific from Victoria, leaving about
quarter-past nine on the morning of
Thursday, the 4th instant; about 200
people on board the steamer; all day
against southeastern wind; crew con-
stantly pumping water into the boat to
trim the ship, the boats aloft of the
paddle-boxes had no OsFs in them
others had eight or nine; at evening
while in bed heard a crash, and felt a
shock as if the vessel had struck a rock;
heard something fall as if rocks had
fallen; starboard bow bell struck to
stop, back and go ahead; vent on deck;
heard voices say, It's all right-we have
struck 2 vessel; saw several lights at
a distance, but do not think they we're
colored, bat paid little attention; returned
to the cabin noticed that the ship took
a heavy list to port went on deck to the
pilot-house; heard some one say, she is
making water very fast; the captain com
ing out Of his room, | asked him il there
we're any blue lights or guns; be said the
blue lights we're in the pilot.house; got
them and burned five; noticed the en-
gines still working, but no one at the
wheel; went to the starboard side forward
Of the paddle box, where a number of
men were trying to get out the longboat,
but could not; went to the port boat for
ward aud helped Ave OF six women into
it and tried to get the boat pf, but could
not move It; there we're about twenty
women in il; heard the boats abaft the
paddles had got of but did not see them;
think it was about an hopr after the
steamer struck when she listed so much
that the port boat was in the water; |
was in that boat, which / cut loose from
the davits; the boat filled and turned
over; | got on her bottom and helped
several pp With me; Immediately after
the steamer seemed t9 break in two fore
and aft;the smokestack fell and struck our
boat, and the steamer sunk; think about
all the women were in our boat, and fear
they we're all drowned when the boat
upset; this was about 10 o'clock in the
evening, the night not dark nor the sea
very rough but a fresh breeze; after
wards left the bottom Of the boat, and
with another man climbed on top of the
~pilothopAs floating near; next morning
got some life p%reseFyers floating near
the house, and with their ropes lashed
myself and companion to the house;
saw three RATS; the first had one man on
It; the next he'd three men and a.wo-
man. could not make out the other for
the distance, except there were people on
it, think we we're thirty or forty miles
south Of Cape Flattery when the vessel
sunk; passed a light on Tatloosh Island
between four and five in the evening; /.
and my companion we're on the pilot
house all Of Friday until about four in
the afternoon, when he died; cut him
loose the sea was running very high all
dsyi the waves washing over us; soon
after he died sighted a ysusel, called and
heard the people on the other RATS call.
ing, but the vessel did not cone nsar;
Friday night there was but little wind