Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-11-10
CALIFORNIA.
The Loss Of The Stea mship Pacific.
Statement of the Survivor.
Other Particulars.
CALIFORNIA.
Other Particulars.

San Francisco, November g. A despatch from
Port Townsend, says Henry +. Jelly, supposed to
be the sole survivor of the steamer Pacific, makes
tue following statement
81 took cabin passage on the Pacific from &C.
toria, leaving at qu.rer past Line on the morning
of Thu sday the 18th inst. There were about POO
people on board The steamer worked all day
ag ainst a southeaster, the crew constantly pump
ing water into the boats to trim the ship. The
boats abaft the paddle-boS and had no
in them. Others had oars.
Between eight and nine O'Clock in the evening,
while in bed, heard a crash and felt shock as
if the vessel had struck rock. The starboard
bow bell was struck TO stop, back and 90 ahead.
| went on deck, and heard voices say, "It's all
right; we have struck a vessel"
| saw the vessels lights at distance. but do
not think they colored. paid little atten-
ton, but returned to the cabin and noticed that
the ship took heavy list to port. Went on deck
to the pilot house and heard some one say "She is
making water very fast" The captain, coming
out af his room, asked if there were any blue
| lights guns. lie was told that the blue lights
we've in tho pilot house. The men got them and
burned five. l noticed that the engines were
still working, but there one at the wheel.
| went to The starboard side, forward of the
paddle-bo where number of men were trying
to get out the long boat but could not. l went
| to the port forward, and helped five six women
into il; tried to get the boat of but could not
move it. There were about twenty women in it.
| Heard that the boats abaft the paddles had got
Oft, but did not see them.
| think it was about an hour after the steamer
struck, when she listed too much. The port boat
was in the water. | was IN that boat when she
was cut loose from the davits. The boat filled
and turned over. got on her bottom and helped
several up with me-
| Immediately after, the steamer seemed to break
| in two, fore and aft The smoke stack fell and
struck our boat and the steamer sank.
| think about all the women in our boat,
and fear they were all drowned when the boat up
| SET
| This was about ten in the evening. The night
was not dark, nor the sea very rough, but there
was a fresh breeze | afterwards left the bottom
| of the boat, and with another man, climbed in at
the top of the pilot house, which was floating
near The next morning we got some life pre-
servers that were floating near the house, and
with their ropes | dashed myself and companion
10 the house.
We saw three RATS. The first had one man on
it. The next had three men and woman, but we
could not make out the other, except that there
were people on 1t.
! Think we were 30 or 40 miles south of Cape
| Flattery when the vessel sank. Passed the light
on Tattoosh Island between and ) in the eve
ming. :,
My companion and were on the pilot house all
of Friday, until about four O'Clock p. M, when he
died and | cut him loose The sea was running
high all day, and washing over us.
Soon after he died. sighted vessel. called
and heard the people on the RATS calling, but the
vessel did not come near.
Friday night there was but little wind until
morning, when the wind and sea rose. was
then within mile of Vancouver's Island.
sighted two vessels on the American shore which
passed on. About ten in the morning of Satur
day, the ship Messenger picked me up.
HENRY +. JELLY"
There was great excitement in this city ON hear
ing the news, and the telegraph and newspaper
Offices and Merchants Exchange were besieged by