Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-11-09
BY TELEGRAPH.
LOSS OF THE PACIFIC.

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 8.-A dispatch from
Point Towuseod this evening says: Henry F.
Jelly, the supposed sole survivor OF the steam
ship Pacific disaster, who was brought here
yesterday by the ship Messenger. is in a
wretched condition, haviog been on q raft
thirty-sx hours before he was picked up. He
says the Pacific collided with some other YES.
sci, whose light he saw but in bis interview
with Capt. GiIkey. the master of the Messen-
ger. he made no mention Of the lights of ves-
SELL and some persons think he is laboring un-
der Authorization as to that Experienced
navlgators here think it is more likely she
struck suoken rock. Jelly makes statement
to the following efact took cabin passage
on the Pacific from Victoria, leaving about
9:l5 o'clock Thursday morning, the 4th instant,
With about two hundred people on board
steamed all day against southeastern gale
the crew constantly pumping water into the
boats to trim the ship; the boats abaft the
paddle.boxes had no oars 10 them the other
boats had oars between and o'clock 10 the
evening, while 10 bed [ heard crash aud felt
shock as if we had struck rock; heard
something fall as if rocks mad fallen on the
starboard bow the bell struck to stop, back,
and 60 ahead went on deck heard voices
say: "All right We have struck a vessel"
saw several lights at distance; they we're
colorcd, but paid but little attention to them;
returned to cablu; noticed that the ship took
heavy list to port; went Oh deck to the pilot
house, aod heard some one say, 'She is max
ing water very FAST" the captain calling out
of his loom asked him if there was any blue
lights or guns; he said the blue lights were in
the pilot house got them and burned five
noticed the engines were still working, but no
one was at the wheel went to the starboard
side, forward of the paddle box, where num-
Der OF men were trying to get long boat
launched, but could not; went to port boat
forward, aud helped FIVE or six women into it;
tried to get the boat of, but could not move it;
there were about twenty women 10 it heard
that boats abeft the paddles had been got off,
but did not see them; think it was about an
hour after the steamer struck Wheo she listed
so much the port boat was 10 the water; I was
in that boat, and cut it loose from the davits;
the boat filled and turned over; I got on her
bottom, and helped several up with me; i'm
medlately after the steamer seemed to break
10 two fore and aft the smokestack fell and
struck our boat, and the steamer sunk -; [ think
about all the wemen were 10 our boat, ADD fear
they were all drowned when the boat upset.
this was about ten clock iu the evening the
night Was not dark, nor sea very rough, but
there was fresh breeze afterwards left the
bottom of the boat, and with another man
climbed on top Of the pilot house. floating near;
next morning got some life pres rvers floating
by the house, and with their ropes lashed my
self and companion to the house; saw three
RATS; the first had one NAH on it, the next had
three men aud woman could not make out
the third raft, owing to the distance, except
thirty or forty miles south OF Cape Flattery
when the vessel suuk passed the light on Tat
toosh island between and 5 o'clock 10 the
evening; and my companion we're in
the pilot house all of Friday, uutil about 4 o.
~, when he died; cut him loose; the sea was
runuisg very high all day, the waves washing
over; sighted vessel and called to her, and
heard persons 90 other RATS calling, but the
vessel did not come near us; on Friday night
there vas but little wind until a. m., when the
wind and sea rose; | was then within mile of
the shore, off Vancouver Island; | sighted two
vessels on the American 81 ore, which passed
me; about 10 o'clock Saturday a. M, the Mes
senger picked me up. (Signed)
HENRY T. JELLY
There was great excitement in this city on
the receipt of the news, and the telegraph and
newspaper Offices, and Merchants Exchange
were beseiged by persons who had friends or
relatives ou board. No one seems to know the
names of the members of the Hurbut and
Rockwell troupe, but it is supposed that Fanny
Marston was one of them, aud that others, who
we're performers, were picked up in this part of
the country. The steamer Los Angeles will be
dispatched, on her arrival tomorrow, to save
the survivors, if there are any. Jelly says,
there was no terror or confusion on the part of
the passengers, and that ifthe boats could have
been launched and properly manned, as the sea
was comparatively smooth, all on board might
have been saved.
NEW YORK, Nov. Sit is stated that Capt.
Jefferson d. Howell, ofthe lost steamer Pacific.
vas = brother-iD-law of Jefferson Davis, and
was formerly an officer of the Confederate navy.
He was young map, but was supposed to be
an experienced navigator.