Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1875-11-09
Sinking of a San francisco
Coast I. Steamer s. q Near Van Y an
couvers Island.
---
Two Hundred Human, Be-
ings Drowned.
Statement Of the Sole Survivor.

SAN FnANclsco, Nov. "a dis
patch from F Port Townsend last night
says that Henry L. Jelly, supposed to
be the sole survivor Of the Pacific
was brought here yesterday BY the
ship Messenger in a wretched con-
dition, he having been Sc hours on
raft. Jelly. makes statement to the
following effect: He took cabin
passage on the Racifc from Victoria,
leaving Thursday morning the 4th
inst; about two hundred people were
on board the stcameh Was all day
against = south east storm. Grew
constantly pumping. Boats abaft the
paddle box had no oarsN in them;.
others had. Between eight and nine
o'clock in the evening while in bed.
heard a crash End felt a Shutki rs
if we had struck - sock;
heard something fall as if
rocks had fallen. Starboakd
bow bell struck TO stop, back and 60
ahead, Went on deck, heard voices
say "it's all right" saw several hghts!
at distance, but do not think they:
were colored; hut-paid little attention,
Returned to the cabin; noticed the
ship took heavy list to port. Went
on deck to the pilot house: heard some
: one say sshe is making water very
fast;" met Captain coming out Of his
room, and asked him il there were
any blue lights, or gnns. Hc said the
blue lights were in the pilot:house.
Got them, and burned five; noticed
that the engines we're still working,
but no one ut the wheel. Went
to starboard side, forward Of
paddlc,box where ! number d
of men were trying to get out the
long boat but could not. Went TO
port boat forward ana helped q num-
Der OF. women into it; could not move
the boat; heard that the boat abaft
the paddle had got off, but did not see
it; think it was about IN hour after
the steamer struck when she listed SO
I 30 e -
much that the port boat exas In the
water; was in that boat and cut loose
from dcyits; our boat filled with
water and turned over; got OF her
bottom and helped several up with
me; Immediately after, the steamer
seemed to break in two,i the. smoke
stack fell and struck our boat and the
steamer sunk. 1 think about all the
womenwere in our boat and think
they were all drowned when the boa,
upset; this was about
ten o'clock in tie evening. The
night was yerY dsrk, but . sfrest
hreeze blowing. afterwards lef
the bottom sof the boat with .ahothel
man and climbed to the top Of tht
pilot house which was floating near
Next morning got some lie preserv
ers floating near / cid !, ! = with tbeir rope
lashed myself and companion to tho
pilot house. Saw three RATS, frs
had one man omit; next had three
men and one woman; could not max
out the others for, distance, exccp
that there were people oHsit: Thin
we were 80 OF 40 miles south Of Cap
Flattcry yAoq Me. Yessel,sunk Pass
ed the light On sratsoosh Island be
tween four and i've in the ever
ing. I and mp companio
: was on pilot.houso allSof Friday, unit
about q p. M, when he died; ! s g.
him loose. The sea was running vel
high all day; the water washing oy'
US: Soon sfter5he died I sighted
yessel, called, and heard TUG people Z
the other RATS calling, but the yess
did not come near. Friday mig