, 1876-07-14
ARRIVAL OF STEAMER CITY OF PANAMA.
A Seven Days Trip from San Francisco
Collision at Sea.

On laSJ TludY dlUcTHoOll' dG 7 U NiONh'
the steamer City of Panama arrived at
this port from San Francisco via Victoria,
having made the extraordinarily long pas
sage of seven days from wharf to wharf.
We give q memorandum of her trip as
follows:
"After passing out of San Francisco
harbOr. on Friday evening, June 30th, the
CITY of Panama encountered thick fog
with light head winds. About midnight,
when fifty miles from port, struck schOOn-
er Bill the Butcher, lumber laden, mid
ships, cutting nine feet into her side,
through panGing and cargo. Taking her
crew aboard were delayed until after day
light trying to tow the disabled vessel of
which only little OF the stern rail was
visible, her large deck-lOad making a
bulky raft that in the heavy sea rolling
was too much for any hawser at hand.
Two miles after leaving the wreck of Bill
the Butcher passed a schooner bound to
San Francisco and, at their request, put
the officers and crew of the first mentioned
vessel on board Of her. During Saturday,
July lst, the wind fresheled to a gale,
driving before it a heavy northwest swell.
Sunday this still f:rther Increased, and
the vessel being very light it became
matter of difficulty to strer her. Towards
morning, on Monday, Capt. Seabury de-
termined, as it was comparatively clear,
thongh blowing hurricane, to head her
toward shore and take advantage of the
general bend Of the coast to the westward
to get smoother water and less wind. The
wisdom OF this was easily apparent to the
sensitive passenger, and by noon we had
crept along the shore almost TO Cape
Blaneo. and found a quiet anchorage in
Port Oxford.
''At Port Oxford found the steamer En-
pire bound for Coos Bay, which is but so
miles north. The Empire had been nearly
a week at Port OrfOrd trying to make the
little run to her destination. At every
lull In the gale she would run out and
make another effort only to be met by a
seVereF gale and compelled to seek again
the friendly shelter of Port Orf0rl harbOf.
On Tuesday morning at daylight the Pan
anna started again. it was still blowing
heavy from the northwest but the more
violent fury Of the gale seemed to have
abated. Passing Cape Blanco held on by
The Oregon coast, and only found the
weather favorable after getting north of
the Columbia river. Passed the bark
Camden from the Sandwich Islands on
Thursday morning off the mouth of the
Straits Of Fuca, aud reached Victoria the
same evening"
The incidents OF the collision of the City
OF Panama and the schooner Bill the
Butcher are worthy Of mention, and can
not fail to he compared by our readers
with similar accidents, or, rather, similar
accident Of sadly differing result, the par
ticulars Of which are still fresh in the
minds of our people. They are given to.
us as follows, by one Of the passengers:
l"Onl the evening after leaving San
Francisco i had lain a long time listening
10 our soRoFous whistle sounding every
sometimes blown more frequent-
~ as waves Of thicker fog came down It
would startle me, its sudden frequency
seeming to imply impending danger. At
last, fell asleep, anu ffnun my sIumber
was awakened by the violence and shock
Of the collision. Without moving, and
holding my breath, 1 waited to see wbeth-
sr the shock was to be repeated, or to hear
'ome sound that SHOULD Indicate its cause
md extent. a. moment Of silence and
hen was felt quiyering sensation to the
vessel as We snrged ahead with Something
against and under our bow. From my
berth to my window was but step-stis
needless to say It was a rapid one. look
ing forward, thi ough the fig could Just
see the stern Of some vessel at our bow.
and without delay, within two minutes
afleF the collision, / was on derk. and
walked forward at once. A boat was be-
ing cleared away on the port side Of our
ship. Passing the pilot house met Capt.
5eaburE coming from the bow where
still hung although our engines
were reversed. asked Capt. S. whether
be had any orders for the basseneers. He
aid, None this ship is all right"
ball from the schooner was answered bv
he Captain with ALRIGHT I viii have
! boat alongside Of you In few minutes. ),
hastened 70 the cabin 10 give the mas
engers the Captains ASSURANCE Of no
langer. Returning Immediately to the
leck found that although five minutes
lad hardly elapsed since the collision
he extent of damage had not only
'een aseertained. but our steamer had
'een backed clear and then turned ahead
md her bow thrown off so that the boat
We were launching came just opposite and
lose % the schooner, and the boat was
liready launched and half way to the in
ured vessel on her errand OF mercy"
The discipline aud promptness Of action
IN the part Of officers and men on the
'teamer City Of Panama made panic i'm
'ossible In connection with this collision.
We can but cali to mind the following
nets, viz: The Pacific struck the orpheus
n direction and situation Just about such
blow as the City Of Panama did this
rhooner. The Pacific stove the bulwarls
nd cut pIatk or two below the deck Of
he unloaded Orpheus, the City OF Pana-
na cut nine feet into the side Of this
thooner "a blow ten times harder than