The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-05-31
The Loss OF the City or san Francisco

Tne LOSS OIL the City OF san Francisco
SAN FaASCIsco, May 30.-A San
Diego correspondent of the California
Associated Press, telegraph, as follows:
P.M.-The Pacific mail steamer, Costa
Rics, has just dropped anchor and has on
board l37 passengers Of the City of San
Francisco. Mr.. Moses Sargent, brother
of Senator Sargent, gives the following
details:
The City of San Francisco left Panama
May llth, at 4:30 A NJ, with 1877 passen-
gers, 46 cabin and 81 steerage, and $50
officers and crew. The value of the cargo
was three quarters OF million dollars,
consisting OF silks, velvets, lsces, etc.
OR Wednesday morning, May 10th, the
day was bright and atmosphere clear At
9:l8 an indescrIble tremor was felt the
ship having struck against an unknown
danger, cutting into the hull the length of
60 feet. Theiwater rushed in with fearful
velocity. TIE ship was then SIX miles
southwest of the Tartar shoals and
thirteen miles from shore, the captain
having known BY observstisn his position
at 8 o'clock. The danger upon which
she struck is not in any chart, but
document sworn to before the U. S.
consul at Acapulco by one Percer, and
witnessed by VIM. Lund of the gunbost
Mexico, deposes that said Pereer Is per-
fectly conversant with the rocks
extending from Point Maldona-
d .cia in southwestern direction,
sharp pointed, covered with four or FIVE
iaLhoms of water. extending In nearly
straight line southwest to distance of
twelve to fourteen miles from land, and
that he fshed for turtles frequently
there. The ship was at once turned to-
ward the shore, gradually sinking, with
full steam on, when she grounded on a
sandbar, at 1910 o'clock in the morning.
Fortunately three compartments were
not burstea. The captain and his Off
GERS were cool, calm and clear-headed.
AS soon as the ship struck, orders having
been given to get the boats ready, the
life preservers were put on, rs the dan
ger of sinking was imminent. Soundings
between the rect aud ssndbank showed
ST, u, 20 and % fathoms of water and
no bottom. During the fearful interval,
while evidently sinking, not q cry was
heard from the PASSENGERS. There was
little confusion, but silent, anxious wait
Ing, although there were l37 passengers
20 of them small children, and many
young men never before ut sea. The
boats started for the shore, thirty miles
away. Not passenger was allowed a
pound of baggage OF any kind, and
when reaching the shore each boat was
overturned and all the passengers
thrown in the surf. The scene is never
to be forgotten. A kind Providence
preserved every life, and all were safe on
the Mexican shore. Fortunately
stream of fresh water was found
between the mountains, where,
with the stars for covorlng and the roots
and branches of trees for mattresses, all
slept. The captain at once sent one of
the officers to Acapulco, eighty miles dis
tant. but fortunately the boat fell in with
the gunboat Mexico, Capt. Seslor COM
manding. Although under orders to get
provisions for the bessieged city, the in
hsbitsnts starving for food, the captain
ut once steamed of TO the relief of the
ship wrecked passengers. They were all
taken of safely, crowding the deck of
the gunboat, and the next day transfer
red to Pacific mail steamer Costa
Rica, Captain Whiteberry commanding.
The officers and crews of the United
States ships Lsckswanns and PEN
sacola, acted nobly IN supplying
the passengers with clothing from
their private wardrobes, the United
States ship taking up subscriptions to
large. amount Tor distribution among the
women and children who were destitute
Capt. Waddel behaved splendidly, brave,
humane and unselfsh. Capt. Wsddle
SAYS the seven pumps of 100 barrels of
water per minute were absolutely useless.
The whole bottom OF the steamer has run
over the spot repeatedly. The only
conjecture is that the late earthquake
which was manifest on the coast by the
tidal wave, has upheaved submarine
rocks. In one hour and two minutes
the ship was under the waves
and WAS gong at III knots
when struck. The captain was
on the bridge before the steamer struck,
and estimated everything by bis watch.
Twenty minutes after she struck the fires
were out. In that twenty minutes she
WAS run in shore under n full head OF
steam, making distance OF 9 or 10 miles,
and there grounded in 30 feet of water
on sand bottom. The next morning
foot Of the stern was seen out of water,
the body of the ship being submerged,
the niezzen mast gone, the baggage Of
the passengers, furniture, ETC., floating
ashore during the day. The money OF
the passengers in the purser's hands. the
ships money and all the baggage Is q
total loss. 1t was run for
life. From interviews with many
of the passengers, 1 find that there is q
unanimous sentiment of the wsrmest
feeling toward the commander and OH
GERS. Every man says, emphsticaily,
that the officers could have done no more
than they did; that they did sll that
men could do. The captain declares
that hss officers and men stood to their
duty nobly, and that none but heroes
were On board. In the best drilled man
of.war they could not have acted with
better discipline, and responded to every
order with more fidelity. Capt. Waddle.
Pursey jerome, l.. b. Parrot, L. Askelili,
h. Stewart and +. Sutton will take con-
veysnce here and will proceed by railroad
from Annsheim. The Costs Rlca re-
mains to take on coal, and will probably
no, get away from here until tomorrow.
The men expect to arrive in San Fran
cisco MONDAY.
Marine.