San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1884-12-18
RCos, HAYS COUNTY, TxAs THURSDAY DECEMBER ls, 1884,

bly, bought from the United States
and also ammunition on board fol
the use OF the Texans.
/ saw the Mexican Consul watct
from morning till dusk to note what
quantity was shipped, probably to
report to his Government. I also
noticed on board the steamer, q
certificate, that the boilers were made
Of copper and sound, but it was also
rumored that the hull Of the vesse
was not sound, and ths6aDasi the. Lest
time that the Marine Insurance Co
would take risks on it.
Well, we started off one eve in
good spirits and full of joyous hopes
Midway between New Orleans and
the Balize we run aground, having
no pilot. After some hours detention
we got aAoat again, without any
apparent mishap, but about ~ hours
afterwards we found the ship badly
leaking. Steam and hand pumps were
called into requsition, also all passen
gers to bail out water with buckets
but all of no avail; the vessel was
about to sink, water put out the fire
of the furnace. We had two captains
on board, one the commander, the
other a passenger, and I watched
them; they looked very pale; then
1 suppose Hooked still paler, for then
I surmised great danger. Having
been myself several times ct sea be
fore I was not SO easily frightened.
The bar room Of tho steamer was
open free of access to all, but even
the hired hands on board who gene
rally loye liquor we'll, would not taste
or handle-I thought then the thing
is about up with us all.
The captain finding it impossible
to save the steamer, attempted to
strand it, and he succeeded. We ran
ashore near Last Island.
1t was dark night, but few stars
could be seen, no land visible when
we run fast, but the ship bell tolled
by the rocking OF the sinking vessel,
sounded to us all as q funeral knell.
We had oven not gale. After the
vessel struck fast, I saw one OF the
ships frail boats launched, and broke
to pieces against the sides of the
vessel. I do not know the fate oi
it's inmates, for it was too dark to
recognise features perhaps they
clambered up on the sides of the wreck.
Soon after the vessel struck, the
steamer broke in twain, next the
cabin, which in Texas steamers is
above deck, broke into pieces, the
berths washed out, and some twenty
five of us unfortunates clung to the
roof Of the cabin, which was only
held together by the oiled canvass
nailed to it to keep rain and sea water
out of it. There were twenty-five
Of us, on hands and knees holding on
as best as we could not to be washed
overheard. AS I said, the vessel
broke in twain, some five persons
tried to save themselves on the strong
frame work of the so called walking
beam. While I was thus situated
on the roof of the cabin, the berth
all broke out and washed out under
meath. l saw too remarkable incid-
ents, on top Of the steamer there
were some barrels of apples one Of
which fell down, and accidentally an
apple rolled out the mate Of the
steamer picked it up, and said that is
probably the last apple he ever would
eat. I was near him. 1 had some
Spanish dollars belted around my
waist, and 1 can't swim more than
a hen. I unbelted it, for 1 believed
1 would have no further use OF it in
this world, and if there was a chance
for me to be saved / at least would
not be killed by money sinking me.
can not tell W hethermY belt Of money
was washed overheard or whether
some more courageous person picked
it up. There was one passenger on
board who had plenty money; he
prayed long to have his life saved
he scattered his money about, which
no one picked up, and finally shot
himself in despair, fell down within
six feet Of me, aud was not washed
of, and we buried him in the sands
of Last Island
No one in good health, when sud
denly danger Of death stares uneK-
pectediy in his face can imagine that
terrible feeling. The criminal con-