The morning call., 1891-04-03
MID WILD WAVES.
The Wreck of the Tennessee,
Years Ago.
A Survivors Story Of an Historic Disaster-Tom
Gihon's Reminiseences-State-ro
Doors in a Settlers shanty.

Near what Is now tennessee Cove, anu
what was Indian Cove in the blssiul days
of 40, stands an old cabin built out OF the
timber of the steamship Tennessee, that
reached her final haven in the treacherous
little curve in 1853 and caused it to be re-
baptized. It'll was there also that the i'll
fated Elizabeth found her last resting place
few weeks ago; and the spot has become
historic and will be remembered while
storms howl and ships go down.
The doors of the cabin. on which the white
paint still clings in patches, were once the
staIe-room doors of the lost Tennessee-the
Tennessee that died in giving her name to
the cove. But the owner could tell little
about the steamship or its fate. He remem-
bered, however, that there was Tom
Gihon on board, who was, he thought,
messenger for Wells, Fargo & Co.
A CALL reporter, anxious to obtain the
story of the famous wreck, called at Wells,
Fargo & Co.'S Office yesterday to see Tom
Gihon aad hear from his own lips the mar
rative of the wreck. But there was no Tom
Gihon there. Messengers came and went, light
of leg as Tam O. Shanter's nag and light of
tongue as Tam O. Shanter's wife, but Tom
Gih0n was not among them. There was
not a soul in the big. nicely founded off
building that knew Tom GlhOn. and the news
gatherer was about to seek him In the quiet
spot where messengers and all others rest.
when he thought OF the not always reliable
City directory
THOMAS GInoN FOUND.
There he found that there was Thomas
Gihon, q seal-ensraver by trade, doing bust
ness at 1877 Montgomery street and living at
422 Bryant street, and at 422 Bryant street
lie was found-a white haired and white
bearded old gentleman, courteous and
kindly, who remembered well and willingly
told all lie knew about the wreck OF the
Tennessee.
at would not be considered big ship
nowadays" he said. 1T was smaller
than tie Sans of the Pacific Mail Com
pany-the san Bias, the San Juan and the
San Jose. 1t was of about 1890 TINS burden,
o side wheeler and made the distance from
Panama to San Francisco in about two
weeks 1t was then the messenger of the
Adams Express Company. Wells, Fargo Il
Co. were liz existence, but did not amount
to much.
a. crossed the isthmus with caravan of
mules laden with about $l,50000O of treas
ure and l well remember the journey-the
trip from AspinWall down the river, and the
journey through the swamps and jungles.
The path was impeded by swaying vines
starred with gorgeous flowers and damp
with poisonous eXhalations. Naked men
and women assisted US until we reached
Old Panama, and then we went on board.
Goal was worth $50 per ton and scarce
at that, and we progressed slowly. We
stopped at Acapulco, which is d repository
for those suffering from ChagrrS fever from
the vessels coming up the coast and then
we made for San Francisco. On Sunday
morning, March ., 1858, thirty-seven years
and fifty weeks before the Elizabeth was
wrecked, VS. stood of the Heads.
1890 SOULS on BOARD.
"There were about 1900 aboard, and Tot
ten Of the United States Navy was COM
mander; for in those days the Pacific Mail
Company was obliged to carry United States
Navy men 10 break them in, so to speak.
Among the passengers were Peter Ogden,
Governor oil Oregon; Josiah Belden, Hiram
Tubbs. Mrs. George Loder and Miss San
ford, Weil-knOwn SchOOl-teacGer.
1t was on Sunday morning about half
past that we reached the cove and all on
board were on the qui vive TO see the new
city inside the Golden Gate. The morning
was cold and the fog rose on all sides in
great shifting banks like mountains throw
ing off vast avalanches that never fell, but
rolled down the sides and became again
part of the parent mass. The vessel went
slowly along, slipping from point to point.
We could not see sixty feet on either side
and Us we went down to breakfast the ship
struck.
that great shudder went through the ship
and the hull ana the masis and the engines
and all things that were on her trembled.
The dishes on the table went Gathering to
the floor, and the passengers screamed and
rushed to the deck. We struck again and
looking to the right we saw big bluff bear
ing flagstaff, which was the surveyors
monument We had struck against Il reef,
but we fell off. The surf drove us on until
we struck the reef broadside on and stuck
fast until we were broken to pieces. 1t was
on the very spit where the Elizabeth struck
a few weeks ago.
A LINE CARRIED ASHORE.
"The tide went down and we stuck the
faster and bowling, the mate, jumped over
board and was carried TO the rocks, where
lie happened to scramble up out of the
reach OF the waves. He carried a small
rOpe with him, to which cable was at
tached and made fast. on which three or
four men went over. L got the ladies to-
gether, and with the stewards help got
Eoat down and sent tie ladies ashore. |
had fearful job TO keep the men back
They were frantic to save themselves and
cared very little for the women aud children.
They rayed and howled and promised all
that they had or hoped to have if l would
let them inlO the boat; but | was firm, and
after struggling for six hours we got the
women ashore.
about noon the ship broke in two. and
her heavy machinery went to the bottom.
We could get no help from the Inhabitants
of the then sparsely Settled country and we
shivered on the beach until midnight. The
next day we made our way to the city.
About ten years ago | saw the cabin doors
OF the Tennessee doing duty in shanty near
the wreck, and that's all know about it,"
'Wha. became of the captan?"
ION, he was fired by the company, as all
captains are who lose their ships. It's a
rule that like the rain falls upon the lust