The record-union., 1893-10-16
STEAMER WRECKED.
The Newburn Runs Upon the Rocks
North of San Pedro Lighthouse.

North of San Pedro Lighthouse.
REDoNDo, Oct. 15.-The steamship New
bern, Won Helms, Captain, eight days
from Guaymas, grounded yesterday
morning at o'clock few miles north
of the San Pedro lighthouse. The pas
sengers, crew and part of the cargo were
saved. The ship was lost.
There was dense fog through which
one could not see a ships length. The
Captain supposed that he was well out
from land. The current carried him Oft
his course. The ship went full speed
upon the rocks. The water came in very
rapidly. The steamer listed to port and
rolled very much.
The vessel lay on the rocks in this posi-
ton until daybreak and partial lifting OF
the fog, when the passengers were rowed
to shore, not stones throw distant.
The Newbern's cargo was of oranges,
tanbark and bullion. All were lost ex-
cept the latter. The passengers were
principally Mexicans. There were seven
in the first cabin and about twenty 70
in the second.
Captain Won Helms, who is an old and
able seaman, can give no reason for the
accident. The steamer was supposed to be
on her usual course, which lies three
vessel struck the lifeboats were ordered
out, and after taking lines ashore the
work of transferring the passengers and
baggage was commenced. Seventy-tlve
Thousand dollars worth of bullion was
stored in the specie tank. 1t was lowered
into two boats and brought TO San Pedro
III charge of the Captain and second mate.
No attempt was made to get the cargo
out, as the vessel quickly keeled over on
her port side and filled with water.
She is valued. at $4,000, The Pacific
Coast Steamship Company carries its own
insurance. The cargo was valued at about
S200, 900, including the bullion.
Great excitement prevailed among the
passengers when the vessel crashed upon
the rocks, and panic seemed imminent,
but was averted by the calmness of the
Captain and crew.
The Newbern's position remained un-
changed to-day. She is slowly going to
pieces The Coos Bay arrived at the
scene this morning and has succeeded in
saving considerable of the furnishings.
The passengers, with their baggage, were
transferred to the Corona and proceeded
ON their trip at noon.
Divers will arrive tomorrow and en-
deavor to recover the $25, 900 in bullion
still in the hold.
Conveyanees and excursion craft from
Redondo to-day visited the wreck. Many
souvenirs were obtained. Every body is
smoking genuine imported Mexican
cigars. The weather is very clear and
the sea very calm.
VESSEL WITH A HISTORY.
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 15.-The New
bern was one of the Government trans
ports during the war of the rebellion.
The steamer was built by the Pollions, a
firm conducting a ship yard at Brooklyn,
n. Y. The launching took place in 1868,
and the vessel was christened the United
States, having been sold to the Govern
ment while on the stocks.
During the war the transport carried
troops, and in the tall of 1867 came to this
coast with party bound for Alaska. On
her return from the north the steamer
was sold to Hartshorn & Wilson, the
name changed and the vessel put in the
coast trade. In 1869 the Newbern was
placed in the trade between this port and
Mexican ports on the Gulf of California.
Most profitable was the traffic, both in
passengers and freight, and the Newbern
for years made barrels of money for her
owners.
The vessel some fifteen years ago passed
into the hands Of Captain John Birming-
ham, who also handled the steamer sue
cessfully in the Mexican trade. About
five years ago Goodall, Perkins 6 Co. be-
came the owners and Captain Won Helms
was given command. Two years ago the
owners secured the mail contract from
the Mexican Government and conces-
sion remitting port charges in gulf ports.
The amount of silver bullion brought
here by the Newbern in twenty years
would make a solid model of the steamer
full size.