The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-07-02
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE: WAsHNGgN D. c. THURSDAY,
SHERMAN'S MEMOIRS.
lCnnfinnrd FROM iirst pnge.l

beneft, being the identical $4,000
herein explained, but he lost his case.
Hammond, too, was afterward removed
from office, and indicted in part for
this transaction He was tried before
the United States Circuit Court, Judge
McAlister presiding, for 4 violation of
the sub Treasury Act, but was acquitted.
Our bank, having thus passed so we'll
through the crisis, took at once first
rank; but these bank failures bad caused
so many mercantile losses, and led to
such an utter downfall in the value OF
real estate, that everybody lost more or
less money by bad debts, by depreciation
of stocks and collaterais that became un-
salable, if not worthless.
About this time wiz, February, 1S55,)
I had exchanged my house on Green
street with Mr. Sloat for the half of q
50-vara lot on Harrison street, between
Fremont and First, on which there was
a small cottage, and | had contracted for
the building of a new frame house thereon
at $4,000. This house was finished on
the 9th of April, and my family moved
into it at once.
For some time Mrs. Sherman had been
anxious to go home to Lancaster, o.,
where we had left our daughter Minnie
with her grandparents, and we arranged
that S. NJ. Bowman, esq, and wife should
move into our new house and board
US, viz, Lizzie, Willie, with the nurse
Biddy, and my myself, for a fair con-
sideration. 1t so happened that two
of my personal friends, Messrs. Win
ters and Cunningham, of Maryaville,
and young fellow named Eagan, now
a Captain in the Commissary Depart
ment, were going East in :he steamer of
the middle of April, and that Mr.. Will
liam III. Aspinwall, of New York, and
Mr.. Chauncey, of Philadelphia, were
also going back; and they all offered
to look to the personal comfort of Mrs.
Sherman on the voyage. They took
passage in the steamer Golden Age
Commodore Watkins). which sailed on
April II, 1866. Their passage down
the coast was very pleasant till within a
days distance of Panama, when, one
bright moonlit night, April 20, the ship,
running at full speed, between the
Islands Quibo and Quicara,
STRUCK ON A sUNKEN REEF,
tore out streak in her bottom, and at
once began to fill with water. Fortu-
nately, she did not stick fast, but swung
off into deep water, and Commodore
Watkins, happening to be on deck at
the moment walking with Mr.. Aspin-
wall, learning that the water was rush
ing i'll with great rapidity, gave orders
for full head of steam, and turned
the vessels bow straight for the Island
Quicara. The water rose rapidly in the
hold, the passengers were all assembled,
fearful of going down, the fires were out,
and the last revolution of the wheels
made, when her bow touched gently on
the beach, and the vessels stern sank in
deep water. Lines were got out, and
the ship held in an upright position, so
that the passengers we're safe, and but
little incommoded. l have often heard
Mrs. Sherman tell of the boy Eagan,
then about IA years old, coming to her
stateroom and calling to her not to be
afraid, as he was a good swimmer; but
no coming out into the cabin, partially
dressed, she felt more confidence in the
cool manner, bearing, and greater
strength of Mr.. Winters There must
have been nearly thousand souls on
board at the time, few of whom could
have been saved had the steamer gone
down in mid-channel, which surely |
would have resulted had not Commo-
dore Watkins been on deck, or had he
been less prompt in his determination to
beach his ship. A sail-bOat was dis
patched toward Panama, which luckily |
met the steamer John l.. Stephens, just |
coming out of the bay, loaded with about |
thousand passengers bound for San
Francisco, and she at once proceeded |
to the relief of the Golden Age. Her
passengers were transferred in small |
boats to the Stephens, which vessel, with |
her 1000 people crowded together with
hardly standing-room, returned to Pan
anna, whence the passengers for the East
proceeded to their destination without
further delay. Luckily for Mrs. Sher-
man, Purser Goddard, an old Ohio
friend of ours, was on the Stephens, an6
most kindly gave up his own room to
her and such lady friends as she in
cluded in her party. The Golden Age
was afterward partially repaired at
Quicara, pumped out, and steamed to
Panama, when, after further repairs, she
resumed her place in the line. | think
she is still in existence, but Commodore
Watkins afterward lost his life in China
by falling down hatchway.
Mrs. Sherman returned in the latter
part of November of the same year,
when Mr.. and Mrs. Bowman, who mean
time had bought lot next to us and