Year: 1875

Cne ventura was WTecktu ou Ioiut
Sur on the Goth instant, we have been
unable to gather anything but the
most meagre reports of the disaster.
In reply to every inquiry addressed to
parties In San Francisco or Monterey
for the full details of the affair, tele-
grams of the most laconic style have
been received, saying: "Struck rock
total wreck = passengers saved.o
Public interest, however, demands
something more explicit concerning
an affair of so much interest and
which comes SO closely home to eve-
rybody in our city. AT 8 o'clock yes
teriay afternoon the steamer Ancon
arrived at San Pedro, bringing
the passengers of the unfor-
tunate ship, and at half past
six o'clock the Wilmington train
landed them in our city. Many one
no doubt drew the first long breath
which they had experienced for a
week. Altogether, they were the most
dilapidated lot of passengers which we
have seen for many a day. One of
them said to us as we inquired after
his welfare, "Don't ask me; 1 have
been on the ragged edge since Tues
day night" The story Of the whole
disaster, told us by q friend who
chanced to be among the unfortunates,
is as follows:


The steamer struck the rock at 8:15
Tuesday night. Just before the col
lisiOn was in my staterOOm with q
companion, and CHANGING to look
through the headlight saw quite dis
tinctly the shape of rock not far from
the side of the ship-perhaps forty feet
distant. said to my friend, "That's
close shave" Then he replied,
"There's another, and another"
simultaneously with this the engine
bell was struck and the machinery Of
the steamer reversed. In q seconds
time the ship struck the rock, produc-
ing such concussion that we were
both thrown to the floor. From this,
all was confusion. When reached
Cu0 ucCk tWulCu W0o DO UOOu ID pOSol,
hle, you may be sure, found the fore
part of the ship firmly grounded and
the stern pointing seaward. In few
moments she swung around, with stern
in-shore, and striking on another rock
was firmly bound. For while the
utmost CONSERVATION prevailed among
the passengers. Some of the ladies'
went into mysteries, but as gen.
J eral thing they displayed more
GOODNESS than the men. One big fol-
low-big enough to carry six Of me-
rushed up and asked il he could hang
on to me, AZ he saw that had . life
preserver. said tiny friend paddle
your own canoe" and he went off the
most wretched man / ever saw. One
lady exclaimed in the intensity of her
excitement, "Oh, shall I never walk
on Kearney street again?" There is
always comical side to these affairs
when they come out all right after
wards, but this one was sober enough
for us just then. We soon learned
that the ship was in no danger ofsink-
| ing and that the shore was not far dis
tant; then life preservers were dis
tributed to all Of the passengers and
comparative quiet was restored. At
least fifteen minutes elapsed after the
ship struck before the boats were low
cred. There seemed to be lack Of
| discipline among the crew, and the
lowering Of the boats was attended
with considerable confusion. Mr.. Har-
rison, the First Officer, however, Is en-
titled to much credit, as he maintained
| his presence of mind throughout. In
| charge Of the first boat he left the ship
| to look up safe landing place, and
found clear beach about one hundred
and fifty yards distant. A line was
soon stretched from the ship to shore
and the work Of debarkation COM
menced. -Four boats were at hand,
including that in charge of the First
| Mate. Two Of those, in which q num-
! ber Of ladies and three or four gentle
men had been placed, through mis-.
understanding Of their crews, pulled
away to sea, and after being out all
night, landed seven miles below where
the vessel struck. This awkward
management left us only two availa-
BILE boats in which to land the remain
| ing passengers-about two hundred in
number. The process Of disembark-
ing was rendered difficult and danger
GUS. We were compelled to grasp q
rope hanging over the ships side and
slide down to the boats below, which,
owing to the heavy surf, could not be
held to one place second at time.


When o man reached the ropes end,


he found himself dangling between


heaven and ocean, with no great GER


tainty whether he would drop into


the water or into the boat when he


let 60. Fortunately, however, no
casualties occurred and the passen-


gers were all landed at half


past l2 at night, the work having


been carried on for four long hours.


The first boat load that landed man.


aged to kindle q fire on the beach


which served as q beacon to the pas


sengers still on board the wreck and


gave something Of more cheerful


outlook to affairs in general. Other


Ares were kindled as the passengers


continued to arrive on shore; blankets


were also secured from the vessel, al


though insufficient in number, and the


forlorn company were made as com.


Portable as the exigencies Of the case


would permit. No attempt was made


to save any Of the baggage left behind


during that night or the day follow.


ing. About ten o'clock Wednesday


morning the boats returned to the shir


and brought q supply Of provisions up.


on which we managed to subsist un.


til taken off by the Santa Cruz Thurs


day morning. The two nights


and day spent upon the


beach were q severe tax upeu


the endurance Of all, as cool sea.
breeze was blowing constantly and


everybody's clothing was soaked with


water in The debarkation. About 81