The New York Herald Newspaper, January 14, 1854, Page 1

HOLE NO. 63852. TOTAL LOSS. OF THE PAMSHIP SAN FRANCISCO, WITH RLY. TWO HUNDRED LIVES, Hundred Soldiers Swept Over- board by a Single Wave. aw ler Five Hundred Lives Saved. ble Hurricanes.and Shipwrecks at Sea. ful Scenes on Board the San Francisco. NDONMENT OF THE WRECK He Conduct of a British and Two American Captains. yal at this Port of Two Hundred and Thirty of the Survivors in the British Ship Three Bells. NTIC AND FULL ACCOUNTS CF iHE DISASTER, &eo., &., &. & painful suspense of several days, we have d news of the fate of the steamship San Fransiso>, hose who left this port in ber for California. The h ship Three Bells, Capt, Oreighton, arrived Jast with the rad intelligenvo of the total loss of the neisco, with about two hundred hves, and the news of the saving of over five hundred—officers of army, their wives, parsengers, soldiers, and officers srew of ibe steamer, details of thi terrible disaster are given in the og Y OF THE LOu BOOK OF THE THREE BELLS. Saturday, 31st December, 2A, M., caw a light bear* southwest; 2:30 A, M., discovered that they firing guns; supposing they were guns of distress, we diately stevred for her, and at 9:30 passed her stern found ker to be the Sen Francisco, fron New York, bound to San Francisco, dismasted sad disabled, ' Svept, anc, hailing her, sue wished as to remain er until the weather moderated; it thon blowing from south southwest, we again tacked, and in jg by her we told them to keep their hearts up, aa would remain by ker until the weather moderated: Pay and Monday, the Ist and 24 of January, beating Rt the wreck, the weather too stormy to render them assistance until 2A. M. of Tuesday, the 4a; I then red my quarter-bost and sent her alongside the wreck, the ship Jaying to to leeward, when returned with the second officer of the San Fransisco, hen coming on to blow, we found that nothing more d be done that day, so wo hoisted the boat up and by the wreck until the following day, 4th instant, 1B, at 2 o'clock A.M., it becoming more mo?erate, we d the quarter-boat down and made five trips to ths ok, saving about 84 persons. It then becoming dark: hoisted up the boat end laid by her until the follow- morning, Sth instant, when we put out the longboat, kept both boats going all day, raving the peoplefrom wreck. Abcut 11 A M. we hoisted the boats in, received aJl the crew and passengers from the ck. We then eet allsail, and proceeded on our pas- to New York. ATEMENT BY MR. MELLUS, THE CHIEF OFFICER OF THE SAN FRANCISCO. 9 A, M. Thursday morning, Deo. 22, ship left anchor- off Quarantine, with light breeze from southwest and weather, snd disebarged pilot; hove log, ship mak 1% knots per hour, During the night, wind and her much the same, 0, 24, (sea time.)—Moderate breezes from the west, A cloudy weather; employed in bending studding sails, makingalisail, Atabout 6 P, M. wind died away to ht, bailing airs. The weather looking very threaten- yforled all sail; ship going 83 kwots, At 9 P. M, came out suddenly sad with tremendous force f-om northwest, causing heavy sea. At 10 P. M., ship hed to; set fore spencer and fere staysail, when she in fell off before it; set the foresail, and gave the en- r ordora to give her all the steam he thought pru- it; ship went along 10 knots, until 11 P. M., when she fain broached fo in a tremendous sea, and all endeavors to her off wereunavailing; blew away forestaysail; hauled the foresail. At about 12M, blew away forespencer {4 foresnil from the lee yardarm; put a lashing om the jai of the spanker to haul out theclew; ship labored javily; ordered the troops forward, excepting those who dlay about the floor of the upper saloon. All this ine the ship labored very heavily, laying in the trough of the Kp every sea striding her tremendous Liows. The engine stop- a, the end of the air pump piston rod breaking P, and the air pump buckets consequently adrift. At is time the spanker blew away, leaving the ship enterely the mercy of the winds and waves. Ship now making oom- water, Bteom pumps were kept running, and d pumps manned; but the water gaining, (the troops re organized in bailing gangs, to pass up water ‘rough the engineroom. At 7 A. M. the foremast went er the side, with all attached, breaking about six feet nove upper “eck. Ato A. M. shipped a heavy sea amid ps, which wripped starboard paddle box, carried away star- ard after king post, both smoke stacks, all the upper saloon, ving half the quarter deck through, and washing overboard large number of soldiers, Vol. Washington, Major Taylor yd wife, Capt, Field and twe ladice, names unicnown, three eiians, unknown, all cf whom were in the saloon, the iiers having been admitted to the saloon, owing to the verity of the weather. A waiter named Brooke, and 1@ barber, also ® young man oamed Ducket. the carpen- r’s brother, wore killed by the crash. Up to this me the water had been kept under; but this mn raised the water in the ship #0 much that the soldiers almost gave up in despair, and it was only by the rentest exertions the ship was kept afloat. A gang of sdiors was set apart to hold blankets round the shaft to sewent the flowing in of water—made an attempt to out way the mizen mast, but the ship labored so heavily it aa not accomplished. Buspar, Deo, 26, (som time.)—Heavy gale and sea con. nue from worthwest, ship laboring heavily; all hands egeged pumping ard bailing—night ‘more moderate, and je got the water down so that the engineers went to ork with the sirpump—atill at work, heaving overboard rovision and cos! to lightem the ship, About noon poke brig Napoleon, of Portland, who promised to lay by s, latter part of theday more moderste. Duc. 26,—Gale continue’ fresh from the northwest and high sea. Engissers at work at the airpump, soldiers ailing and purmpiog, and lightening the ship. In the sorning the Napoleon was not to be seen by us; latter art more ‘moderste; employed in clearing wreck of uarter deck,and about noon speke brig Maria of Liverpool he promised to lay by us, ‘Dao, 37—Comtiaued witha strong gale from’ northwest heavy sea; employed in clearing the wreck, pumping, and lightening ship; night much the came, and morning nothing was te be soon of the Maria. At abont tea minutes, whem the bucket of the air pump, which the engineer had endeavored to mend, again gave out, acd in bending the storm mizsensail, lost a seaman overboard, named Alexander, and as night closed in saw 8 bark bove to, to windward. Dro, 283—Commenced with » continued strong galt from northwest and heavy sea; spoke the dark Kilby, of Bos- ton, who promised to Isy by us. During the night more moderate, and in the morning the bark stil! in sight, but a long way to windward of us; latter part of the day quite moderate; employed in getting im readiness to emberk parsergers. At this time, Johndon, one of the head waiters, died of diarrhoea, Dro. 20—Weather continued moderateand pleasant; sos going down quite fast; the bark sent a boat and Capt, Wat kins went on board; he soon returned, and we o»mmenced embarking passengers about half past two. At three P, M., run a hawser to the bark, which she held on to, Before night we succeeded in getting on board the Kuby upwards of one hundred persons, men, women, and chil- dren, intluding Col. Gates and family, Major Merchant and family, Captain Judd and lady, Lieut. Fremont and family, Lieut. Loeter and family, Capt. Gardener, Lient. Murray, of the United States Navy; Mr. Aspinwall, Mr. J. 1. Graham, Mr. J, Farnesworth, and Mr, Southwark. Also sent on board « quantity of stores; during the night tbe wind increased to squally weather. At about 10 o'clock the Kilby Jet go our bawuer, and in the morning nothing was to be seen of the Kilby. Latter part of the night strong bre from the southwest aad cloudy; during the night, Lewis Teatator, colored waiter, died. Dec. 20—Cloudy weathor, with strong geles from south- west, ship laboring heavily; employed in stopping leaks aud canvassing over the quarter deck. By this timea large number of the troops and hands had become sick of diarr hea, and many dying daily. Contiaued to throw coal overboard and to free the ship from water Dro. 81.—Moderate gales from the 3. W., all hands em- ployed stopping water out of the ship, and throwing coal overboard. Two A. M., made a ship standing to the west- ward; fired guns throughout the night, and at 9 A. M., was mpokon by the ship Three Bells, Captain Robert Origh- tom, of Glasgow, who told us to be of good cheer, for he would lay by us, William Wilson, cclored waiter, died Sunpay, Jan. 1,—Throughout the day a heavy gale from W., accempavies by a heavy sea, ship Inboring very heavily. The Three Bells still in cou.pany, and occasion" ally passing under our lee. Jay, 2.—Gale from the N. W. continued, with high sea, alihough the wind was somewhat more moderate. built two rafts, Jaunched one of them, and made it fast but at daylight it was gone, The ship, however, atiil kept incompany. Latter part of the day much the same sort of weather, The Three Bells passed quite under our Jeo, acd communisated with us; still a great many sick and dying among the troops anil firemen. Toxepay, JAN, 38—Commenced with moderate gales from the N. W. Bost of Three Bells came alongside, and Mr. Gretton, second officer, was sent on board by Major Wyse, senior U, 8. officer on board, to charter her for the govern ment, Daring the night fresh gales continued from N. W.; fired guna through the night, and the Three Balls holdiog onto windward. At$ A.M. made another sail. running be- fore the wind and apparently steering direstly for us. Hoisted our colors union down, and the stranger shorten- ing sail passed close under our bows. She preved to be the ship Antarctic, bound to Liverpool. She spoke us, and arkedif we wished to leave the ship; to which Captain We thing replied that he did. The Caplain of the Antarctic then told us to be of good cheer, as he would take us all off. He lowered two boats and the Three Bella also sent her boats. We sucoeedtd inj embarking seventy or eighty of the troops before night. At this t'me the Antarctic had her two boats stove, but without lors of life, At 7 o'clock next morning we again commenced embarking our pas- sepgers—latter part of theday quite mederate and plea- sant; the Three Belin’ longhoat employed for embarking water and provisions, and the Antarctic had only one Ddoat left. TucRSDAY, Jan, 6.—The weather being moderate and Pleasant, we got along quite fart in erabarking the peo ple avd provisions;and by sunset we hac all the troops and ® quantity of provisions and water embarked. The night continued moderntejy pleasant. At 7 A. M., 6th gain commenced sendizg water aad provisions to the Three Bells. We then embarkei the crew, and by half past ten every soul was out of the ship but Capt, Watkins, Mr. Melius, the chief officer, and Mr. Marshall, the chief enginaer. These then embarked—Capt. Wal- Kins being the last (0 quit the wreck. Mr. Mellus states that the sickness and doatha were confined entirely to tke troops, firéthen, and waiters. Havivg no means of cooking on board, they eat {mpru- dently of preserved meats and fruits, which resulted in diarrhos. There wes no sickness among the cabin pas- sengers, officers of the ship or crew. Mr. Mellus states that the Captain of the Three Bells, of Glasgow, and the Captain of the Antartic, as well as the Captain of the Kilby, deserve the highest praise for thelr perssyeriog exertions to save the lives of the people on board of the San Francie: Capt. Watkins; Mr, Sohell, Parser; Mr. Barton, third ofticer; Mr, Mason, fourth officer; Washington Dachet, carpenter; Lieut. Chandler, U. 8. A.; Lieut. Charles Winder, U.8. A.; aod Mr. Raskin, U. 8. A., are allon beard the Antarctic, bound to Liverpool. The remaining ofii nd cesw of the steamer and of the army, have returned in the Threa Bells to this city, STATEMENT CF MR. W. H. WICKHAM, AN- OTHER OFFICER OF THE STEAMER. Dee, 22.—At 9 A M, left our anchorage off Quarantine and stood down the bay, light breeze from SW., and clear weather, st 233.—Continues with light breezes and pleasant weather; at 12:20 P. M. discharged pilot outside the bar; latter part of the night wind inereased and hauled to the west ‘werd; set the fore and aft sails, and at noon the square rails; Cay ends with fresh breezs from the west and cloudy weather. 2Ath.—Mocerate breeze from the west, and clouly weather; bent stadding sails; heavy raia towards even- ing. At6P.M. the wind died away to a light bafling breeze; weather very threatening; took in‘all sail; hip goirg 834 knots; temperature of weather, 67 deg., water 54deg. At 9P. M the wind came on: suddenly from the northwest, blewing very strong, and the sea making up rapidly, At 10 P, M. the ship broached to, (head to northward;) set fore-staysail and fore spencer, when she again fell off before it; set the foresail and gave the engineer orders to give her ali the sieam he thought pru- dent; ship going ten knots until 11 P. M., when she agaia broached too (to northward) and all endeavors to get her off were of no effect; blew away fore staysail and hauled up the foresail; at 12 P. M. blew away the fore spencer and foresail from the lee yardarm; Iashed the head of the spanker to haul out the clew; about this time, ship laboring heavily, knocked up her planking over the after guard; ordered all the troops forward, cleared away the after standees, avd stoned them forward; at 1:15 A, M, the engize stopped, the end of the air pump piston rod breaking off, and the air pump bucket conse quently adrift. At this time the spanker blew away, thus leaving the ship entirely at the mercy of the waves and vyrom this time the ship labored heavily, laying in the trough of the cea, and every sea striking tremendous blows under the guards, teariog up the planking fore and aft on both sides, at the same time tore away the railing on the upper deck, hen coops, hay boxes, barrels, &o., all im @ confused mass. All hands employed io clearing decks, and lightening the ship. The ship now began to make water, both donkey pumps were kept running, and the hand pumps manned. Water gaining, organized the troops into bailing gangs, who passed the water up through the engine room. From this time until daylight things went about the same, ship laboring very heavily and tearing her although those not employed at bailing were in clearing the wreck of all stock, Provisions, ke, At7P, M. the feremast went over the side, with all attached, breaking about siz feet above deck, and splintering to the berth deck, At 9 A. M. shipped & heavy sea amidships, which stripped the starboard paddie-box, oarried away starboard after ring post, both smoke stacks, all the upper saloon, ataving the quarter deck through, and washing overboard & large mumber of passengers, including Col, Washing- ton, Majer Taylor and wife, Capt. Field, and Lienten- ant Smith, two ladies, names usknows, three civilians, Bames unbnown, ead about ome hundred and fifty pri- yates, Brooks, a waiter, the barber, and a young man named Duckett, the carpeater’s brother, were killed. Up te this time the water had gaised mush, The ‘gloots A. M. wo again svasted ths engine; dt worked | big was sow opse ia sie sonal, ores tae wales, A large part of her quarter deok stove in, and it was only by the greatest exertions the ship was kept atloat; a gang of soldiers ret spart to held blankets around the shafts to Prevent the flowing in of water; made an attempt to eu! away the mizenmast, but could not be socomplisbed, on account of the ship's laboring. 26th.—Continues with a hetvy gale from N. W., and rough sea; ship laboring besvily, and making much water; all pumps going, and bailing continued; about held our own with the leaks; during the night mora moderate; in the morning got the water down, so thit the engineers went to work at the air pumps; still at work heaving over- board frovisions, and to lighten the ship {n other ways; about noon spoke brig Napoleon, of Portland, who pro- mined to lay by us; latter part more,moderate, 26th.—Continues with » fresh gale from N. W., and high sta; engineers at work atthe air pumps; soldiers bailing, pumping, and heaving overboard provisions; During the afternoon the Napoleon was seen picking up our previsions; during the night weather much the same. In the morning the Napoleon not to be seen by us; latter part more moderate; employed as before, and at clearing the wreck of the quarter deck; about noon spoke brig Maria, of Liverpool, who tried to lay by ua. 27th.—Contioue with » atrong gale frot the northwest and heavy mployed at lightening the ship, puinp- ing, bailing, amd clearing the wreck; cut away offioors’ rooms and upper deck, and shifted the steering wheel aft on quarter deck. During the night much the sam nothing to be seen of the Maria. At 10 A. M. ntarted the engine, it worked about ten minutes, and the bucket agtin gave out; bent the storm mizen; lost a seaman over- beard, named Alexander. Saw a bark hove to to wind. ward, 28tb.—Continues the same; employed as before; spoke bark Kilby, of and for Boston from New Orleans, who promised to lay by us. During the night more moderate. Morning, the bark in sight, but a long way off to wind- ward of us; latter part quite moderate; employed at get- ting in readiness to disembark passengérs, Johnson, = waiter, died, 29th.—Moderate and pleasant, the sea going down quite fast. The bark sent s boat, and Captain Watkins, (of the San Francisco,) went on bozrd; soon returned, and we commenced disembarking passengers at about 2:30 P. M. 4t3P, M, ran a baweer to the bark, to whioh she held on, Before night succeeded in getting on board the Kilby upwards of ore hundred persons, men, women and children, including Colonel Gates and family, Lieu- tenant Leeser and family, Csptain Gardner, Lieutenant Murray, Major Merchant and family, Capt, Jadd and lady, Lieut. Fremont and family, dir, G. W. Aspinwall, and Mr. J. L. Graham, also senton board a quantity of stores, During the night the wind increasing, with squal- ly weather; at about 10 P, M. the Kilby Jet goour haw- ser, Morning, nothing to be seen of the Kilby; latter part strong breeze from 3, W. and cloudy. Louis Theslalor died, ( waiter.) Dec, 80.—Throughout the day a strong gale from the southwest and cloudy weather, with showers of rain, the ship laboring heavily, and striking hard under her guards and beams, Carried away the port after guard. A large number sick and many dying daily, Heaving coai overboard. Deo. 31—Continues with a moderate gale from the south and west and cloudy weather, the soldiera heaving coal overboard. During the night much the same, At2 A. M. made @ ship standing to windward. Fired guos throughout the remainder of the night. At 9:30 A. M. was spoken by the Aritish ship Three Bells, of Glasgow, end the captain promiced to lie by us. Latter part of the night employed as above, Wm. Wilson, waiter, died. Jen, 1—Threughont the day a strong gale from the north and nort! ers, and heavy sea, the ship Isbor. ing heavily; employed heaving over cos!, &. The Three Bells still in vompanyy and occasionally passing close under our ee, Many of \the people sick and dying fant. Jan. 2.—Continues with @ fresa gale from the north- west and bigh cea; the wind more moderate. Built two rafts, and cutting away tho ships guards, rtoppiag leaks, &e.; launched one raft, and made it fast. During tue night more moderate; at daylight the raft wa2 gone. The ship cti)l incompeay. Latter part mucl the sans, the Three Bells passing quite close under our iee, in communication with us. Still a great many sick and dying. Jan 3.--Continnes with a moderate gale from the north west, and clocdy weather. About 1 P. M, the Three Bells’ boat came alongeide. Sent Mr. Grattoa, seaond officer, on board to charter the Three Bells to the United States government, through Major Wyre, the senior United States officer om board. Daring the night afresh gale from the northwest, and clondy weather, Firiag our guns during the night, latter part, moderating a little, the Three Bells holting cn to windward. At about $:80 made another sail, running before the wind, and ap- parently steering for us. Hoisted our colors Union down. the strange sail shortened all, aud pxexed close under ourstern, Spoke us, and asked if wo wished to leave the ship, to which Captain Watkina replied he did. The Cap tain of the versel—the Antarctic, from New York for Li- verpool—then told us to be of gcod cheer, that he would have us all off; he then filled his waintopaail, aad abot ahead some three miles. Jan. 4—She wore ship and lowered dorm two boats, the Three Bells alzo sent ber boast, and we succeeded in embarking some seventy or eighty passenger before night. The Antarctic had her two boat stove just at night. During the night, moderste and pleacant, with the prospect ofa flac day; fired our guns through the xight, snd our companions burned blue lights, At seven A. M. commenced embarking our pas- rengers again; latter part quite moderate and pletsant. The Three Bells’ longboat out; and she being short of pro visions ‘and water, the longboat was much used for trareporting water and provisions to-day. The Antarctic was able to lower only one boat for want of oars. Jan. 6--Continues moderate and pleasant, gotting along quite fast, and embarking trocps and provisions; at eun- set had all the passengers, ® quantity of provisions and water, disembarked. Daring the night continues quite moderate and pleasant; at 7 A, M. commenced again neniing water, provisions, &., tothe Three Balls, also the crew; at 10:30 A.M. all out of the ship excepting Capt. Watkins, Mr. Marsnall, (Chief Engineer,) and my- self; we then left, Capt. Watkins being the last. Latter part a gentle breeze from the west and squally weather. Capt. Watkins, M:.T. L. Schell, (Purser,) Mr, Barton, (third cfficer,) aad Mr. Mason, (fourth officer,) with Lieuts. Chandler and Charles Winder, Mr. Rankio, and Washington Duckett, (carpenter), Excepting the above, all officers of the ship and army return in the Three Bells. VISIT OF OUR REPORTER TO THE THREE BELLS, STATEMENT OF U.IRUTENANT WINDER, U. 8. ARMY. As e000 as the Three Bells arrived in port we despatched one of our reporters cn board, to learn all the facts connected with the unfortunate occurrence, and at whose solicitation Lieut. Winder, of the United States army, dic- tated the following statement of the melancholy occur- rence, which will be found highly interesting: Smr Taree Briss, At Sea, Friday Jan. 6, ‘ssa. } The steamer San Francisco, as you are aware, sailed frem New York on the 22d of December, with United States troops, bound for Caiifornis, The day was beauti- fal, and everything promised a pleasant aud prosperous voyage, The ship was well provided with everything which could render us comfortable, and every laxury that could be procured was placed on board. All these things, together with the gentlemanly and efficient officers of the ship, and pleasant company in the cabin, served to render us happy and contented. Bat, alas for all human ealoulations! about mine o'clock the second day out « gale sprung up, and continued to incresse all night, At daylight it was perfectly frightfal. Daring the night—I think about 12 o’clock— our engine gave ont, and soon after our foremast was carried away. which Jeft us entizely at the mercy of the wind and waves. The scene ip the cabin during this time was truly dis tressizg. Nearly all had turned out of the staterooms, despair depicted on the countenanoes of all. A few of us who occupied the upper cabin left it and went below; and ‘well it was for as,for soon after day—I think about 8 o’slook —® fea broke over our starboard wheelhouse, acd @ith frightfal force dashed sgainst theafter cabin,carrying away all of the cabia, and about one hundred snd fifty people, among whom were Col. J. M. Washington, Major Geo. ‘Taylor and his wife, Capt. H. B. Field, and Lieut, Smith, two or three males and females who were ankeown to me, and two eitison passengers. Mr. Rankin, our satler: the other samen | have net learned, were ewopt of, bat the retura wave brought them back. I liad gone below but a few momente before this terrible crash, and was lying at the foot of the steps at the time. I never expe- rienced suck 4 sensation as when the water came pouriog into the cabin, together with the debris of the upper cabin, down upon my head and breast. 1 was cwept across the cabin with terrible force, but after three at tempts succeeded in regaining my fect. I supposed that the ship had broken io half, and that we were fart rink- ing. I followed after some I saw going on deck, aud on reaching it {my blood iu cold at thy sight of the poor fellows struggling amorg the fragments in the sea, The waves wore, my eyes, fright- ful, we could render no assistance whatever, and, in fact, expected ourselves that we should go down every minute, With great cifionlty we clung to the deck, the sea mating s perfect breach over ms, and the cold so great that an hour longer must have finished ua. Close by me was Major Wea, hie young wife and babe, It was truly » heart rending aight. The poor child must have been nearly frozen. About this time Mr. Mollus, the frst ofticer of the abip, than whom no braver seaman lives, came aft with an x6; this not only surprired me, but greatly raised my hopes, I watched him closely until he approached the only remaining mest. He attempted to out it away, bat the ses san so high that he was unable to do it, This was the frst time I was aware that the ship waa not fall of water. Soon aftor this out gallant Commodore Watkios came along. I asked him what our chances were; he re- plied, “ Good.”? I then determined to get into the cabin, The sea waa running very high at the time, and the wreck was stre noon each side with pieses of the wreck #eatterod here and there, with men and women clinging to pisces inorder to save themselves, Ina few mo- ments ail was stil, none of them appearing, Not « sourd was heard except the dismal moaning of the wind. On looking around, I saw Lient, Murray standing at the mizzenmast. I went aft to him, and hola on there tor ‘awhile, until the firat mate came to cut it away, which he failed in doing owing to the roughness of the sea, I then went forward to where I was fisst, and saw Major Wyse, his wife snd child, Liewty. Chandler, Van Voorst, exd Dr Satterlee. Wo talked over our chanses for escape, andall came to the conclusion that we could not survive twenty minutes, A‘ that time two negroes care along with life preservers, and one of the soldiers hand ed me one; but it was so cold that, we thought it would be only prolonging our misery, and thinking that the vessel would go down every minute, we did not use them. The sea was making ® breach ova: us at every roll. About this time we discovered that there were many persons in the lower cabin under us, principally Isdies, Two or three of us were determixed to go down, and afterwards induced Major Wyre to go down there with his wife and child, We found that the ship was not in as bad a con- dition ae wethought she was. We found there col- lected, im the atter part of the cabin, « number of the officers’ Iadiss, who were in as dry a place aa theyeould find. A portion of the cabin was broken by the sea that fies) struck, «2 I previously #tated. We then covered ourselves up with ws! blankets, for we were nearly frozen, not having half eur clothi on at the time. Here we remained the greater part of that day, supposing the vossel would sink some tima during the evening, Capt, Watkins came in and requested that we would all ge out to bailing he ship, in order to keep her edoat. Twooflicers went outata time, and they were relieved by others, each party bailing two hours each. Wo kept this up all that night, wator gaining cn as, and our pumps failing to work. This bailing was kept up four or five sights, uotil the pumps gos to working again, and the sea vent, down, We thon gained on the water, and, by great exertions of the exgingsr, suc eseded in clearing the ship of water for the time. Tue captain and officers of the ship with groat exertiona sucoreded in stopping the worst leaks and repairing the decks with o'4 pieces of sails and otherwise patehing them up to wy and gave the ship, We kaptralleves of thres or four mea at each end of the shaft to prevent the water coming in there, whore it come ‘s by the backetfall About thia ime we we » cheered with the prospeot of setticg the ronchizcty fn withing créer, vo that she vesus! mgt gat intoport. At orary st ing apparatus was erected, ané an attempt was mudy to get the ship under wsigh, which up to this time had been st the muerey of the waves, After one or {two revolutions of the wheel it vas pro- nounced hopeless to attempt anything further, Ail that could be done, eald the engineer, was to keep the pumpa working, Daring ol) this time the ladies behaved admir- abiy, and no complaint was made by them. Two or three Caysafterwarda we sew two eail; ono of them did aot heed us, but the othor camealongal te of us and apoke us, The one that spoke us first was the Napoleon The captain exid be was short of provisions, and we sent him off 9 quantity, and she went off during the night, Daring this time we wore lightening the ship by throw ing overborrd all heavy articles that ,wo could get at. We made onreelvos as comfortable 2s possible, and got something to oat, aud began to get come dry clothes, as wo had beem wet for nearly two weeks, The next ahip that appeared wes the British brig Maria, bat she toox none of the pansongers from us. All this time we hai very rough weather, nntilthe bark Kiloy spoke us, Au oflicer wort om board snd made a contract to take all the passengers off and take them to the nearest port. Captain Watkine stayed behind to mate one effort to save the ship; he called for volunteers, anda ten minutes he had the number required to atay by him, As soon aa rome cf the passengers arrived on board tho Itlby we sen} some twenty mon on board to lighten bis vessel by throwing a portion of the cargo overboard. Avout 2 P.M. we commenced transhipping the ladies and children in ermal bosts, and by night succeeded in getting aboard about one hundred In all~mep, women and ehilgren—Li ending to complete they/sh'pment next morning About 7 0’clock wo were alarmed by the cry of fire, und found the ship to be on five near the cook's galley, but we very soon put it out. Some time during the night heavy gales sprang up, accompanied by @ most awful sea, and the vessel com menced leaking badly agata, and we went to work bailing that nightard a part of the next day, tho pumps at this time giving ont agaia. The men at this time were 10 exhausted that it required great exertions to keep them steadily ot work, Whea the morning came the Kilby was no longer in sight, and we supposed that she had made for the meareet port, being short of water and provisions, and it being unsafe for her to remain any longer by us,as the sea was running very high, This moraing things looked gloomier thaa evor, having nothing to oat and being cold and balfmaked, During that day, after getting, through working the pumps, we bezon to get better spirits, and made ourcelves a7 comfortable as pos sible, Woe kept the vessel clear without the aid of bail ing. We then cut holes through the deck for the pur- pore of throwing coal and other hoavy materials over- ponrd, About two daya after s light wus soen during the right, and we commenced fring guns and making signals every half hour during the night. In the morning, the British ship Three Bells, Captain Creighton, boro up to us; but the sea was runoiog #0 high, and the wind blowing eo hard, we could only commualeate to each other by means of writing in large letters, on & board, our condition and prospects. He replied to us,and said that they were leaking and short of provisions, As he passed us he gave three cheers, which made us believe he would stiek by us, and we re- turned them heartily, He went to windward of ds, Inid to, and rema‘ned by us daring the night, Tho neat day, the sea running very high and he havisg only two boats, we made two rafts, ia order to make some efforts to reach his veerel, but we found that a passage on the raft would be impracticable, a the third night we came very near Josing him. On the fourth day, another sail appeared ia sight, towirdwerd, and both bore down tous, which proved to be the Antarctic, bound for Liverpool. Both vessels lay by as during the night, it being too rough toattempt any pansage with the boats, On the fifth day the rough weather sabsided, and ws succeeded im transporting ali the psssengors, all the crew and ship's officers, exeept twenty: five or thirty men, including ship's officers and firemen. During that day we succeeded in putting on board the Three Bells some provisions ‘and water, I kept the men at the pumps during the day and night. The next morning we got off the remainder of the officers and crew, including Capt. Watkins, and made nail for this port. The Antarotie sailed for Liverpool. Previous to falling im with the Three Bells, sort of congestive diarrhea broke eut ‘among the men, from eating potted meat and pickled cabbage. It carried off the aT CE | An {ncident occured at this time, Corporal Smith came to me and sald his child was siok, ani in about au hour after that he sent word to me and said he was vory sick himeelf snd would like to s9¢ ine, I went to him aod found that ho wan about dying; soon after his wite came in and told me that he and the child were dead, [had her put into stateroom, and duriog the right she was found dead in bed, her only child, thea livirg, lying asleep beside her. She was flowed to the other world soon after by her other child On cur passage to this port inthe Three Bella we lost about thirty passengers, who died of the effects of eating pickled meat and cabbage, The chief steward of tho San Franeisco became iosane while on board the Thres Bells, and although im chargo of some of the nen, he manszed tolget loss, jumped overboard and was lost, Yoars, respestfally, LIEU, WINDER, U.S, Army. ANOTHER DESPATCH FROM LIRUT, WINDER. Sir Taree Burs, v4 New York Harvor, Jan. 18, 1853. 5 Col. Gates, Maj, Merchant, Col: Burke, Capt. Juid, Lieat, Fremont, Lieut, Loeser and Lieut. Van Voast, with all of the ladies, were put on board of the bark Kiny, of Boston, on the 28th of December. Lieuta, O, S. Winder and J. G, Chandler were put on the ship Antarctic, snd have gone to Liverpool, Maj F.O Wyse and Lieut, Wm A. Winder, on this abip and are here, The men and wowen of the command were divided equally among the thres ships. Col J. M Washington, Maj. Taylor and wife, Capt. H B. Field sod Lieut. Smith were washed overboara on the first night of the gale. By publishing the above you will oblige the frienda of our unfortunate parties. We are all indebted to Capt. Robert Creighton, of this sbip, for our live. He'remained by us for four days, Very respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. A. WIND#R, First Lientenant Third Artillery. STATEMENT BY ONE OF THE PASSENGERS. On Monday, December 21, the troops, consinting ef eight companies of the Third Regiment of Artillery, were embarked from ateamtugs on board the steamer, then anchored in the North river, They numbered, rank and file, some five hundred men, The officers, with their families, together with the soldiers’ wives and famales—a certain portion of whom were allowed to each com pany— brought op the number to about six hundred. There were twenty or thirty other passengers. The crew num- bered from ere hundred to ope hundred and fifty; so that, all told, we were between keven hundred acd fifty acd eight hundred souls on board. On Wednesday morning the steamer dropped down to the Quarantine, and anchored for the night. On Thurs, dey, the 22d, after having been cetained for two or thres hours, waiting for a dilatory officer, she weighed anchor about 10 o'clock, and stood out to wea, At 12 passed Sandy Hook. and discharged our pilot, Our voyage was now fairly commenced. A succossion of constantly recu ring and oft-repeated delays had de- layed our departure week after week, and month after month, At last every obstacle had been overcoms, and the gallant ship, with her head pointed to the southwest, moved steadily, though not swiftly, on her courre, She was deeply laden—fer too deeply, as the result proved, Hor engines were now and untried, and the strain upon them great, Thursday was ® lovely merning, tho sea calm and smooth, with gentle breezes from the north west. Whatever gloomy foreboding might have oxiste, seen ed quieted by ro fair prosage. Friday morning, the 28a, rove brightly on onr course, We had entered the Gulf Streaia, and tho weathar, which yesterday had been chilly, and caused the Iadiey aod chiléren to gather abont the stove, had become mild. The wind still frow tae northwest, with sen enoxgh te cause dinner table to be comparatively deserted. Tha day passed without insideat of any kind, and gave no presage of the awful disaster 80 Bova to follow. Immeiiatgly after tan I retired to my room, and after reading two hours as quietly as if on sore, undrovsed and retired. There was more roll to the ship then I had Previously expsriencea,, and the wind seemed frevhoniag; but thought nothing of it, But I soou found there wae no sleeping. It noon blew agate, Tne ship rolled and pitched to = degroe that it was dificult to keep my hertn, All the hocks and loose articles upon the iable wore thrown to the floor, Every artisie in the room, though con fined, was thrown sbout in en alarmivg mennor. Atllo’clock I coutd beer it no longer. toss, dressed buriedly, and westout vpon the deck. My som was on the hurricane deck, on the forward part of sh» ahtp. Tho scene, as Icteppad on deck, was terrific, Tha sea was a complete mass of foam, bolting and swelling ike a ceul drop. The gale was terrific. The steamer had broached to twice, and had really tocome unmanageh!. Her head was towards the wind. The woolé crew were engaged in strevtous but vain efforts to take inthe Thay wero blown to ribbons, The foremast—we carried ao main maut—was wreathing and twisting like» young sspliag. Tt was large enough for tho mainmest of a 1,090 ton ehip. The fery of the tempest was anch that I could not stand before it a moment; but I seized tho irom brace connecting the king bolts, and surveyed tho rcsns for a moment, Then I threw myself on my hands and kaees, and made for the nenrent hatch. to get belov. This bap penta to be over the forward galley. Swinging myuelf down by the cabin, I ronshed the main deck. Heras nceno of confusion iné easribable aud confounding provented itself. Four bunfred soldiers were berthed on this deck, in Couble rows of standee berths, three tiers sach. They had all crep} from their berthe; meat of tho standocs bad been broken and thrown down, The live stock, of which there was consideradls, bad evcaped from thelr pens on tho rame deck, and ssidiezs, bullocks, calves, pigs, shosp and poultry, wore all mingled together amid the broken standors, The cloamor’s guards had been carried away some time previously, aud the wea washed over the sesk with every roll of the ship The lanterc« were extin guished, and the darkaes: was almost total. I made an effort to reach the after cabin, but found it impossible, I cuts leather belt from one of the soldier's knapracks henging around, and fastening it toa carling, made @ recure placs tu hold on. I remained there towards am hour, the storm all ths while ineronsing. About ons o’slock the foromast camo down almost over my head, crashing in the hurricano deck. I feared now that the deck would bs swept ciesa of everything, and determined to seek refuge below i went firvt into the steerage, but as they commenced battering down the hateb,’ with perhaps two hundred soldiers in {t, T left, and went to the second cabin, occu plod by the non-cc mmissioned officers and their familie 4 wet to the skin end chilled through. After wi rd hore for two hours, with no abatement in the fury of the gale, I crept iuto one of the soldier's berthy, pulled » blanket over me, and after @ while fell asleep, Tho firat tay of daynawcke me, I srose, and through thy alore room and pantry snoeee led in gaining the main saloon, Saturday morning, the 24th, had at last dawned upon ua, and this awfol night had an end. While passing betwesn the second snd after-cabio, I felt a tremendous se strike the ship, bat I hed no ides of theawfal consequences. Ii was the denousment—tho finale of the awful tragedy which Lad been going on through the night, Am overwhelming sea (isd atrask the ship on her starboard quarter, carried away the star board paddle box, both smoke stacks, the whole prome made deck sbaft the paddle boxes, two rows of state rooms, of twelve each, on the main deck, and stove im the maia deck heteh. This was tho smallest part of the havoc. At ene fell “swoop nearly one hundred and fifty human beings wors swopt into eternity, Th jority were private soldiers of the dif ferent companies of the Third Artillery. One ¢owpany lost all but tem of ite meicvers. Four offivers went with then :—Col Washington, distinguished at Buena Vista and other hard fought fields; Maj. Taylor end wife; Capt. Field, and Lieut. Smith. The sea covered with drowning men. The roar of the tempest smothered the “ bubbling ory of strong swimmers in their agony.’’ Io & few moments they sunk to rise mo more till the sos gives up her dead, Two of all the crowd succeeded in ro- qainiog the ship—Mr. Rankin, an army suttier, and Mr, ——, merchant, of Rio Janeiro. A few moments had elapsed when I reached ‘he saloon. Tt was filled with water to the depth of neatly two fost The females and children, mostly in their night clothes, and wet to the skin, were scattered on planks; some wailing and sobving ; some apparently stupified; and some calmly awaiting what seemed their inevitable fate. All supposed the lest hour hed arrived, andjin « few mo- ments they would moot thelr Maker (200 to face, PRICE TWO CENTS. “Then rose from sea to sky the wild farewel!— “Then sbrieked the timid and stood stul the brave.'’ Happily those who, in this awfal moment, felt that their Pesce was made, and nothing left but calm resignation to their Maker's hand. Bat Desth is the King of Terrora, aud when he meets us im the midst of life, with our bones full of marrow and our jimbs full of sap, humaa nature clings to Life, and even the fostinet of the dumb animal shrinks from death. Ths dream ef poor Clarence came over me, and thought—Alas! it 9 @ fearfal thing te drown,”’ Another sea like that which struck us, and our fate had been that of the President--act soul would have survived to tell the tale, But it plonsed a mercifal and all-wise Providence to asy to the sea, “Hitherto shale thou come, and no further, and here shall \hy proud waves be steyed.”” It is proverbial that drowning men catch at wtraws, and {ustinetively did many of us lash ourselves to life preservers, though in the raging billows of that am. gry sea, five hundred miles from the nearest shore, one would have been but little better dependence than the other, After the first burst of dismay was over bope began to revive in our bosoms. The hull was still staunch and strong, and some passing vessel might rescue us from the wreck, Something whispered, ‘you are safe;”’ and after committing myself and those most dear to me to the Father of Mercies, I felt at peace. Ascending the companion way, from the saloon to the main deck, I seated myself at the head of the stafroase, sod surveyed the scene, The steamer was, in all hee upper works, ® perfect wreck. Foremast, amoke stack, the greater partof the promenade deck, the saloon, and all the etate rooms on the main deck—all were gone, The main geok was stove, and the water rushing in of every sen we shipped, On the opposite side of the com. panion way lay the mangled snd bleeding corpse of a sol dier, who was billed instantly by the falling of the deck. A few feet further lay a man groaning end near death from injuries received at the same time. These. was runing mountains high, avd every billow that came with {ts curling crest towards us, seemed about to pour into our abattered deck and sink us, It was not soto be, We were in imminent danger of foundering; but our gallant acd undeoated commander, Captain Watkins, whose exertions during all that fearfal night had been almost superhuman, directed all his energies to save us, To lighten the ship ard stop the leaks were the first obj Te break up the hatches and commence discharging cargo, was the work of a moment, Soldiers and nations all lent s helping hend, asd as each man knew he worked for his life, all worked with a will. Stancheons were placed undor the broken deck, and it was partially forced back to its place. It waa found that the water gained upon us rapidly, The steam pump bed become obstract- 6, Fifty soldiers were detailed to commence bailing, A) day and all night the work went on without intormis- rlou, Still, with every roll the ship took is large quanté- tier of water, and we gained little upon the leak. Sunday morning, the 25th, the day of the nativity of our blessed Saviour, at last dawned upon us, Tho sky lighted up a little; there was » short gleam of sunshine, and the sea chimed a little. A sail or two were seen in the distance, but none approsched us. It was a gloomy Christmas to us, The work of bailing and pumpiog wont on, aod we had gained on the leak, Monday, the 26th, the gale continued with little abatement, All night Sunday the tempest rosred roand our devoted ship, Tae waves thundered aginst our sides and stern like cannon at the goten of a belesguered city. Sleep was out of the ques- Jon, For three nights we had had none. We discovered a sail not far off. On approaching us she proved to bes brig; werpoke her She repcrted herself short of provisions, anc atter supplying herse'f with barrels of beef and pork ¥e had thrown overboard she vent on her way. Ow Sunday, the 27th, dissovered another sail bearing dowm upen os. She proved to be the bark Kilby, of and foe Boston, from New Orleans, loaded with cotton, thirty+ fye des out. By authority of Col. Gates, commanding the detachment, she was chsriered for government te convey the troops to the neavest socessivle post. Tues ay was too rough to disembark any part of the commands but on Wednesday, the 28th, Col. Gates and family, Maj. Merchant and family, Col. Burke, Captains Fremont sed Soda, with their femilien, Dra, Satterlee and Wirts, with ‘thers whose names are not recollected, were safely enrbarked om board the Kilby, Some forty or fifty sol- diers, end some foldier'’s wives, also embarked=-ia all neatly ome hundred persons Night came oa, and put ®& stop to any farther operations, [t had beon agreed that the bark should Me by ae tit all on bosrd the steamer were disembarked. but it exme on to blow heavily in the night, aed in the morning she had disappeared, and we saw her no more, Thoa all the hopes cf escape we based upon the Kilby were doomed to disappointment; and when, in the mora- ing, we could trace mo vestige of her on the remotest verge of the horizon, we experienced tho sickness of heart from hope deferred. Once more we were alone on the boundlers expanse of waters, Our rhip lay as helpless ay = log upon the wever, She waa completely crippled, Her engine, ae should have been montioned, broke down the first night ofthe storm; it waa pever of use afterwards, except to work the pumps. With infinite exertion, a small sa@ was rigged to the mizenmast, which sssisted « little ie steadying ber; but she rolled and tumbied about ste farfol rate, We had rusceeded im stopping some of the leaks, and in lightening the vessel to a considerable ex. tent, by throwing over provisions and cos!, The ship wes algo very much relieved by cutting olf the timber of her guarda, upon which the sea broke heavily, lifting her decks every time i; broke. We bad now (Thuriday, the 29th,) renched the sixth: sy tines the storm commenced, We were about to em- counter death iz a new form. Avery large portion of the thip’s steerage had been filled with cargo, provisions, military stores, &c, The consequence was thas the por- ‘fon left for the soldiers was much crowded. It hed beem expected we should soon be in fine weather, and that they could sleep comfortably in standee berths on deck, Whee | the storm came , that was impossible, and they were come sequently driven below, Crowded in narrow quarters, sxposed to cold and wet, obliged to be fed on an inguffl- cleat «let, in consequence of the loss of the galleys and tho hnpessibility of e@@ing for such numbers, {t is oe matter of surprire that disease soon made ite sppearance, Add to this the influence of depressing passions, anxiety of mind, fright, and despondency, and it is no wonder that they sickened and died, The disease more neariy than enything assumed the form of Asiatic cholera<e commencing with diarrhoea and terminating ioe few hours, Boh the army surgeons having left, the charge of the sick fell upon the surgeon of the ship. Te ali to our distress, nearly all the medicine ia the ship bad been elther warhed overboard or destroyed. The mog- telity was necessarily great. For several days i averaged ten deaths a dsy, Men, women and ohil- tien fell indircriruinately before tt, and whole families perished in twenty four hours. It was @ seme of awful suffering over which I should rather wish to draw am veil, and the like of which [ trust @ mereifal God will spare me ever witnessing agaim, During Thursday and Friday our eyes were not gladden- ad by » single sail. The hours dragged on most heavily, We had abundance of provisions on board, but it wasal- most impossible to get them cooked. The roll of the ehig wes so heavy thatthe previsions were thrown from the gelley. When we coald geta cupof hot tea with ou hard biscuit it wass treat; and when ® roasted potate and piece of fried pork was added to our bill of fare it become ® sumptuous repast. We attempted to issue to the soldiers once a day, but ® sufficien\ quantity of hot water could not be procured, and we were compelied te abandon it. On their miserable fare of hard bisonit and cold water it was rot to be wondered that the poor sol- diera sickened and died. During the nigh! of Friday or the morning of Satar- day the Slet, the cheering sound rang through the ves- vel that ® ship was at hand. A light was discovered ow the bow. We immediately commenced firing signal gume, Thoy were answered by blue lights from the strange ves- sel When the morning dawned we discovered & veesel with English colors, She came sear enough to speak us, but the wind was so light a0 to render it quite impossible. We resorted tos kind of telegraphic communication, by writing on boards in obalk with lerge letters, We succeded in making her eee stand our situation, which, indeed, was suMolently obvi- |. She promised to ie by us, This intelligence cheered ‘every heart, The weather during Setarday end Sunday was too rough to attempt te lower o bost. There waa, [Continued on lest page.)