Daily Alta California
Tuesday morning, August 3, 1858
From our Evening Edition of Yesterday.
Further Particulars of the Disaster to the Oregon.
The Trip of the Columbia to Point
Reyes.
On yesterday morning, so soon as the unfortunate disaster which
befell the steamer Oregon reached the office of the Mail Steamship
Company, orders were at once given for the dispatch of the Columbia
to the scene of the disaster, for the purpose of rendering aid
to any who might be found requiring assistance, or discovering
and recovering the bodies of the dead, if, perchance, lives had
been lost.
The Departure.
At one o'clock the vessel left her berth at the foot of Folsom
street, having on board Christopher Dall, her Commander, Capt.
Patterson, of the Oregon, the usual complement of officers and
men, and some forty passengers.
There were also on board Drs. McNulty and Stillman, the surgeon
of the John L. Stephens. These gentlemen were amply provided with
such instruments and other articles as might be requisite for
the efficient and proper treatment of the injured.
Soon after hauling out into the stream it was found that one of
her keys was so bent that it became necessary to drop anchor,
and adjust the machinery, which occasioned a delay of an hour
of more. The defect being repaired, the prow of the Columbia was
turned seaward, and in a half hour thereafter she was bounding
over the briny billows of the broad Pacific.
The Scenes.
The fogs of the opening chapter of the "Bleak House"
did not surpass in density that which hung over the coast line
of hills as we bade adieu, for a time, to the Golden Gate, and
breasted Duxbury Reef. And yet, even this was comparatively clear
weather to the fov which prevailed throughout the previous night.
The sea, however, was as calm and tranquil as could be desired,
and nobody suffered from seasickness.
About 4 o'clock, a little schooner was seen standing out from
shore, and the captain bore down and hailed her, to obtain, if
possible, information concerning the missing passengers. The vessel,
however, proved to be from Bodega, laden with potatoes and grain.
Just before dark the Columbia opened upon the beautiful bay of
Sir Francis Drake, and running along shore and as near shoal water
as was safe, fired her gun. The distant hills resounded to the
tremendous report, and echo succeeded echo until it seemed as
if the shot must be heard by every wanderer from Salvation Rock.
About this time, whilst in the aft of giving an order on the upper
deck, an accident befell Capt. Dall, which, but for the forthought,
promptness and skill of Coroner McNulty, might have proved serious
in its consequences. One of the passengers standing near him fell,
and in his descent tripped the captain, who in falling, dislocated
his arm. Dr. McNulty was, fortunately, standing by, and on the
instant pulled off his boots, plunged the dexter foot into the
patients armpit, braced the sinister against his breast, grasped
the disjointed member with both of his own arms, and quicker than
thought the surgical operation was effectively and fully performed.
The Search
At 7 o'clock the steamer reached the Cape, three miles below the
main Point Reyes. Captains Dall and Patterson stood on the starboard
wheel-house, intently peering through the fog with their glasses,
as the boat crept slowly up the coast. The passengers, too, cast
their hundred eyes eagerly landward to discover, if possible,
the locale of the accident, or the figures of the stragglers.
The booming of another gun spoke in thunder tones that relief
was nigh at hand, but the rock-bound shore gave back no answering
shout, although from the hill sides and summits fled frightened
multitudes of cattle, whose evening repast had thus been ruthlessly
disturbed.
The ship rounded Point Reyes, and immediately the scene of the
previous night's disaster burst on the sight. The wheels were
stopped, a boat lowered and manned with six sturdy sailors, started
from the shore. After cruising along outside the breakers and
in the immediate vicinity of the disaster the boat returned to
the ship, without having discerned any living being, corpse, or
sign whatever of the accident.
DETAILS OF THE DISASTER OFF POINT
REYES.
Captain Patterson, on the afternoon of the accident, obtained
an unobstructed observation of his whereabouts, and the ship proceeded
along on her course until half-past ten o'clock, when an impenetrable
fog shut out from view all objects beyond the vessel. The ocean
was calm, and according to his observation the Commander deemed
himself at least five miles out at sea when the ship struck. This
was at five minutes before midnight. Her guards first scraped
the shore rock, and her fore yard was broken, and partly carried
away. Almost instantaneously the bow of the vessel ran on to the
rock with a violent concussion.
The order had been given to back the ship a moment prior to striking,
so that she did not bump with full force against the rock. On
the sea side lies another large rock above high water mark, and
it is miraculous, considering the narrow straits she was in, how
the ship ever extricated herself from the spot where she lay.
At the moment of first striking, a panic pervaded the vessel,
and up rushed, pell mell, from their berths, many of the passengers,
some of whom behaved with much self-possession and cool courage,
whilst others lost entirely self-command, threw themselves into
the boats, or jumped on to the shelving rock at the ship's side.
So fas as is known, all who reached this rock were saved; but
it is possible that in their precipitate haste, others missed
their footing and fell into the sea. In this event their rescue
is exceedingly problematical, on account of the precipitate character
of the rock, and the dashing of the surf. Although the coast at
this point is almost a perpendicular bluff of some sixty feet
high, all who landed on the rock succeeded in clambering up to
the summit, as the sequel shows.
Search Renewed
Owing to the fog, Capt. Dall did not venture into Drake's Bay,
as he first contemplated, but anchored his vessel a mile off the
Point for the night, in thirty-five fathoms of water.
At 6 o'clock on Monday morning, the ship ran into the Bay and
anchored. Two boats, one of which contained the Captain, Surgeons
and other officers of the vessel, and the second, passengers,
put off for the beach. About a mile back from the shore, the party
came upon a man mowing in a field, who gave us the joyful information
of the safety of forty-two passengers, who arrived at J. H. Swain's
farm house, near by, on Sunday morning at 7 o'clock. Of this number,
four were lame, and otherwise bruised, by jumping upon the rock,
but none seriously hurt. After they had breakfasted, the company
scattered, one party leaving afoot by the Saucelito trail, whilst
Mr. Swain kindly provided animals for the bruised, whom he conveyed
to Tomales, where the could take the Petaluma stage on Monday
morning, and intercept at the latter place the down boat for this
city.
One only was obliged to remain. He is now at the ranch four miles
and a half from Mr. Swain's; and Capt. Dall sent him word to remain
there unti lhe felt able to be removed to this city, and that
the Company would cheerfully defray all necessary expenses incurred.
He is but slightly bruised, as he walked from the sea shore to
the ranch where he now is.
Mr. Swain has been a number of times to the scene of the disaster,
and promised us that he would regularly continue his visits so
long as there was any probability of finding the bodies of any
of the passengers who perchance may have been drowned.
At eight o'clock this morning the Columbia again weighed anchor,
and ran down to Saucelito to take on board the overland passengers,
in the event of their having reached there, and unable to obtain
conveyance to the city. At (**) she stopped off the wharf, and
sent a boat (***), but no tidings of the party could be obtained.
The distance from the rock where the passengers landed to Saucelito
is thirty-eight miles, over one of the heaviest trails in this
section of the State. It is probable that they have crossed over
to San Rafael, as the trail is better, and the distance no greater
than along the coast. The Columbia stopped but a few moments at
Saucelito, and the duty incumbent upon him having been performed,
Capt. Dall returned again to town, the vessel arriving at one
o'clock at her whart.
Concluding Remarks.
The cause of this disaster is involved in mystery. Captain Patterson,
it is well known, is one of the oldest, most skilful, and careful
commanders on this coast, and on the night in question, was as
well satisfied that he was on his course, as if the weather had
been perfectly clear, having hauled off two points on the shutting
in of the fog. Captain Dall, however, as also Captain Patterson,
knew from pervious experience, that as between fair and foggy
weather there is a material variation of the same compass, on
this coast. The former has frequently tested this by experiments,
and has known, in one instance, the compass to vary three-degrees.
The thorough manner with which the order of the Company, to prosecute
the search for missing passengers, was carried out by Captain
Dall, and the very courteous and hospitable treatment extended
to the guests of his ship, whilst engaged in this unfortunate
mission, are entitled to the warmest commendation.
Party of the Oregon passengers arrived by way of Petaluma.
Statement of Mr. Dodds
Mr. Andrew Dodds late of Shaw's Flat, Tuolumne county, one of
the passengers on the Oregon who jumped off from her, when she
struck Point Reyes, furnishes the following statement to us:
When the steamer struck he was below, and it seemed to him to
be five minutes before he got on deck. He at first started to
take his baggage up, but finding the stairway much crowded, he
carried it back to his berth, and then when the stairway was clear,
eh went up, and going to the side of the vessel as she was beating
against the rocks saw a place where he could jump ashore, and
he did so. He landed on a beach of rock about fifteen feet wide,
at one end twenty feet high and sloping down to the water level
at the other. He saw many other passengers on the rock before
he jumped, and after he had landed turned around and saw others
jumping.
A minute or two after he jumped, the steamer began to back out,
and some of the passengers who then jumped did not reach the rock,
but fell into the water.
When the steamer left, the men on the rock began to examine their
position. There were 43 of them altogether on the beach. They
were on the end of Point Reyes. Below them was the wide Pacific,
with its wild surf raging against the rocks. Above them the rock
rose a distance of 40 feet, almost perpendicularly. There was
no possibility of climbing along the side of the precipice, so
the only escape was by going up.
An adventurous individual made the attempt and succeeded in making
the ascent. Then two others followed. These cut up their life
preservers, so as to make a rope, and, with the aid of this, the
remaining 40 got up. Some of them were so much bruised by jumping
ashore, that they would not have been able to make the ascent
without this assistance.
On arriving at the top of the Point, they held a consultation.
They supposed that they were on an island. The night was very
cold and dark, and the roar of the surf could be heard on all
sides. They determined to stop where they were. A few twigs were
collected, and a fire made with the assistance of matches fortunately
carried by one of the smokers of the party. The night was a very
disagreeable one. In addition to the cold, there was a wind and
fog. None of the men had any bedding, and some of them had on
no trowsers, having jumped ashore as they sprang out of bed, in
their drawers.
At last morning came; they found that they were on a point connecting
with the main land, and, as soon as they discovered this fact,
they started to find their way to some house. After walking about
five miles, they came to a house where they were told that they
were 30 miles from Petaluma.
Some of the party then went on to Petaluma, others remained on
the Point, intending to come down by sea. Those who came on to
Petaluma traveled in squads, varying in number from two to six.
Although the distance was said to be only 30 miles, yet it seemed
50; and it appeared to Mr. Dodds a harder road to travel than
Fraser, which, of late, has taken the shine out of Jordan entirely.
Some arrived at Petaluma in the evening and others during the
night. Mr. Dodds, with five others, after having walked, as they
supposed, 25 miles, hired a wagon, and got into Petaluma at one
o'clock this morning. Fifteen, among them Mr. Dodds, came to this
city this morning by the Petaluma steamer.
So much for the saved. Some were lost; Mr. Dodds does not know
how many. All who jumped into the water were drowned. Those who
were saved variously estimated the number of the lost at from
two to six. Mr. Dodds is confident there were at least five. He
saw that number who jumped into the water after the steamer commenced
backing out, and then she careened over, her bottom striking the
rock at the surface of the water, so that there were probably
some persons crushed by the collision. Others could be heard in
the water swimming and calling out for help. One man continued
to call for help about fifteen minutes. Those on the rocks could
not see him, but supposed that he was swimming all the time. Those
on the rocks could render no assistance to those in the water,
otherwise than throwing life preservers into the water, which
they did; but this seemed to be of no avail.
Our informant did not know, by name or otherwise, any of those
who were drowned.
The Accident to the Oregon
The Statement of Mr. Benjamin Smith
Mr. Benjamin Smith, of this city, who was one of the passengers
safely landed on the rocks, gives us the following items in relation
to the startling accident to the Oregon: --
Mr. Smith was in the cabin at the time of the accident, sitting
in company with several gentlemen, and when the bell struck to
stop her they all looked at one another in anxious expectation
of something dreadful about to happen, and in a few seconds she
struck violently on the rocks, broaching to immediately and thumping
hard with her broadside against the rocks.
The cabin passengers then rushed on deck and beheld a wall of
rocks rising almost perpendicularly several hundred feet above
them. - The ship rolled with the surf and struck heavily a second
time, the timbers cracking and snapping against the sharp rocks,
which struck above and below the water line. At this time many
of the steerage passengers rushed from below, but partially clothed
and a number of them without boots on, and sprang from the forward
guards on the rocks, against which the ship was beating. Many
of them cut their feet badly and otherwise bruised themselves.
Mr. Smith, who was at the whell house, spoke to Captain Patterson,
and thinking there was no hope for the ship to get off, volunteered
to jump upon the rocks and seek assistance from the ranches on
the point, and as the Oregon rolled again broadside on the rocks,
he jumped about six feet from the after guard, and landed on a
partially flat rock, which was covered with sea weed. By the dim
light he could discover the dangerous character of the cliff,
and waited in breathless anxiety. He heard the order to back the
ship, and saw a number of the passengers who were forward, jump
off the ship, some landing on the rocks and a few in the water.
The ship now slowly moved backwards, and in a few moments more
she was clear of the wall of rocks against which she had been
beating.
On looking around he discovered in the darkness a large number
of persons in his vicinity, and heard the cries of several who
were in the water. Having no ropes and in the darkness, the efforts
to save these poor fellows were fruitless, and they perished by
choking in the surf and dashing against the rocks.
Knowing that the tide was out, and feeling that the flood tide
would wash them off, they now in the darkness and gloom endeavored
to clamber up the almost perpendicular walls, and by dint of the
severest labor - cutting their hands and feet - they all, to the
number of thirty-nine, reached the top of the bluff, where they
for the moment felt safe, and poured forth their thanks to a kind
Providence.
A fire was now built, as the fog was too thick to venture away
from the lee of a large rock, where they found a shelter during
the night. During these long and dreary hours of anxious waiting,
Mr. Smith took down the names of all who were there assembled,
which list will be found in another column. In the meantime, they
could not hear or see anything of the steamer, and were in ignorance
as to her fate.
With the first dawn of light those were not cut and bruised about
the feet started to find a ranch, and about 5 miles from the point
struck Swain's Ranch, or Puenta de los Reyes Ranch, where some
of them stopped, whilst others pushed on to the ranch house which
was about five miles further inland, where they met Mr. Arthur,
who was very kind to them. At both houses horses were procured
for the relief of the disabled and those who wished to push on
to Petaluma, some thirty miles distant.
At Mr. Arthur's, the passengers were invited to help themselves
to anything they wanted to eat, without charge, and every care
given to the unfortunate and bruised. Mr. Smith here procured
a horse, and, in company with Mr. D. Heffley, rode over to Petaluma,
arriving there about 8 o'clock in the evening. About twenty came
down by the Petaluma, and some twenty who were bruised and cut,
remained at the ranch, and were to embark on the schooner Commerce,
lying at Drake's Bay, just below the point. They may be expected
at any moment.
During the night the weather was thick and foggy, being almost
impossible to see the length of a ship ahead, and of her getting
on the rocks. The passengers suffered much from the cold. In regard
to the number lost, all agree there were from three to six. It
will be almost impossible to tell who were lost, as the passengers
on the ship were not checked off prior to landing here yesterday
morning. The list of the saved will be found in another column.
We would urgently request the passengers on the steamer to leave
their names at this office.
List of passengers who clambered upon the rocks, as taken down
by Benjamin Smith, Esq, (of the banking house of John Sime &
Co.), by the light of the camp fire:
Benj. Smith, T Selio, M N Catson, Angus Murray, Jno De Angeles,
Alexander Van Zane, Y F Estes, Miguel Carlo, Michael Murphy, Frank
Andrews, Edw Evans, Archibs d Jackson, Louis Klossmeyer, Enrico
Steffani, H. Busche, Ambroise Giannini, Carrilio Steffani, G Yari,
L Emerson, Leon Moran, Philip Brady, Michael Caton, Jno Riley,
Orville McGready, J H Sharnikow, J Schweitter, D Coghi??, Wm Pritchard,
M Monfenan, R H Dunning, Jno Doggett, Francisco Cardinelli, Fred
Howell, Andrew Dodds, D Deraghett, P McNamee, Andrew Allen, Chas
West, D Heffley.
[all names transcribed as accurately as I could read them...]