Arrive San Francisco
October 21, 1854SS Yankee Blade
Captain Randall
Passage
At 3:30 p.m., on October 1, 1854, the Yankee Blade struck a rock at Point Pedernales, which grounded the ship. Eye witness accounts attest to foggy conditions, stating the land was hardly visible. The sea between the grounded ship and the shore, which was less than a mile away, was rough.The Captain tried to reverse engines and back off the reef, but water was rushing in through a gash, one foot wide and thirty feet long. The ship was lost.
Weekly Alta California, October 21, 1854
Meeting of the Yankee Blade's Passengers on the Plaza.Yesterday afternoon a meeting of the shipwrecked passengers of the Yankee Blade took place on Portsmouth Square, for the purpose of adopting measures whereby their alleged wrongs could be redressed. After much confusion, order prevailed, and a number of the passengers having resolved themselves into a committee, proceeded to set forth the following resolutions:---
Resolved, That we deplore the loss of the splendid steamer Yankee Blade, not on account of the pecuniary loss to her owners, but to her unfortunate passengers in depriving them of the means to reach their long sought for homes.
Resolved, That after a careful investigation and by an unbiased judgment, we have come to the firm conclusion that sheer negligence upon the part of the managers of the Yankee Blade, in directing her course, and in running so near a coast well known to be dangerous, was the cause of the disastrous wreck.
Resolved, That duty compels us to censure Capt. Randall, in so quickly deserting the wreck, and leaving the boat without a leading officer on board to quiet the passengers and prevent the plundering. Had the Captain remained on board, it is our candid opinion that this could have been done.
Resolved, That the Agents (Messrs. Ralston & Fretz) of the Independent Line are justly censurable for not forwarding to the city of New York the passengers by the Yankee Blade in conformity with their tickets, but leaving them to the charity of the citizens of San Francisco, without the means to by a meal of victuals or nights lodging;
Resolved, That we feel that it is a gross insult to be tendered only one-fourth of the amount which we paid as fare to the States.
A committee of three were appointed to investigate the causes of this direful shipwreck, and to make a full report to the Insurance Company by which the vessel had been insured.
A committee of three were also appointed to make a collection among the charitably disposed, the proceeds to be handed over to the third mate of the steamer Yankee Blade, as a tribute of esteem for his gallant conduct during the late unfortunate shipwreck, he being left entirely destitute.
It was also proposed to present Capt. Seabury, of the steamer Brother Jonathan, with a gold watch, as a mark of esteem for the hospitable manner in which the destitute passengers were treated on board of his ship on the way from San Diego to this port.
It was finally resolved that a meeting should take place this morning, at the office of the Independent Line of Steamers, for the purpose of ascertaining what measures were to be taken in reference to the shipwreck, by the agents of the line.
During the above proceedings the agents of the line fearing violence sent to the Police office, and requested the Marshal to send down five or six police officers to prevent any outrage.
A committee of five of the passengers, who were deputed to wait on the agents, came down to the office, but did not succeed in obtaining an interview. After these occurrences nothing further transpired.
Cargo: $153,000 in gold from Page, Bacon & Company and $60,000 belonging to Fretz & Ralston.
Cargo
Not listed.Passengers
List of Officers Saved:
Capt. Henry RandallList of Crew Saved:
Samuel L. Vought, Purser
Dr. D.L. Bates, Surgeon
C.H. Hewett, 1st Officer
J.H. Earle, 2nd Officer
William Quinn, 3rd Mate
J.H. Kunard, Officer
J.E. Edwards, Chief Engineer
A. Auckinlic, 2nd Engineer
W.H. Lownsberry, 3rd Engineer
S. Hinton, 4th Engineer
M.J. Mathewson, Barkeeper (colored)
J. Belknap, 1st Chief Steward
Baker
C. Ball
J. Banks
C. Barker
M. Barker
T. Bewter
W. Body
F. Bowers
J. Brent
C. Brown
S. Brown
J. Burt
D. Cabatt
H. Carman
G. Carter
J. Castiner
S. Chestnut
J. Clark
J. Clark
J. Conoy
B. Coyle
G.L. Crown
P. Curtis
Steward D. Davis
J. DeCusto
L. Deeby
Delmate
T. Dixon
T. Doodl
R. Dows
D. Dull
J.B. Eynd
J. Farley
Finley
J.J. Francis
H. Freemer
H. Freidenburg
C. Frisby
T. Garman
W. Grant
H. Grinnel
D. Hackway
Wm. Hampshire
T. Harrison
J. Jackson
H. Jenkins
D. Jenkins
A. Johnson
F. Jones
A. Jungber
F. Kennedy
W.H. King
W. Lace
K. Lee
M.D. Little
J. Lynch
J.L. Martin
J.H. Martin
W. Martin
P. McClusky
J. Menomy
C. Mitchell
J. Morrison
M. Mulligan
P. Murray
W. O'Kieff
J. Otis
R. Pitche
L. Prien
J.R. Purnell
C. Ralergalen
J. Ramsey
G. Randall
W.G. Russell
Selmin
J. Sherry
C. Shields
H. Silver
F. Silver
H. Smith
W. Stanber
B. Stay
F. Stephenson
Steward
Steward
W.B. Strobel
T. Sweeney
G. Swift, Storekeeper
W. Thompkins
D. Thompkins
J. Tyrrel
E. Vanorden
W. Waddington
W. Walke
L. Walker
W. Walters
M. Wells
K. Wells
J. Williams
W. Williams
W. Wilson
S. Wilson
B. Wood
Passengers:
W. Abrahams
M. Asnmer
W.L. Baird
R.T. Bales
C. Barker
R.M. Barnes
L.J. Barnes and Child
John Bealy
Mrs. Bell and Two Children
Mrs. Benton and Two Children
E. Bloomingdale
Mrs. D. Brackeray
J.M. Bradley
S. Brodwick
J.C. Brunald (might be Brunaid)
L. Brust
W.A. Burton
Joe Bythen
Mrs. S. Chadwick
E.T. Choat
S.H. Church
W. Colbert
W.S. Cook
J.H. Cowen
Mrs. Emily Craig and Child
J. Cralifeld (might be Crafifeld)
J.S. Crane
A.M. Davis
Miss Day
Mrs. Day and Two Children
W. Deanison
C. Douglas
Mrs. H. Douglas and Child
A. Drowbridge and Lady
Mrs. P.D. Elder and Child
S.B. Eldridge
Mrs. F. Elias
Mrs. Jane Elwell
C. Fish
Mrs. Fitzsimmons and Child
E.B. Foster
Mrs. C. Francis and Child
J. Fullerton
J. Gill
A. Gould
B. Gurner
M. Hackett
W. Hackett
Jos. Hall
C. Hansen
R. Hill, Lady and Child
O.D. Hitchcock
J. Hockman
J.M. Hose
Mrs. A. Howard
Mikss Kate Howard
E. Hurd, Jr.
C. Hutchinson
J.J. Jacobs
W.B. James
S. Johnson
R.A. Johnston
J. Jones
Mrs. E. Kader
W. Kelley
J. Kline
E.H. Knight
Z. Lane
L. Laughlin
A.J. Leach
N. Levi
L. Love
P. Mattenson
J.O. Mavo
M. McCarty
J. McDaniels
J. McKee
J. McNeiser
J.D. Mead
H. Meigan
J. Mitchell
C.E. Norton
J. Owens and Lady
J.B. Paittiman
J. Patterson
Mrs. E. Perkias and Two Children
W. Porters
Mrs. Preckett and Three Chidlren
J.M. Rand
Miss Reed
D.W. Roberts
W. Shilty
C. Shubert
Mrs. S.A. Smith
Mrs. Spaulding and Child
M.T. Sperman
F. Standish, Lady and Child
J.N. Starr
D.M. Stuart
D. Sullivan
J. Teller
E.L. Templeton
Mrs. E.A. Terry
Albert Terry
J. Thompson
P. Thompson
W. Wells
J.C. Wilkinson
J. Williamson
O.R. Woodward
A. Wright