Passenger Lists: San Francisco 1800s


SS Columbus

Arrive San Francisco

May 20, 1853 
Captain Mellus 
From Panama

Passage

Saturday Morning, May 21, 1853, Daily Alta California, San Francisco

THIRTEEN DAYS LATER
FROM THE ATLANTIC 
ARRIVAL OF THE COLUMBUS

The P.M.S. Co. steamer Columbus, Captain Mellus, arrived about 12 oclock last night, bringing dates to the 20th of April from the Atlantic. This is thirteen days later. The length of the Cs passage is attributed to the bad quality of the coal used.
The Columbus brings 216 passengers. The following is the Pursers report, kindly supplied by Purser Chase: 

The steamer Columbus left Panama at 8 P.M., April 30th. May 5th, Mr. H.A. Schoolcraft died, and on the night of the 6th, C.C. Hunter, store-keeper of the ship, died of disease of the lungs. Arrived at Acapulco at 8 A.M., May 8th, and sailed at 1 P.M. same day. In lat. 7 35, lon 81 30, saw steamer Northerner, exchanged signals with steamer Panama in lat 23 22, long 116 20. Arrived at San Diego at 10 A.M., May 18th, and sailed at 8 P.M. Cleared, April 30th, from Panama, for Callao, ship Zarstan, E. Chase, in ballast. We have had, during the greater part of the passage, fine weather and a smooth sea. May 19th, at 7 P.M., passed steame rOhio, bound up.

Purser Fred C. Chase was the first to deliver our parcels by the Columbus, and we are greatly indebted for the attention, the Pursuer coming on shore ahead of the expresses, and placing our files in hand after midnight.

Berford & Co. delivered first express packages. We received our correspondence and files through Adams & Co.

The news received is not of much importance, though possessing considerably general interest. The lateness of the hour at which it came to hand will preclude a full publication.

The long expected event of the decease of Hon. Wm. R. King, Vice President of the United States, was announced in the Alabama papers, April 19th. He reached his home in Dallas County, of that State, and died two days afterwards. The news of the death of this esteemed man was received in various official and metropolitan places with tokens of sincere regret and sorrow.

We are exceedingly pained to learn of the death of Judge Henry A. Schoolcraft, so well known and so highly esteemed among us. Judge S. was taken violently ill a few days before reaching Acapulco, and died on the 5th, two days travel from that port. His disease was an affection of the liver.

California overland emigration is on the march from the western frontier States. A Van Buren (Arkansas) paper confirms our private accounts of the large herds of cattle traveling for our borders. The New York Herald states that a merchant who had returned from the West, asserted on "Change," that the emigration to the Pacific side of the continent would be very large the present spring. Numbers were preparing for the overland route to California, and yet more for the Territory of Oregon. It appeared that the government grant of 640 acres (a mile square) of land, allowed to each family actually settling and cultivating it for a terms of year, was operating as a strong inducement in favor of emigration to Oregon . . .

Samuel Brannan.

A very happy re-union of Californians is noticed in the New York papers. Mr. Samuel Brannan entertained a large party of his California friends in the banquet hall of the Saint Nicholas. Of course the repast was sumptuous, and the saying and doings of the occasion worthy of compliment which called them forth.

Cargo

Not noted. To E. Knight.

Passengers

Passengers by the SS Columbus May 1853.

Alcock, A. 
Berford & Co's Messenger 
Bergen, Miss M. 
Bibbin, Wm. 
Bronw, H. 
Carlow, J. M. 
Chase, T. F. 
Claughley, T. 
Comfort, Miss 
Comfort, S. W. 
Conklin, D. 
Cox, Mrs. and child 
Dragge, Mrs. 
Duncan, J. 
Eagleston, T. K. 
Edmond, Mrs. 
Emmons, E. W. 
Evans, J. C. 
Fish, J. C. and lady 
Folard, Wm and lady 
Friedham, J. T. 
Gronen, A. 
Hoag, Mrs. and two children 
Holt, W. M. 
Hunt, A. M. 
Hunter, Mrs. and two children 
Jennison, Mrs. 
Jessey, J. R. 
Keeser, Miss 
Keeser, Miss M. 
Kennedy, C. J. 
Kennedy, J. 
Kennedy, J. M. 
Kennedy, Miss E. A. 
Kennedy, Miss M. J. 
Kennedy, Mrs. 
Kennedy, S. 
King, Miss 
King, Mrs. L., lady, three children and servant 
Knox, W. R. 
Lander, P. C., lady and child 
Marklay, W. J. 
Moore, C. 
Pinsky, J. 
Raney, Miss 
Reynolds, E. 
Richardson, Mr. and Miss F. 
Rosevelt, J. H. 
Sammis, E. W. 
Schoolcraft, H. A. (Judge. Died on board.) 
Steinbuhl, W. 
Sullivan, A. 
Theweroap, J., three ladies and three children 
Thurston, R. F. 
Tobin, J. M. 
Wallace, Miss 
Wilmot, V. 
and 134 in steerage


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Sources: As noted on entries and through research centers including National Archives, San Bruno, California; CDNC: California Digital Newspaper Collection; San Francisco Main Library History Collection; and Maritime Museums and Collections in Australia, China, Denmark, England, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Wales, Norway, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, etc.

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