memoirs of general william t. sherman-1-第29节
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ew loads； and the debarkation was afterward carried on quietly and systematically。 No baggage was allowed to go on shore except bags or parcels carried in the hands of passengers。 At times the fog lifted so that we could see from the wreck the tops of the hills； and the outline of the shore； and I remember sitting on； the upper or hurricane deck with the captain； who had his maps and compass before him； and was trying to make out where the ship was。 I thought I recognized the outline of the hills below the mission of Dolores； and so stated to him； but he called my attention to the fact that the general line of hills bore northwest； whereas the coast south of San Francisco bears due north and south。 He therefore concluded that the ship had overrun her reckoning； and was then to the north of San Francisco。 He also explained that； the passage up being longer than usual； viz。； eighteen days； the coal was short； that at the time the firemen were using some cut…up spars along with the slack of coal； and that this fuel had made more than usual steam； so that the ship must have glided along faster than reckoned。 This proved to be the actual case； for； in fact； the steamship Lewis was wrecked April 9； 1853； on 〃Duckworth Reef；〃 Baulinas Bay； about eighteen miles above the entrance to San Francisco。
The captain had sent ashore。 the purser in the first boat； with orders to work his way to the city as soon as possible； to report the loss of his vessel； and to bring back help。 I remained on the wreck till among the last of the passengers； managing to get a can of crackers and some sardines out of the submerged pantry； a thing the rest of the passengers did not have； and then I went quietly ashore in one of the boats。 The passengers were all on the beach； under a steep bluff； had built fires to dry their clothes； but had seen no human being； and had no idea where they were。 Taking along with me a fellow…passenger； a young chap about eighteen years old； I scrambled up the bluff； and walked back toward the hills； in hopes to get a good view of some known object。 It was then the month of April； and the hills were covered with the beautiful grasses and flowers of that season of the year。 We soon found horse paths and tracks； and following them we came upon a drove of horses grazing at large； some of which had saddle…marks。 At about two miles from the beach we found a corral； and thence； following one of the strongest…marked paths； in about a mile more we descended into a valley； and； on turning a sharp point； reached a board shanty； with a horse picketed near by。 Four men were inside eating a meal。 I inquired if any of the Lewis's people had been there； they did not seem to understand what I meant when I explained to them that about three miles from them； and beyond the old corral； the steamer Lewis was wrecked； and her passengers were on the beach。 I inquired where we were； and they answered； 〃At Baulinas Creek；〃 that they were employed at a saw…mill just above； and were engaged in shipping lumber to San Francisco； that a schooner loaded with lumber was then about two miles down the creek； waiting for the tide to get out； and doubtless if we would walk down they would take us on board。
I wrote a few words back to the captain； telling him where he was； and that I would hurry to the city to send him help。 My companion and I their went on down the creek； and soon descried the schooner anchored out in the stream。 On being bailed； a small boat came in and took us on board。 The 〃captain〃 willingly agreed for a small sum to carry us down to San Francisco； and； as his whole crew consisted of a small boy about twelve years old； we helped him to get up his anchor and pole the schooner down the creek and out over the bar on a high tide。 This must have been about 2 P。M。 Once over the bar； the sails were hoisted； and we glided along rapidly with a strong； fair； northwest wind。 The fog had lifted； so we could see the shores plainly； and the entrance to the bay。 In a couple of hours we were entering tine bay； and running 〃wing…and…wing。〃 Outside the wind was simply the usual strong breeze； but； as it passes through the head of the Golden Gate； it increases； and there； too； we met a strong ebb…tide。
The schooner was loaded with lumber； much of which was on deck； lashed down to ring bolts with raw…hide thongs。 The captain was steering； and I was reclining on the lumber； looking at the familiar shore； as we approached Fort Point； when I heard a sort of cry； and felt the schooner going over。 As we got into the throat of the 〃Heads；〃 the force of the wind； meeting a strong ebb…tide； drove the nose of the schooner under water； she dove like a duck； went over on her side； and began； to drift out with the tide。 I found myself in the water； mixed up with pieces of plank and ropes； struck out； swam round to the stern； got on the keel； and clambered up on the side。 Satisfied that she could not sink； by reason of her cargo； I was not in the least alarmed； but thought two shipwrecks in one day not a good beginning for a new； peaceful career。 Nobody was drowned； however； the captain and crew were busy in securing such articles as were liable to float off； and I looked out for some passing boat or vessel to pick us up。 We were drifting steadily out to sea； while I was signaling to a boat about three miles off； toward Saucelito； and saw her tack and stand toward us。 I was busy watching this sail…boat； when I heard a Yankee's voice； close behind； saying； 〃This is a nice mess you've got yourselves into；〃 and looking about I saw a man in a small boat； who had seen us upset； and had rowed out to us from a schooner anchored close under the fort。 Some explanations were made； and when the sail…boat coming from Saucelito was near enough to be spoken to； and the captain had engaged her to help his schooner； we bade him good by； and got the man in the small boat…to carry us ashore； and land us at the foot of the bluff； just below the fort。 Once there； I was at home； and we footed it up to the Presidio。 Of the sentinel I inquired who was in command of the post； and was answered； 〃Major Merchant。〃 He was not then in； but his adjutant； Lieutenant Gardner； was。 I sent my card to him； he came out； and was much surprised to find me covered with sand； and dripping with water； a good specimen of a shipwrecked mariner。 A few words of explanation sufficed； horses were provided； and we rode hastily into the city； reaching the office of the Nicaragua Steamship Company （C。 K。 Garrison； agent） about dark； just as the purser had arrived； by a totally different route。 It was too late to send relief that night； but by daylight next morning two steamers were en route for and reached the place of wreck in time to relieve the passengers and bring them； and most of the baggage。 I lost my carpet…bag； but saved my trunk。 The Lewis went to pieces the night after we got off； and； had there been an average sea during the night of our shipwreck； none of us probably would have escaped。 That evening in San Francisco I hunted up Major Turner； whom I found boarding； in company with General E。 A。 Hitchcock； at a Mrs。 Ross's； on Clay Street； near Powell。 I took quarters with them； and began to make my studies； with a view to a decision whether it was best to undertake this new and untried scheme of banking； or to return to New Orleans and hold on to what I then had； a good army commission。
At the time of my arrival； San Francisco was an the top wave of speculation and prosperity。 Major Turner had rented at six hundred dollars a month the office formerly used and then owned by Adams & Co。； on the east side of Montgomery Street； between Sacramento and California Streets。 B。 R。 Nisbet was the active partner； and James Reilly the teller。 Already the bank of Lucas； Turner & Co。 was established； and was engaged in selling bills of exchange； receiving deposits； and loaning money at three per cent。 a month。
Page； Bacon & Co。； and Adams & Co。； were in full blast across the street； in Parrott's new granite building； and other bankers were doing seemingly a prosperous business； among them Wells； Fargo & Co。； Drexel； Sather & Church； Burgoyne & Co。； James King of Win。； Sanders & Brenham； Davidson & Co。； Palmer； Cook & Co。； and others。 Turner and I had rooms at Mrs。 Ross's； and took our meals at restaurants down…town； mostly at a Frenchman's named Martin； on the southwest corner of Montgomery and California Streets。 General Hitchcock； of the army； commanding the Department of California； usually messed with us； also a Captain Mason； and Lieutenant Whiting； of the Engineer Corps。 We soon secured a small share of business； and became satisfied there was room for profit。 Everybody seemed to be making money fast； the city was being rapidly extended and improved； people paid their three per cent。 a month interest without fail； and without deeming it excessive。 Turner； Nisbet； and I； daily discussed the prospects； and gradually settled down to the conviction that with two hundred thousand dollars capital； and a credit of fifty thousand dollars in New York； we could build up a business that would help the St。 Louis house； and at the same time pay expenses in California； with a reasonable
