The SS Golden Gate, a sidewheel steamer, caught fire and sank off
Manzanilla, Mexico on July 27, 1862 while on a run from San Francisco
to Panama. There were 250 passengers and $1.5 million in gold
on-board. About 180 people were lost in the fire and sinking,
including my GG uncle, John Fry.
Where were those who were killed buried? Manzanilla? San Francisco?
By all appearances John Fry was not buried back in Ohio, which would
have been doubtful given the poor transportation; a war raging; and
likely lack of embalming. The survivors of the incident were taken
back to San Francisco in early August, 1862 by the steamship St.
Louis. |
Request for Question Clarification by
sgtcory-ga
on
16 Nov 2002 10:35 PST
Hello again omnivorous,
My research shows very different dates than the ones you have, so I
wanted to post this as a comment. I did see references that were not
quite as detailed as the one that I found, and they carry the same
data you listed. Here is what I was able to find so far:
It seems the ill-fated passengers were categorically indexed and
buried by one kind man. Instead of copying and pasting the article
(which we know would be wrong anyway), I will offer some excerpts and
links to the references:
"...Yates [name you are looking for here], an old resident of
Manzanillo, who has been near the wreck a greater part of the time
since the steamer was burned. About ten days after the disaster,
Yates, prompted by a desire to recover the steamer's treasure, went to
the beach near where the wreck occurred, and there erected a tenement,
in which he now lives...."
Further down the site we read that Yates was unable to find the
treasure, so he set himself a mission of recovering all the lost. In
the process of recovery, he would remove one item of interest from
each individual, and correspond the item with the grave numbers that
he buried them in.
It seems your Great Great uncle may still be buried in Manzanillo, and
someone may be holding a personal item of his. (if indeed this was
passed down through the family or through a friend of Mr. Yates)
To answer you questions - Mr. Yates buried the bodies somewhere in or
near Manzanillo. He is from Manzanillo, and the article also tells us
the pilot boat 'Potter' was headed back from the wreckage in
Manzanillo. All the facts point to Manzanillo as the place of burial.
The article appeared in a paper entitled 'Mazatlan Cosmopolitan'.
I will keep digging, but please do let me know if this seems like the
right direction.
SgtCory
|
Request for Question Clarification by
sgtcory-ga
on
16 Nov 2002 10:37 PST
Sorry about that - forgot to add the link:
http://www.maritimeheritage.org/ships/ss.html#SSGolden%20Gate
Subtitle says 'From the wreck of the Golden Gate'
SgtCory
|
Clarification of Question by
omnivorous-ga
on
16 Nov 2002 10:45 PST
SgtCory --
I'm aware of most of the Internet references to the SS Golden Gate
sinking -- and the fact that they often list incorrect dates (one
indicates July 14, 1862). I'd originally tracked down the actual date
via a microfilm of the NY Herald. The reports arrived in NY on Aug.
8, 1862 -- delayed because of a break in the transcontinental
telegraph.
It may be that my next steps are to acquire microfilms of SF
newspapers from that period to add significantly to the detail. Thank
you for your efforts so far.
Best regards,
Omnivorous-GA
|
Request for Question Clarification by
sgtcory-ga
on
16 Nov 2002 11:58 PST
I was able to find references to offline sources as well that would
seem to confirm my findings:
San Francisco ship passenger lists Volume IV reference
http://www.pt5dome.com/sn092452.htm
This site lists a Yates, J. on the passenger list for the SS Golden
Gate on October 20, 1852. This would in effect seem to counter the
sinking date of July 27 ,1862.
This page lists a person you can contact with regards to San Francisco
ship passenger lists Volume IV in which this data is listed (so you
can get to the bottom of this):
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~yvonne/norcallib.html
Of further interest there is a passenger list of the 'Steamship Star
of the West' with a Mr. Joh Frays listed. The name was so close I
thought it may be of importance.
http://www.pt5dome.com/sw102152.htm
This is starting to get very interesting and fun :-)
Hope it helps in your search!
SgtCory
|
Request for Question Clarification by
sgtcory-ga
on
16 Nov 2002 12:10 PST
Nevermind, I messed that one up pretty good. I'll keep my eyes open :-)
(1862 and 1852, my eyes playing tricks on me)
- SgtCory
|
Clarification of Question by
omnivorous-ga
on
16 Nov 2002 12:57 PST
SgtCory --
I actually have photocopies of the NY Herald with the story on the
sinking here:
Aug. 8, 1862
Appalling Disaster at Sea.
--
Destruction by Fire of the California Steamship Golden Gate.
--
One Hundred and Eight Passengers Lost.
--
Report of a Survivor.
There are some additional details that could be of use to a researcher
(don't ask me why I didn't think of this before):
* owner was Pacific Mail Steamship Co., San Francisco
* several firms are identified which had gold shipments on board,
including Kirby, Byrne & Co.; Meade, Loler & Co.
* I have lists of both the rescued and the lost
* some of those who survived the fire include:
-- Ben J. Holladay, 89 Wall Street, New York City
-- Crew: Captain W.H. Hudson; W. Waddell, chief engineer
-- Captain R.H. Pearson (not of crew)
* some 1st class passengers lost:
-- N.W. Jones, surgeon of ship
-- Mrs. G.O. McMullen
-- Rev. C. Keith
-- Capt. J.W. Richards (not of crew), wife and 2 children
And as I'm sure that you've discovered from Internet searches, there
are tales of gold bouillon being washed ashore at Manzanilla.
Best regards,
Omnivorous-GA
|
