One of the ship passengers was E.H. COLBY. Any ideas who he was? Apparently this ship took passengers south to the Atlantic side of Panama for the California gold rush in 1849. One year later in 1850 the ship was lost at sea. New York Herald New York City, New York February 6, 1849 CALIFORNIA INTELLIGENCE ------------------ SAILING OF THE STEAMSHIP CRESCENT CITY – GREAT EXCITEMENT The fine steamship Crescent City, Captain Stoddard, took her departure for Chagres, yesterday afternoon, at a few minutes before two o’clock, amidst the firing of cannon, and vociferous cheers from an immense multitude. (Numerous paragraphs from article not transcribed.) It will be seen by the annexed list, that she takes out 305 passengers, among whom is William H. Sidell, Esq.; he goes out as Chief Engineer of the Panama section, for the location and survey of the proposed Chagres and Panama rairoad. http://www.pt5dome.com/NYHShips02061849.htm http://www.pt5dome.com/PassHome.html SS CRESCENT CITY Wooden side-wheeled steamer built by William H. Brown, New York, in 1847 - 1848 for Isaac Newton, Charles Stoddart, J. P. Whitney and Company, and J. Howard and Son for service between New York and New Orleans. Entered the New York - Chagres service December 23, 1848, for J. Howard and Son. Purchased by Charles Morgan and associates in January, 1849, but continued to be operated by the Howards. Passed under the control of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company in October, 1850, and early in 1851 was sold to the Pacific Mail Steamship Company for $187,500. She ran regularly from New York to Chagres until the summer of 1852 and made a single voyage 1853. She was lost on a reef in the Gulf of Mexico in 1856. SS Crescent City The Crescent City, first of the new U.S. Mail Line between New York and New Orleans, made 16 knots on her trial trip, May 30, 1848. On her first voyage to New Orleans, she was credited with reducing the running time to six days, which seems probably in view of the fact that she made the round trip in 20 days, including stopovers, arriving back in New York with 180 passengers. On the day before Christmas, 1848, to the cheers of thousands assembled on the docks to see them off, the Crescent City, with the Isthmus, were cleared for Chagres to deliver gold seekers to the Atlantic side of Panama. On December 14, the New York Herald reported: "four large steamships cast off their lines along West Street and proceeded to sea in stately procession, the Cherokee, Crescent City, Ohio for Chagres and the Great Western for Bermuda. The Crescent City's voyage was ill-fated. http://www.maritimeheritage.org/ships/ss.html Daily Alta California, Wednesday Morning, February 6, 1850 ACCIDENT TO STEAMER CRESCENT CITY! The schooner Sarah A. Smith, from Belfast, Maine, arrived at Chagres, on Sunday evening last, (30th of Dec.). She brought 32 passengers from the unfortunate steamship Crescent City, which vessel she encountered at sea on the 16th ult. We are indebted to Mr. W. W. Leland, brother to the editor of the Pacific News for the following narrative of the disaster on the Crescent City, and the events which transpired down to the arrival at Chagres. Gentlemen,-- Knowing that there is a great deal of anxiety felt in relation to the disaster which attended the noble steamship Crescent City, I am happy to impart through the Echo a brief account of the accident, and our trip here. We left New York on the 13th ult., precisely at 3 o’clock. The Cherokee left a few moments before us – the Ohio shortly after. At about 10 o’clock that evening, we lost sight of the Cherokee, two points off our starboard bow and the Ohio, two points off our larboard quarter. It was at this time snowy and squally. We came on at the ship’s usual rate, 10 to 12 knots per hour, until Sunday evening, the 16th ult., it being a smooth sea, and the passengers, as usual after tea, had gathered on deck, and were making calculations on reaching Panama in 11 days. All at once there was a tremendous crash; of course it made a great stir. We soon found that the cross tail, and other parts of the engine was completely used up. Capt. Stoddard gave orders at once to make sail, but as there was scarcely any wind, and she had but small sails, we did not scarcely move. The cannon was fired, and rockets, at intervals, until morning – when we heard the glorious news from the mast head," sail ahoy!," "where away?" "off our weather bow!" All hands were looking with intense anxiety but to appearance the vessel bore away. The Capt. Gave orders, and manned the small boat – put provisions aboard for the men, and sent them to bring her to our relief. There was no wind, and they pulled the oars to good effect. They reached the schooner on Monday, the 17th utl. About three o’clock. The Captain called a meeting of the passengers. About one-half determined if he would charter her, they would embark on hr for Chagres. Some wished to remain on board, and have the steamer got to Nassau, as we were only 600 miles from that port. The accident happened in lat. 28:9, and long. 72:56. The Schooner reached us only on the morning of the 18th and proved to be on a voyage to Key West from Belfast, Maine, loaded with lumber and provisions. Her name was Sarah A. Smith, 94 tons burthen. Captain Stoddard purchased the cargo at 100 per cent over cost, and threw overboard lumber enough to make sufficient room for the passengers to sleep in the hold. The passengers who did not choose to come aboard the schooner, the Captain paid back one-half of their fare, and they went aboard of two brigs loaded with lumber, and bound for Havana. We left the Crescent City, on the evening of the 18th ult., and reached Jamaica on the 16th, and Chagres on the 30th. We were all glad to get a release from the hard fare of the country schooner. We arrived in this city on the evening of the 3d January, twenty-one days from New York. Yours, respectfully W.W. Leland Panama, January 4, 1850 Bob Colby