cam_hparker_2311_f002_005.1

San Francisco, Cal. March 12th 1853

Dear Mother,

I received your kind & acceptable the letter
last Tuesday, although it came very near being lost
together with the whole of the Great Eastern Mail. The
particulars I will give you. The Steamship Cortes of the
independent Line arrived here last Saturday evening.

The Mail Steamer Tennessee was reported by her
as being nearby, but she did not arrive the next forenoon
(Sunday). About 2 Oclock [O'clock] P.M. however news came up that
she had gone ashore about 5 miles from here & that the mails
baggage &c had with difficulty been landed safely on the
beach together with all the passengers numbering upwards
of 700 persons. It was so foggy at the time of the accident
that objects could not be seen at a distance of 60 yards.

Fortunately she went ashore in a small cove or bay
surrounded by a broad sandy beach so that every thing
movable was saved & landed on the beach & were re-
moved the next day by the Steamers Confidence & Goliath

A few rods both above & below when the Steamship
went ashore. The coast was steep & rocky & had she
struck either above or below where she did strike she
would have gone to pieces immediately & probably many
lives would have been lost. For a day or two it was thought
that they would be able to get the ship off but she is
now fast going to pieces & is a total wreck. She was the
best Steamer belonging to the Mail Line with the exception