eight o'clock at night
Every one who had subscribed to the Gun Club was directly interested in the welfare of the travelers . At length the hauling-chains , the air-chambers , and the automatic grappling-irons were put on board . J. T. Maston , Engineer Murchison , and the delegates of the Gun Club , were already in their cabins . They had but to start , which they did on the 21st of December , at eight o'clock at night , the corvette meeting with a beautiful sea , a northeasterly wind , and rather sharp cold . The whole population of San Francisco was gathered on the quay , greatly excited but silent , reserving their hurrahs for the return . Steam was fully up , and the screw of the Susquehanna carried them briskly out of the bay . It is needless to relate the conversations on board between the officers , sailors , and passengers .