Passenger steamer wrecks in the Caribbean, stranding hundreds on a remote desert island

The steamship Golden Rule with more than 600 passengers and crew was on a run from New York City to Colón, Panama when she hit a reef in the southern Caribbean. The people aboard evacuated to the small coral and sand island of El Ronconor, "the Snorer."  They remained there until June 7, 1865 when relief vessels arrived, alerted to their difficulties by a boat the Golden Rule sent to Colón. No injuries were reported.  (By John Osborne)