The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1857-11-26
TIKI PAoxr1c
Commercial Advertiser.
TERRIBLE DISASTER

tine OF the most appalling disasters that has ever
been recorded occurred in the loss by laundering ofthe
California mail steamship Central -Ameriea formerly
the George Lar). The steamer was lost in a gale
of Cape Hatteras on the 18th Of September, while on
the voyage from Havana to New York, having on
board about 600 persons, 430 Of whom are supposed
to have been lost The gale began when about "a
hours out from Havana The following account of
the disaster IS made by Capt Badger, who commanded
the schooner General Pierce, which touched at this
port some two years since on her way to Japan.
Capt Badger, one Of the rescued passengers of the
Central -Americo, states that the gale increased until
two O'Clock On Friday, the 11th, when it was per-
ceived that the engine had stopped; and the ship fell
into the trough of the sea, which caused her to make
considerable water around the lee shaft and the lee
lower dead lights. 1t was afterwards ascertained
that the cause Of the stoppage Of the engines was the
neglect OF the hre and engine department Of getting
coal along from the bunkers to the fre-room fast
enough to keep up the fires, consequently all the en-
zines stopped, as well as all the pumps attached to
the engines.
The deck pumps were out of order, and at Capt.
Badger's suggestion companies were organized, whilst
the stewards gnngs and deck hands went down to
pass the coal along. By this time the fires were put
out, and the water became so heated in the hold of
the ship, and the steam engendered was so great, that
they were compelled to abandon passing the coal.
The ship then lay At the. mercy of the waves, but she
did not labor hard We then started several gangs
at baiing. as the only hope of saving the ship. AT
my suggestion the captain ordered the foremast to be
cut away, which was done about six O'Clock.
From four o'clock till eight the water vas kept at
bay. An attempt was made to raise in the donkey
boiler. Berths were torn down and thrown into the
furnace to raise steam to start the pumps but all to
no avail The cause 1 could not learn A drag was
prepared, but failed, and the ship continued in the
trough Of the sea- Battling still went on with vigor,
and was kept up all night by gangs, who were
changed as they became exhausted.
T.-~-1, u~~rsr- ~ r-., lo~.,usc 60 ca
and the water to increase and grow up in the hold of
the ship. At four O'Clock on the morning of Satur-
day, the 18th. the gale abated, with a heavy sea run
ming.
the assurance that the ship would hold out. Every
passenger remained cool, and seemed to forget his
danger in the united efforts to save the vessel. There
was no weeping or exhibition Of despair, even on the
part Of the females. At eight O'Clock another attempt
WAS made to raise steam in the donkey boiler, to pump
the ship, bat without avail
One proposed to box the pumps, but on enquiry no
carpenter or tools could be found, and the water
gained rapidly. The lee shaft was shrouded in heavy
blankets to stop the leak, but the water burst through.
AT 2 o'clock on Saturday, n sail was reported to
windward and at 81 O'Clock she was under the stern.
Boats were Immediately lowered, but two were imme-
distely stove by the sea. Three boats still remained,
one In a bad condition
At 4 o'clock, the work of removing the ladies and
children to the deck Of the Marine was commenced.
The brig being much higher than the ship, had by
this time drifted away to leeward-
This distance was considerable, and the boats were
long in making the trips, and there being a heavy
sea, but few could be carried at a time. After send
ing the ladies and children, the engineer and some
fifteen others were embarked on the brig.
By this time it WIS dark The work Of bailing was
still kept on, but the water gained faster upon the
vessel As the boats successfully approached the
ship, q simultaneous rush was made by the passen-
gers to get on board, and it was apprehended that the
b ats would be filed and stove.
II was now dark. About two hours before the
sinking Of the ship q schooner ran down under her
stern. but could not render her any assistance for
want Of boats
The work Of bailing went on until within an hour
Of her going down. Two lights Of the above vessel
were now seen far to leeward- Rockets were fired
from the vheel-house, but went downward. The i'm
mediate sinking of the ship followed
Cart. Herndon remained ON the wheel-house up to
the moment Of her going down, which was 8 O'Clock,
Saturday night. was standing on the quarterback
Some jumped over and put out from the now rapid
ly descending ship, and seized on whatever they could.
Nc one shrieked or cried, but all stood calm
The captain behaved nobly, and said he would not
leave the ship
I promised him / would remain with him, as also
did the second officer, Mr.. Frazer.
All at once the ship, as il in the agony Of death
herself, made . plunge on an angle of As degrees,
and with a shrek from the engulphed mass, she
disappeared, and Eve hundred human beings foated
out on the bosom Of the ocean with no hope but death.
At quarter past one o'clock in the morning the
Norwegian bark EHen came running down with a