The Washington union., 1857-09-19
THE GREAT WRECK. ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS
OF THE LOSS OF THE CENTRAL AMERICA -
STATEMENT OF ONE OF THE SURVIVORS.

The following Is taken from yesterday evening edi-
tlon of the New York Journal of Commerce
The Central America was originally named the George
Law but for the last few trips has been known as the
Central America She built in 1893, by William
IL Weeb, for the u. s. M. Steamship Company, George
law NJ O. Roberts and Others 10 run from New York
ChagTes and since that time has been employed in the
California trade She $50 feet on deck, 40 beam,
81 hold and her engines We're TWO Inclined 6o-inch cyl
nders with feet stroke Of piston built at the Morgan
Iron Works Respecting he condition at the time she
was lost Mr.. Roberts says, In n recent note /:
Her construction Is of the very best description
diagonally braced with iron from stem to stern and is
i'm all respects AZ stanch and safe as any ship ahoat In
and thoroughly overhaued Her engines and boil
at the time put in perfect order and the
voyage upon which she is now over due the second
since her repair. ~
books was vued at about $50 900 Shes believed TO
lie insured the Steamship Company are accustomed
10 act their own insurers. oU U ~.
The steamer was provided with six life-boats. Two
were Franciss metallic boats and the remaining four
were fitted up with air tanks the end and Sides and
each of the six capable of holding from so to rs per-
sons She also equipped with 600 or 700 life pre-
servers but had no bulkhead partitions. We have here
another terrible lesson respecting the necessity of having all
seagong steamers furnished with airtght compartments
for il is reasonable to that had the Central Amer
lean been thus provided the amentbe loss of life now
chroncled might have been greatly diminished, not
wholly averted. ,grss#E
The New York Board of Underwriters have unanimous
y resolved to invite all persons having claims against
them account of the Central America to present
them Immediately for settlement. Considering the pre-
yang stringency in the money market this example Of
promptitude and despatch is especially worthy of
nendation This determination of the board officially
announced, as follows
sWe, the undersigned underwriters ON the treasure
Der steamship Central America from Aspinwa to this
port in the present state Of financial affairs deem it
proper give this public notice. that upon the present
alton of the proper proofs the claims against
spective companies will be promptly paid in conformity
with the policies and when requested by the assured will
be discounted. h
s.NEw YoRK, September 49, 1851" 3
1.-THE Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company, by J. d.
1.-The Great Western Insurance Company, by Richard
Iathers, president. ,UsEU Eat s@~t2aaE HthEsi8&
''Ihe Union Mutual Insurance Company, by F. J. La
throp, president.
1.-The Orient Mutual Insurance Company, by Leop'd
Brerworth, president @5t ~
'The Commercial Mutual Insurance Company, by d.
Drake Smith, president. s"l l"' .i- "f"
1.-THE Mercantile Mutual Insurance Company, by El-
wood Walter, president.
1.-THE New York Mutual Insurance Company, by John
II. Iyell, vice president s@. "'
'tThe Pacific Mutual Insurance Company by Alfred
Edwards, president. &t ..... .- 81
The duplicate bills of lading will be received by the
steamer due the 25h instant, that, in of loss
the only inconvenience by those to whom reittances
we're made by this conveyance and insured in New York.
viii be the delay of few days in the realization of their
means. '@ v.ha.g
Probably two thirds of the loss will fall the foreign
companies and the reclamation to be made for
them will form basis upon which to draw bills of
change and thus stand equivalent for the shipment
of specie to the amount. Our insurance
panics will not lose $500, ,000 at the utmost.
The New York Tribune says: - -,
The effect of this loss has been much less than could
have been anticipated and probably less than it would
have been had it at time when the street was
widely expanded The stock market exhibited no marked
perturbation and the public mind comparatively quiet
We hear sympathy expressed to-day for the relatives
of the lost than for those who have lost the treasure
Of the gold by the Central America it is estimated that
about million is insured in London and five hundred
thousand here The gold coming to Duncan, Sherman,
& Co., Robb, Hallett CO., Hoag Co., Wells, Fargo,
Co.. and Rowland Aspinwall, whatever it may be, is
insured abroad. Messs Drexels shipment which is the
only other large one, is insured here.
The insurance companies have resolved opay the losses
at once upon proof of loss without taking advantage of
the thirty days delay allowed them This will relieve
the parties expecting remtances materially. The for
eign will be paid at the time, according
to canse in the policies. .,.Ul.... .4.
The following particulars in regard to the wreck of the
Central America furnished by Mr. Henry H. Chlds,
of the rescued passengers who brought to Saan
nah This statement transmitted by telegraph from
savannah, ana was late an hOur It's
publication in this mornings issue of the Jnioa; l.r
STATEMENT HENRY II. cHILDs, ONE OF THE RESCUED
PASSENGERS.
We left Havana September 8, having had delightful
weather and calm from the time of leaving Aspin-
wall In the afternoon of the day of sailing from Ha-
fresh breeze sprung up, and Wednesday
ing, the 9th, it commenced blowing very strong The
gale continued oil day. and at night it still increasing
and raining in torrents On Thursday the wind blew
complete hurricane and the sea ran very high
Through Friday the storm ragged with unabating fury
and at IL o'clock, m it was first known among the
passengers that the steamer had sprung aleak and was
making water fast. A line formed and all the men
went to work bailing from her engine-room the fires
having been already extngushed by the water After
hard work gained the water much to be
able to get up steam again, but held 1t but for a
few mnutes when the water again on U.S. and the
engines stopped then forever Balng still continued
In all parts of the ship and kept up until she finally went
down
During Friday night the water gained gradually but
all being still in good spirits we worked to the best Of
ability feeling that when morning might posi-
bly, speak some vessel and thus be saved. 1s
The fatal Saturday at last, but brought nothing
but increased fury Still we worked on About o'clock
p m the storm lued little and the clouds broke
away, when life renewed and all again worked like
giants. a"n
At o'clock, p. m, spread on sail and fired guns
our flag being placed at half mast ! To our Joy we were
seen and the brig Marine, of Boston, hove down
upon We then considered our safety certain. She
near and spoke her and told her our con-
dtion. She laid by about mile distant, and we with
the aid of only three boats all that had been saved from
the fury of the storm placed all the women and children
in safety on board the brig.
As evening fast approaching discovered another