Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-09-25

of belong & McNea of San Francisco Mr.. Brown,
of the firm of Taft, McCahil Co., of San Francisco,
and Mr. Bokee, of New York. late from China.
Passengers by the Empire City report that when
forty hours from Havana, at midnight they exchanged
signals with the Star of the West hence for Aspnwal
and Havana, and it is presumed she escaped the fury
of the storm and reached Havana in safety
Some of the survivors by the Ellen also report having
seen Capt Herndon after the steamer went down, cling
ing to portion of the wreck and struggling manfuly
for life
When the survivors by the Marine entered the paror
of the National Hotel at Norfolk, the ladies looked
around, and failing to recognize husbands brothers or
sons gave way utterance of their grief whilst some
fell helpless on the floor. The scene was distressing IN
the extreme and beggars all description. The clothing
stores thrown open and apparel furnished to some
who were almost naked.
They award great credit to Capt. HendOn and all
the officers except the chief engineer They stood to
their posts nobly and went down with the ship.
Lieutenant william L. Herndon U. S. n. Commander
of the Central America
The most valuable life lost by the recent disaster, is
probably that of Lieutenant William Lewis Herndon,
e. S. NJ late commander of the ill-starred Central
America The New York Times furnishes the following
interesting sketch concering him:
Lieut.. HerndOn man of gifted intellect and res
oute will Modest and retiring in manner it required
close observer intimate friend to discover all the
rare qualities he possessed His courage-the calm, de-
liberate enduring courage of a truly brave man-has
been conspicuous many occasions He has been tried
severely and was found wanting Those who knew
him well want no assurance that he quilted his
ship while there fellow creature to be saved
and that far be conectured he stood upon her
deck as she reeed down into the depths of the
appalled, himself by the calamity that startled the
ton. We not using that language OF empty adula-
ton-we have Lieut. Herndon's past life before u.s. and
the further fact that taentSlr r0ne and children 1CeTe
saued IN boat proves conclusvey that he did his duty
right manfuy, and to the last, had control over himself
well his We do not permit ourselves to
hope the gallant commander has been saved it were I'M
possible, except by such miraculous nterpositiOn
of Providence that which rescued Capt Luce after he
sunk with the Arctic's wreck
| Capt. William Lewis HerndOn native of Fred
ercksburg, Va, and was the son of Dabney Herndon,
ESQ.,, highly respected citizen of that place. He was
born October 25 1873 and was therefore, at the time
of his DEATH 43 years of age twentyght of which he
had spent in the service of his country He entered the
Navy as midshipman at the age of fifteen His first
voyage to the Pacific in the old rgate Guerrero.
This cruise took three years. The next three years he
spent in the Mediterranean, in the Constellation and
afterwards made third cruise to the coast of Brazil
At this time he attached to the Independence
About the time of his return the Florida broke out
and number of officers in the Navy volunteered for
! the service. Among them young Herndon, who
was placed in command of brig at Indian Key With
his he often penetrated the Everglades in boats
driving the Indians from the of the swamp into
the of the troops the shore In this difficult
service and the coast he remained two years. On
|,
at Washington then under the charge of his brothern
law Lieutenant Maury. Here he remained three years
This service he found arduous than life at sea, as
f he often necessarily engaged all night in making as
Economical observations. During the Mexican he
applied for ORDERS and appointed to the rigate
\ Cumberland He proceeded to Norfolk, and had EN-
barked, when his destination changed Commodore
Perry, then in the Gulf had applied to the Department
to send him out active and intelligent officer WIZ
could speak the Spanish language, to be placed in
| q a
can squadron and the troops shore. The Secretary
of the Navy Immediately designated Lieutenant Hern
don for the post and he transferred to the Iris
sailed to join Commodore Perry. In this small vesse
he remained till the close of the war; often performing
tasks of much difficulty and danger but with uniform
skill and success At the close of the he returne
to Washington and spent another year at the Observe
tory.
1t was in the exploration of the Amazon, during th
years 1851 and 1852 that Lieut.. Herndon chiefly dis
IF tinguished himself rather it in the perormanc
" of this service that he is widely known. He
selected for this most important and delicate duty
y his letter of instructions ran-because it would
for the exercise of all those high qualities and attainment
VI that he possessed" The object of the expedition
" obtain every information relating to the valley and tn
river of the Amazon including the entire basin or waite
~ shed drained by that river and its tributaries 1t Herr
dOnS observations to extend not only to the preset
condition of that valley, with regard to the navgabt
of its streams but to the number and condition. both il
" dustria and social of its inhabants their trade
IOuuCS ltS CllAdtt, sui dllu pOuuCllOS, duu dlSO
its capacities for cultivation, and to the character
I'll extent of its undeveoped commercial resources wheth
" of the field the forest the river the mine At Il
" time he received these Instructions 1t Herndon was
W board the Vandala, then at Lima in Peru and fro
IL that point he directed to the COrilleras
III explore the Amazon from its to its mouth
uo Lieut.. HerndOn entered upon the duties of his
mission with spirit and enthusiasm. To prepare himse
It. for the expedition he spent four or five months in
searches in Chill and Peru. He then left the Pacif
coast ond assembled to the crest of the Andes and fro
thence descended the Atlantic slope until he reached tt
ID headwaters of the Amazon, which at four thousar
VI miles distant from its mouth, is but muddystrea
o known as the Hualaga. Lieut.. Herndon travelled Il
entire distance from the headwaters of canoe navigate
oh to Para, in open boat 1t occupied him II month
III and his report to the Government embodyng faithf
p and modest account of his Journey should be read
every interested in the development of the unboun
ho ed resources of the mghtiest river in the world
On his return to the United States, Lieut. Hernd
10 for some months in Washington, engaged in Il
preparation of his work the Amazon which was pu
Ills shed by the Government
~, After this labor completed he was ordered to
San Jac0 then designed to cruise in the Baltic dur
the presence there of the allied fleets But some accide
occurring to her machinery she put into Southampto
u This ship was ordered to convey Mr.. Soule, who hi
been forbidden to pass through France from Calais
SPAIN On the return of the San Jacito to the Unit
e States Lieut. Herndon transferred to the Poomc
ol under Commodore Paulding but after plac
WI in command of the George Ld1v. This was about t1
years ago. These California steamers carrying Unit
States Mails required by law to be under the COZ
mand Of the officers of the Navy, and Lieut. Hernd
ch chosen for the responsible post The name of
I'LL Geo. LaU was only few weeks ago changed to that
the Central america, the loss of which, is now mourn
Ihu by thousands of hearts.
out 1t HerndOn was married % Years since t an ost;mol