The Placer herald., 1857-10-24
LATER FROM THE EAST.
Arrival Of the Steamer Panama.
Loss Of 40 Lives!

Loss Of 40 Lives!
The steamship Panama arrived at San
Francisco on Wednesday, with passengers
and mails, and the melancholy news Of the
Loss Of the Geo. Law and California Pas.
sengers.
On Saturday, the 18th Of September, the
steamship Central America o,merly George
Law,) from Aspinwall, for New York, hav-
ing on board the passengers and treasure
shipped from San Francisco by the steam
er Sonora, on the goth of August, foun-
dered in gale while off Cape Hatte.as.
BY this calamity, over 400 persons and
about two millions of treasure were lost.
The women and children, in all l73
persons were rescued. Of the officers of
the steamer, only the second mate, boat
were saved. The events of this terrible
disaster, succinctly stated, are as follows:
On the morning Of Tuesday, September
9Th, the Central America left Havana
with fair weather. In the afternoon of
that day a heavy storm arose, which in
the course of a few hours, increased in
fury until it became one of the widest
hurricanes which for years has been ex-
perienced. The steamer labored hard, but
no fears of danger were entertained by
either the officers or passengers until the
afternoon of Friday, 18th September, when
the engine ceased working, owing to the
vessel having sprung leak, which prevent
ed the men from passing coal forward to
keep up the fires. Having no steerage way,
the steamer fell off into the trough of
the sea, causing her to labor heavily.
An inspection of the pumps, discovered
them to be wholly unserviceable, and lines
of men were formed during the afternoon
to keep the leak down by bailing. Their
efforts in bailng were successful until eight
o'clock in the evening of the same day, and
though after then the leak gained on them,
they did not cease their efforts until within
a short time before the steamer was car
ried down. The morning of Saturday, Sept
~, brought with it slight abatement of
the violence of the gale. Further efforts
were made to use the pumps, but they were
found to be SO out OF repair as to be useless.
About two o'clock in the afternoon of Fri
day, sail was discovered to windward,
and in an hour and a half she hove to
under the stern of the Central America.
She proved to be the brig Marine of Bo-
ton. Two Of the five boats of the steam
er had been stove by the seas the others
were at once lowered with the view of re-
moving the passengers to the brig The
first was placed under the command OF the
boatswain, Mr.. Black, and the second un-
der Mr.. Ashby, the Chief Engineer, at his
request, and on his promise to return for
the others Of the passengers. The ladies
and children were conveyed in safety to
the brig, after which, forty-one of the
men were also transferred to her. AT this
time it was dark, and the boats were com
PEELED to cease their trips. Added to the
darkness, the brig had fallen Of to the lee
ward, owing to her own disabled condition.
She continued, however, to lay hy. At
o'clock, p. NJ, the steamer was struck by
stern first, engulphing for moment all who
were or board. Within brief time the
surface of the ocean around the spot was
covered with the fragments Of the vessel,
which had become loosened from the deck,
and hundreds Of human beings were ca
gerly grasping for them, in hopes to save
their lives. Many were killed by being struck
with the fragments as they rose. Others
were in the cabin and were carried down
with the vessel. About one o'clock on the
morning Sunday, the Norwegian bark Ellen,
was observed approaching. Those who
were yet alive halooed to her and she at
once hove to and commenced to pick up
the sufferers. BY eight o'clock in the morn
ing Of same day, she had rescued forty
nine, all the survivors of the disaster with
in sight. On Thursday, the 18th Sepem-
ber, she arrived at Norfolk, where she
transferred those whom she had saved on
board the Empire City, which steamer
had also been compelled to put in there
in distress. AS the Empire City was COM
ing out on Saturday, the 10Th September
she fell in with the brig Marine with the
other rescued passengers, and took them
all on board and arrived in New York
on Sunday, September goth.
STATEMENT OE OLIVER p MANLUE.
Oliver P. Manlue, passenger, gives the fol-
lowing information:
The storm commenced Immediately after the
steamer left Havana, and continued with great
violence increasing until Friday. On Friday af-
ternoon all hands were called up to bail. The
vessel contlnued 10 snip water, and all hands
worked with buckets, barrels, &C., all Friday
night, and till about two O'Clock on Saturday,
when the brig Marine hove in sight. All the la.
dies and children were put on board the Marine
about O'Clock, P. NJ, and the Chief Engineer
left with them. In launching the boats, two of
them were stove, and the other three were dis
patched with the women and children about an
hour before sunset. The Marine was laying near
ly a mile off, and by the time the three boats
reached her it became evident that the ship must
60 down before they could get back. All hands
then seized pieces Of spars chairs, and life pre-
servers, while others rushed below to secure their
treasure. The confusion now became very great
although all acted with GOODNESS, each one en-
deavoring to make the last effort for their own
safety. Now the vessel gave three lurches some