New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-09-21
NARRATIVE OF FRANK A JONES.

MIR. Frank A. Jones OK Sacramento irDsned the lOl-
Loving narrative to our reporters:
terrific gale commenced on the right of our first
d.y out from Havana, and continued with unabsed
fury until the following Saturday. II was a genuine
West India hurricane, the wind blowing from nearly
every point of the compass st once Our ship rode
through the storm beautifully end every fully
pected that che would weather the gale About noon
on Friday however, tie machinery gave out. and the
ship fell into the trough of the sea. She was nov
leaking from the severe strainDg she had endured in
the sorm and the water gained on the pumps as to
put out the fires. All hands, passengers and crew.
sere ordered 10 go to work ballrg, none Of the
steam pumps would work. We rugged pulsys over
tie hatchwsys, aud sluDg barrels which were
filed, hoisted ard empted as fast as possible.
The pulley ropes Were manned by gang. of
80 men, as the donkey engiCes were useless.
BailiDg parties were also organized, who hGed the
stairwsys, and passed the water up In buckets. We
were by these means, enabled to keep the steamer
afost AL Of Us knew how desperate was our situa-
tiop and every worked with a will. We con-
tinued baiing until the next day Saturday at noon
The chip was then lying well over on the larboard
sioe with her portfolios in the water. BY tts time
The water was up 10 the second cabin floors Ne all
knew our danger. About this time the brig Marine,
Capt burch hove in eight, and We tired guns 10
attract her attention. She saw the smoke but did not
hear the report on account of the storm ana made for
US. She came 80 near that could have thrown
cracker board but her officer. had very little com
partially dsIps sed. She passed under stern, and
driiteo of in a short time mile q mile and half
distant. Capt Herpdon ordered the boats to be low
cred, Glihough from the roughness Of the sea We did
not think that they could live. Three boats were
successfully lowered and loaded with the women and
ct ldren. Capt Herndon personally assisting. While
they getting into the boats there the utmost
cool ess and sefcontrol among the passengers; not
man attempted TO get into the boats Capt. Herndon
gave orders that none but the ladies and children
should get into the boats, and he was obeyed TO
the letter. Thirty women and twenty-six children
were placed in the boats without accident The boats
were manned by five men each, Boatsw ain Black,
Ousrtermester DAVID and Chief Engineer Ashby go.
ing in charge Of them. In Mr.. Blacks boat were
seven ladies and seven children, and about the
number in Davd's. In Asheys boat the passengers
were principally men. The first two boats came back
ard took second load Ashley did not return with
bis boat for second lead, but the boat did In hls
boat was tie CHIEF engineer OF The Golden Gate, Mr..
McCarty Blsck went back third time 70 the wreck.
This was atou. dark. He got within two or three
burdred yards Of the steamer, when the people on
board called out 10 keep of, as she was gong down
and would swamp hun. In ten minutes afterward she
went down. I got off in Mr.. Davids boat, the last
but one tina. lett the ship. The other passenger in It
as the Chi ian Consul the remainder OF those saved
in it were sailors. met Black sfterward on board
the brig and he said that he could not save any OF tine
Messengers on the last trip his would not row
up among the drowning people, fearing that they
would swamp the boat. He returned at ~ O'Clock 10
the brg, without passenger. IL was then that We
first heard that the steamer had sunk. The ong
Marine did al she could to get 70 the place
where the steamer went down, in the hope OF
picking up passengers. but she was so
aisabed in her rigging that we could not
get near her. We laid by all night but next porning
sepgers We the bark Ellen in the morning: 70
the norhwtrd, but did not speak her. Ater cruising
about in the vicinity for hours and seeing no one
Capt BrIt headed his vessel for Norfolk. The worthy
mariner ard his officers and men did al in their power
20 render the ladies comfortable. But he was short OF
provisions, and their situation was pltiaoe IN the eI
irene. The little cabin contained only four beths, IN
ore of which was Lucy, the sck siewardess OK the
Central America, who died as We were going into
Hampton Roads. Two G8ys before getting into the
Roads we net he ship Euphrasis of New York, from
New0IlcaLs, and her captain supplied US with bread,
pctatoes OIL chickens. The ladies on board had most
II them 10 sleep or the bare deck in the open air with
very little clothing 20 cover their persons and scarcely
any bedcirg whatever. Cept Burt, however, was
true hearted sailor, and did not spare anything that
would minister TO comfort. His time and attention
were however constantly occupied in caring for bis
vessel which crippled in her spars aud nearly
wsseI-lcgged. Her cabin floor was al the tine COW
cred ~ith one or two feet Of water. On Thursday az
,eiuoon "a we were becalmed IN Hampton Roads, We
saw the propeller Norfolk going Up and hailed her for
a tow. Her captain demanded $500 for the service.
We finally comp omised on 300 On our way up We
ne, the Empire City, Capt McGowsn and were taken
On board. To our Joy We learned thst large number
Of our fellow sd been saved by the baik
Ellen and were on board the steamer.
In a subsequent conversation Mr.. Jones stated that
after the ladies and children bad left the Central
America al discipline at end a. the fate OF the
thip wa, rapidly and surely approaching. 1t was
tyGy nsn for himself Two other boats were
lowered, but they Were instantly stove sgsnst the
sbps si6e. When the boats returned they Sould just
pass urder the stern, and the would throw them
selves overheard like sheep, filing them in an instant
Tbo.e who did not sueceed in getting into the ooats
we're hauled on board again by means OF ropes. In
that To hour gold valueless. The miner threw
bis hsId-.arned pile" into the ses lest its weight
pg ht drag him down. / Jaw many men thus reheYe
themselves Of their treasure, and hund'cds Of
thousands Of dollars were thu thrown away. Capt.
Badger threw down sl7, 600 in gold in tho captains
cabin just before Jumping into the boat asd saved his
life. When lei: the ship they were cuo1ns up zoe
upper deeA, and rskng RATS Of g,itings, hatcn~ay
cover sna cher s,of. IL va. sorG; dark when g1t