Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-09-23
The Loss of The Central America.


Cleveland Herald:
The melancholy intelligence is flashed
over the wires, tina. the California
Steamer CENTRAL AMERICA formerly
the GEORGE LAW has foundered, with
five hundred passengers, and S2.OOO,-
600 in gold. Some seventy or eighty of
the crew and passengers were saved, and
were found floating on pieces of the
wreck at the time of their rescue.
Of the gold by the Central America
It is estimated that about $1,000, QUO is
insured in London and 500 900 here
The gold coming Duncan, Sherman d.
Co., Rob't Hallett IL Co., Hoag & Co.,
Wells, Fargo d. Co.. and Rowland q
Aspinwa.l is insured abroad. Messrs.
Drexel's shipment it is the only other
insured here. The insurance companies
have resolved to pay the loss at once,
upon proof of loss, without taking advan
tage of the 80 days delay. The foreign
insurance will be paid al the same time,
according 10 a claim on the policies.
The steamer was valued at $500 200;
no insurance. The company does not
insure its ships. The freight list and
papers of the ship were all on board,
and duplicates cannot be obtained under
five or six. weeks. Total loss neal So
$50, 600 in treasurer, about twC-ibirds
of which is insuaed in London. The
loss to our market will therefore consist
mostly in the delay of settlement: and
this is already provided against TO a
great extent.
The Central America was lost 200
miles off Cape Haiteras. The steamship
Empire City, sailed from Norfolk on Fri
day, for N. Y, took part of the passen-
gers. Positively all the ladies and chill
dren who were saved, are on board the
brig Marine.
Oliver P. Mannue a passengers, gives
the following information;-The brig
Marine was lying nearly a mile eff, and
by the time the third boats reached her,
it became evident that the ship must go
down before they could get back. All
hands then seized pieces of spars, chairs
aud life-preserverS, while others rushed
below to procure the treasure. Now the
vessel gave three lurches; some of the
passengers jumped off at each lurch.-
Those who jumped at the first and Sec
and lurches, swan off some distance,
but the great mass remained on deck I'M
lii the vessel went down, which vas a
minute or two afterwards.
We were all drawn under the surface
at least 90 feet, and when we rose were
nearly siified.
About 400 Of the passengers were
struggling about, most of them having
lost their life preservers, and others
the pieces of the wreck which
came up with them. The Captain had
away the upper works of the vessel
80 that when the hull sank they would
loaf off, but they were all dragged down
and come up in fragments, many persons
we're killed, stunned and drowned, by
being struck by pieces of the wreck,
the pieces to others were the ulti
nate means of safety.
The gale on the Atlantic, in which
he California Steamship Central Amer
ca went down with its precious freight
# life and treasure, was the most terrific
me known for years. The Steamship
City from Havana was out in it,
rarely getting into Norfolk in safe'y =
The gale commenced on Thursday the
9th, and continued without abatement
lntiI Monday succeeding. The Empire
Jity, which left Havana on the 5th, only
hour after the Inflated Central Ameri-
did, was roughly handled, becoming
.lmost a wreck. and being enabled, to
ave herself only by keeping her head to
he sea. She was obliged to use for
uel the Storage berths, all the awning
'osts, and all the wood work which
ould be got at except her cabins. Du-
ing this terrible storm, as an eye wit
Iess says, 'neither the sun nor stars
and hat fearful night of one
Iundred long. and agonizing hours, the
America foIndered. carrying
own five hundred lives and over. two
Millions of treasure. Sixty are known
D be saved, but to whom will that sixty
ring happiness? That is the thought
Ihich now rings in the hearts of thou
ands, who are .tearfully awaiting their
ames. Of that sixty the bark Eloise
as on board forty. but to what port she !
bound is not known. J.;