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

b0~The number of those reported as being saved
from the Central America increases from Gay to day,
and has now got up to l47 with hopes of still more
being heard FROM OF course this sad affair ELL the pa
pers almost to the exclusion of every thing else 1t u.s.
however not So There is really little else OF an exct
ing nature for the newspapers to dwell upon. Let some
murder, tragedy or shipwreck, or awful de-
veopement" get before the public eye and it will soon
engage its attention. to the neglect of the Central Amer
ca which would longer be thought of but by those
who had relations there.
After the occurrence of such catastrOphes we have
been in the habit of hearing about Investigations and
all that sort of thing with the view of providing
assured means of future safety, &c. but all know
what these things amount to-and that is, nothing.
This thing will pass from the public view in few days
and the old saying of out Of sight out of mind' will
have another illustration of its truth Whether the
means of escape provided to meet such contingency
were sufficient, whether the lepreservers even were
equal to the number of passengers will hardly be ques
toned and so things will 60 until some fresh caasro
phe makes a fresh rife the surface But for any
sake, no sham Investigations,
We give some further details among the rest the
statement of Mr. Ashby, the Chief Engineer, of whom
the Baltimore Sun speaks as fine stalwart man of
about thirty with frank, seaman-ke face and bearing
with nothing about him from which to surmise the
graceess defect of character alleged against him. The
Sun says that he has been six years Chief Engineer of
the ship and the last the 45h trip he had made IN
her, without hearing the first word of complaint from
owner commander. There must be some mistake
about the six years. the vessel little four
years old, having been launched in 1853.
We see among those known to be lost, Mr.. Charles
Taylor, of Washington in this State.
STATEMENT AsHBy, CHIEF ENGINEER.
The account of the trip until the Central America
counered the gale i'll which she lost is already IA
miar to the reader On Friday morning, in the height
of the blow the engineer discovered that the ship rolling
heavily in the trough of the sea, had sprung leak, re-
ported it Immediately to Capt HerndOn Although it
has been said that the sole Of this catastrophe
attributable to the chief engineer under such terrible
imputation, he looks to simple statement of facts for
ample justification. His first duty in the engine
room. The usual mode of supplying the coalbunkera
is by wheelbarrows, but in heavy gale the men are
| obliged to resort to buckets and baskets This was
done at that time He had doubled the gangs but find
ing that he required aid he had made requisitol
Capt. Herndon for the stewards gang, and had re
ceived the necessary assistance The coal supplied
as fast as it wanted The pumps were working as
soon the water reached them. The ship had list
with the sarboard boiler heated to degree almos
unbearable Notwithstanding this all hands endured
and labore in the engine The leak increased, ant
the engineer reported to Capt H. the necessity to bail
water being in both the forward and aft coabunkers
and extremely hot Orders at once given by Capt
H. for all hands and the passengers to bail This wa
done cheerfuy, but the leak gained steadily, notwith
standing all these efforts. Meantime steam got VI
in the donkey boiler, the upper deck, to work thu
donkey pumps Soon after this the water below eXtin
guiShed the fire the starbOard boiler and the machine
| ~ ceased to work
/ During the morning the engineer being informed by
the doctor that something giving way in his room
discovered that the starboard wheehouse and guard
settled several inches causing extra leak round tn
shaft This was promptly stopped with blankets insid
Capt Herndon BY his orders another gang was set Il
bang in the lower cabin, and in the forward steer
age and pork barrels milk cans &c, rugged into hoist
ing buckets, by which 400 gallons of water per mnut
were thrown out of the ship In all these proceeding
the engineer recognizes efficient service in Mr. McCarty
chief engineer of the Golden Gate who on hoard
Capt Badger Mr. John V. Dobbin and one or tw
others whose names nc does not know.
t All hands worked all night at bailing and in til
morning found perceptibe gain on the leak Obtain
ed wood, consisting of bulkboars and other maerif
from Storage, and it possible to sta1
fires got up steam in arboard boiler, and the machner
worked for some time. At the same time Capt. II. an
officers were trying to get the ship before the wind BIT
it into drag and got it overheard for the purpose
bringing her head to, but without success. Gut ava
her foremost and got sail on the mizzen, but it W,
e blown away. At last got canvass and mizzen rigging
r At this time the ship laid over so much that Cap
H., with the eng neer, had to crawl along the decks
reach the after pumps for inspection Everything TIL
experience could suggest the extremity of their co
e dition devise discussed by Capt. H., the mat
e and engineer. The fires extinguishel by the
d creasing leak, and early Saurda" it clear to t
experience Of all that there was no hope for the Ship
In the course of the morning found severe leak fro
Il the strain. This was stopped by blankets. Nothil
could be done but bail, and thwas kept up all day wi
spirit and energy, the ladies acting with marked fir
ness, encouraging the men, and asking if they could
made useful to put to work.
During the morning the brig Marine hove in sigl
Is and early in the afternoon bore down to the ship p;
L. sing under her stern Captain II. spoke her, reque
of ing her to lay by and take passengers, which she
sented to do The engineer at this time with Cal
Ell. who then desired him to give his particular ate
to the transfer of the ladies and children to the boats
III Capt H. inquired of Mr.. Ashby if he was arme
- He replied that he was, with knife Capt. H. Sc
s he would endeavor to obtain pistols for himself
one for Mr.. A. This for protection against a
interference while insisting upon precedence to lad
and children. Three boats were got afloat, one put
On charge of the bOatswan, and the other two each
charge of quartermaser. Capt. HI. ordered the en-
20 neer not to suffer single male passenger to leave in
81 boats until all the ladies and children were transferr
and he believes this order strictly carried out.
NJ ladies and children were put into the boats and at
time the brig had drted good three miles to leward
he Each boat furnished with three or four Oarsm
r and pulled rapidly to the brig through very hea
, No accident happened, and the three boats SAT
deposited their passengers board the brig The bo