Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-09-26
THE CENTRAL AMERICA.

THE CENTRAL AAEktCA ~
FuRr1HssRR INc1DEnrs OF rnE WRscKED SssAnER.--
As Theodore Payne, ESQ, of SaA Francisco, was
leaving the steamer to 60 the bark Marine, Capt
Herndon gave him his watch, with the request that
he would deliver it to Mrs. Herndon, should he be
fortunately saved Nh. Payne reached this city yes
terday from Norfolk, with the watch in his posses
sion and the request Of the captain will be faithful
1y complied with. IT,
1t is said that owing to the violence of the storm
there was considerable suffering among the passen-
gers on the steamer from sea Sickness but IS soon
the danger became imminent all symptoms Of sea
sickness disappeared. This was produced, probably,
by being overpowered by the strong mental emo
tions crea,ed by their perilous position.
Much credit is said to be due to Dr. o. Harvey, of
Pacerville California, for the care and medical At
tention bestowed by him upon the women and chill
dren on board the bark Ellen.
Captain Thomas w. Badger. Of Virginia one of
the rescued, lost $16 800 in gold eagles, which Sum
was in q carpet beg in his state-room.
One man SWAN to the bark Ellen with 20 pound
of gold dust around his person. He was saved with
his treasure 1t was valued at 81, COO.
Mrs. Birch, wife ofthe minstrel, had beautiful ca
nary bird which she left in cage in her state room.
Before she left the ship she took it from its cage,
brig Her husband secured jewelry of great value
about his own person.
The gentlemen whose wives went off from the
ship, in many instances gave them their money,
watches and jewery to carry with them with what
eyer checks papers of value they had about them.
Dr.. o. Harvey had in his possession cane with
large and deliberately carved gold head set with
gold quartz At the suggestion Of a friend he cut
the head of, and threw the stick away. He brought
it safely through, and exhibited it at Barnums yes
terday. 1t is valued at $50.
Mr.. Van Hagen, one Of the lost handed his watch
to his wife and told her to keep it memento, If
he persisted.
1t is supposed that $3.50, 900 was in the hands of
passengers all of which, with the exceptions named,
went down with its possessors.
Mr. w. H. Adams, mentioned in the list of saved
as from Oregon, is Batmorean, and reached his
home on Sunday morning.
1t is related that of the sailors Of the Norwe-
gan barque Ellen sprang overheard, and tied rope
around one of the perishing men, trusting himself
to the chances of being. saved in the raging sea.
Iuestigation of the Disaster-C Causes of her Loss &c
New YORK, Sept. 21.-The company who owned
the lost steamship Central America have resolved
upon thorough investigation of everything connect
ed with the disaster receiving statements from every
person saved, if possible. strong impression be-
gins to prevail that the vessel lost through the
carelessness of the passengers in leaving the port
holes open, through which the water rushed in.
There is story here that the mast which was cut
away and thrown overheard for the purpose of ma
king drag with which to try and bring the ship
before the wind, knocked hole in the ships bottom;
"
the statement unreliable. 1t does not appear that
there was any fault in the pumps, and it is now es
tablished that they we're worked to good advantage
until broken. She had two nine inch bilge- pumps
connected with the engines, but these pumps OF
sourse were useless after the engine stopped.
The Lesson BE DRAWN FROM 1.-THE New
York Journal of Commerce, in its comments on the
loss of the Central America, says:
"The steamer was provided with six life boats
Two Francis metallic boats and the remaining
four were fitted up with air tanks on the end and
Sides and each of the six capable of holding
from 80 to rs persons. She was also equipped with
600 or 700 life preservers, but had no balkhead par
titions. We have here another terrible lesson re-
specting the necessity of having all seagoing steam
ers furnished with watert'ght compartments; for it
is reasonable to assume that had the Central Amer
lea been thus provided the lamentable loss of life
now chronicled might have been greatly diminished,
if not wholly averted."
In this brief paragraph is conveyed the lesson Of
the ncficency of the present mode of nsuring life
at sea upon those ships which the public regard as
being most safe owing to the nominal precautions
taken to that end. The question is will that terri
bic disaster supernduce better preparation on other
| American steamships for such storm as that in
which this ship went down?
Fund for the Relief Of the Sufferers
| New York, Sept 2l.-The merchants of this city
| have held meeting and appointed committee to
raise funds relative to the sufferers by the loss of
| the steamer Central America, and reward the res
cuers The sum of $1,000 subscribed to-day
including $4,000 by the steamship company.
For the Standard.
| IMPORTANT.
Messrs. Editors The season is fast approaching
in which the supply of that absolutely necessary
article wood is to be thought of and to be provided
| for. The amount of money paid by our citizens for
the wood consume, if it could be correctly
tanned, would astonish the most needless and
less. Buying, as we do by the load, the price that
is paid, especially by our poor citizens, who gener-
ally buy small one-horse loads during the winter
months is almost incredible and will equal in hard
seasons, the highest prices paid in the largest cities
This is wrong, and to many it is caamitous. Can
not our Commissioners remedy thisl Cannot sell
ers be made to sell by the cord? Sellers may ask
what they please for cord, but let the purchaser
know the exact amount he is getting for his money
l hope, for the benefit of the necesstous, who
suffer in this particular than all others, tina,
the Commissioners and our citizens will take this
matter in hand and remedy this very great evil.
|