The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-09-19
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS OF
THE LOSS OF THE CENTRAL AMERICA.
Noble Behavior of the Captain and
Crew
ONE HUNDRED AND FORTT PERSONS
SAVED.

NORFOLK, Sept. 1s.-Thc steamship Central Anne
RIGA, W. l.. Ilerndon, I. ). N. commander bound
from Aspiuwali to New York, fuundered at sea at
o clock A. NJ, Saturday, the 18th inst in lati-
tude $3.50, longitude IC-l5 the Eastern edge of
the Gulf Stream. with about 500 souls on board,
and over 81 100000 in specie.
The conduct of the Chief Engineer is said to be
the sole cause ofthis terrible disaster as the
gers concur in giving great praise to the vessel for
the gallant manner in which she encountered the
storm. lie fled in of the boats one hour previ-
GUS to the sinking of the Inflated vessel
1t is reported however that the Engineer took of
q number of ladies and other passengers, whose
fate is not certainly ascertaued, though the sup
| position is that they probably saved
While the Central America going to pieces
an American schooner ran down to her, but could
not succeed in rendering her any assistance at that
time in consequence of the sea- which WAS rolling
| in waves mountain high" The schooner could
not get in anything like available proximity to her
At the moment the Inflated steamer went down
the scene was terrible. There not boat or
sail in sight, aud alone the wide ocean five hun
dred souls sunk ntoits depths The shrieks of those
| who were appalled, by death were drowned in the
| roaring of the waters and bowling of the wind.
The fOrty-nine survivors, who have arrived here
in the Norwegian bark Ellen, when the ship disap-
peared beneath the water chung to such articles
! of the wreck rs were washed from her. in which
condition they were left at tho mercy of the waves
for ten or twelve hours, until their deliverance at
O'Clock on the morning Of Tuesday, the 18th inst,
when the DARK Ellen, capt. Johnson, passed near
the spot where they were floating, aud finally sue
ceeded after search of several hours, in rescuing
10 persons, who she brought here to-day. The
scene during the search was intensely exciting. and
as each survivor discovered struggling for lite
in the waves, the boats of the Ellen sent 10
his assistance. Many of them were so feeble that
II few moments longer would have finished their
earthly career. The conduct of Capt. johnson is
highly praised.
The brig Maine, supposed to be Of Boston,
though in disabled condition herself. succeeded
in rescung from the ill-fated steamer, before her
sinking, 70 females and about 70 men--the men
forming the boats crews, Which brought them of
from the steamer.
The conduct of Captain ". L. Herndon and the
crew, is highly spoken of The captain would al
low no effort at escape to be made until all the la
dies and children had been saved. All efforts af-
ter that came too late, and the sefsacrifcng COM
mander with his brave crew, were sngulfed in the
ocean
The Central America is said to have had six life
boats on board, and about 700 life preservers-in
view of which facts, the number Of lives lost is
extraordinary.
1t is supposed, from information received here
by the passengers who have arrived. and from 9th.
er sources, that about ITO persons have been res
cued in boats and by ships crossing the scene Of
the disaster PERCUSSION.